Recently in Pope John Paul II Category

Today marks the first anniversary of the historic beatification of the iconic pope, John Paul II.

Today is the first time the Church prays the Mass for the liturgical memorial of Blessed John Paul II. To date, Blessed John Paul II's feast is observed in the USA as an optional memorial. The US Conference of Bishops is requesting of the Holy See that this feast be an obligatory liturgical memorial. The second reading for the Office of Readings is here. Other texts for Mass and the Divine Office are taken from the "Common of Pastors: For a Pope."

The Collect (opening prayer for Mass) is given here in English and Latin:

O God, who are rich in mercy and who willed that the Blessed John Paul II should preside as Pope over your universal Church, grant, we pray, that instructed by his teaching, we may open our hearts to the saving grace of Christ, the sole Redeemer of mankind. Who lives and reigns.

Deus, dives in misericórdia, qui beátum Ioánnem Paulum, papam, univérsae Ecclésiae tuae praeésse voluísti, praesta, quaésumus, ut, eius institútis edócti, corda nostra salutíferae grátiae Christi, uníus redemptóris hóminis, fidénter aperiámus. Qui tecum.

The Scripture would be: first reading is Isaiah 52:7-10; the responsorial psalm is 96/95:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10); the alleluia is John 10:14; the Gospel is John 21:15-17.

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments published on April 2, 2011, the "Decree Concerning Liturgical Worship in Honour of Blessed John Paul II."

"The absolute, and yet sweet and gentle, power of the Lord responds to the whole depths of the human person, to his loftiest aspirations of intellect, will and heart. It does not speak the language of force, but expresses itself in charity and truth.

The new Successor of Peter in the See of Rome today makes a fervent, humble and trusting prayer: Christ, make me become and remain the servant of your unique power, the servant of your sweet power, the servant of your power that knows no dusk. Make me a servant: indeed, the servant of your servants....

Do not be afraid. Open, I say open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development.

Do not be afraid. Christ knows "that which is in man". He alone knows it.

So often today, man does not know that which is in him, in the depths of his mind and heart. So often he is uncertain about the meaning of his life on this earth. He is assailed by doubt, a doubt which turns into despair.

We ask you, therefore, we beg you with humility and with trust: let Christ speak to man. He alone has words of life, yes, of life eternal."

Pope John Paul II

Homily at the Beginning of the Pontificat

22 October 1978

Office of Readings for the Liturgical Memorial

Well, that's a question. Provocative or not, I am quiet sure that it is germane 6 years later with little evidence. But Time magazine's Jeff Israel brings to our attention the hypothesis of Dr Lina Pavanelli who, in an article, "The Sweet Death of Karol Wojtyla" (Micromega), claims Blessed John Paul II was euthanized. The first thing I think of is: someone is trying to make a book deal with conspiracy theory accusing the Vatican of hiding something. But I am wondering, as Israel pointed out, that if the issue is actually the doctor's reception of Church teaching on life --or not--, especially on issues like euthanasia. Many in the medical community want to dismiss the Church's teaching on life in order to liberalize medicine enough to reduce the dignity of the human person to absurdity. There's a vibrancy in questioning Magisterial teaching on life in Europe because of proposed legislation.

Father Julián Carrón, president of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation was interviewed by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano on the beatification of Pope John Paul II. Father Carrón said that "beatification of John Paul II ... is a 'strong invitation' to conversion."

Here's Pope Benedict's homily at the Mass in which he beatified Pope John Paul II today:

Six years ago we gathered in this Square to celebrate the funeral of Pope John Paul II. Our grief at his loss was deep, but even greater was our sense of an immense grace which embraced Rome and the whole world: a grace which was in some way the fruit of my beloved predecessor's entire life, and especially of his witness in suffering. Even then we perceived the fragrance of his sanctity, and in any number of ways God's People showed their veneration for him. For this reason, with all due respect for the Church's canonical norms, I wanted his cause of beatification to move forward with reasonable haste. And now the longed-for day has come; it came quickly because this is what was pleasing to the Lord: John Paul II is blessed!

Holiness is all that matters. Period. Being with God is the ultimate goal of every Christian's desire. The holiness of a person whose cause is being considered for beatification rests on the verification of a miracle -done by God at the request of another, in the case at hand, at John Paul's intercession. The person who received the gift of the miraculous healing was Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, a sister of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of Catholic Motherhood. Sister Marie Simon-Pierre was living with Parkinson's and attributes a complete healing to the intercession of Pope John Paul II. The pope suffered from the same disease. The following testimony given in 2006 and verified by medical professionals last autumn, sealed the case to beatify Pope John Paul II. Zenit provided the text.

In June 2001, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The disease had affected the whole left side of my body, creating great difficulties for me as I am left-handed. After three years, the initial phase of the disease, slow but progressive, was followed by an aggravation of the symptoms: accentuation of the trembling, rigidity, pain, insomnia.

From April 2, 2005, I began to worsen week by week, I grew worse day by day, I was unable to write (I repeat that I am left-handed), and if I attempted it, what I wrote was unintelligible. I could drive only for short trips because my left leg would stiffen sometimes, and my rigidity would have impeded my driving. Moreover, to do my work in a hospital, it took more time than usual. I was exhausted.

After learning my diagnosis, it was difficult for me to watch John Paul II on television. However, I felt very close to him in prayer and I knew he could understand what I was going through. I also admired his strength and courage, which motivated me not to give in and to love this suffering, because without love none of this made sense. I can say that it was a daily struggle, but my only wish was to live it with faith and in loving adherence to the will of the Father.

Cardinal Agostino Vallini, 70, Pope's vicar of Rome gave the following talk at tonight's Vigil at the Circus Maximus in advance of Pope John Paul II's tomorrow's beatification.

Divine Providence gives us this evening the joy of a great experience of grace and light. With this Marian prayer vigil we hope to prepare ourselves for tomorrow's celebration, the solemn beatification of the Venerable Servant of God John Paul II. Even though it has been six years since the death of the great Pope--Bishop of Rome and Pastor of the universal Church for 27 years--his memory is particularly vibrant. We feel veneration, affection, admiration, and deep gratitude for the beloved pontiff.

Pope John Paul II was exhumed today in a quiet ceremony. The papal body will not be seen (at least for a while) but it will rest in the Vatican Basilica for a time.

Just days ahead of Pope John Paul II's beatification on May 1st --the first time in 11 centuries that a successor beatifies his predecessor-- the former vicar for Rome, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, speaks about the letter he received as the conclave was about to open that was to elect Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedixt XVI, by which several cardinals asked for John Paul's beatification. Read the La Stampa story...

Blood drawn from Pope John Paul II prior to his death and saved in case there was need of a transfusion at a local hospital, will be presented to Pope Benedict XVI at the May 1st Mass at which John Paul will be declared a "blessed." The blood relic will be kept with other relics at the Apostolic Household. Read the entire story here.