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| A giant poster of Pope John Paul II erected at St. Peter's Square as the Vatican awaits one of the largest crowds since his funeral in 2005- via Reuters |
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who revered and loved Pope John Paul II and wish to be present at the moment of his beatification on Sunday morning are still expected to congregate in front of Piazza San Pietro throughout Saturday night, waiting patiently -- even in the rain -- until the entrances to the piazza open at 5:30 in the morning. The Mass will begin at 10 am. Pope Benendict XVI is expected to arrive at 9:55 am.
Current published estimates say Roman authorities expect some 300,000 people, but whispered rumors are circulating that the number may be 500,000, or even 1 million. If such numbers do choose to attend the beatification, in spite of possible rain, it will be a dramatic testimony to the power of the message and spiritual vision of Pope John Paul II, six years after his death on April 2, 2005.
John Paul II's tomb was opened Friday
and his coffin was extracted
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| CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano via Reuters |
Fr. Frederico reported that the exterior wood coffin "is in a good state of preservation, even though showing signs of the passage of time." The coffin was transported the short distance to where it will remain until Sunday. During the transportation of the coffin, which was covered with a cloth embroidered in gold, the litanies were sung. At the end of the 15-minute ceremony, Cardinal Bertone offered a short prayer. On Sunday, the coffin will be transferred to the main altar basilica, where it will remain for the beatification ceremony and for public veneration until 5am on Monday morning. The final the placement of the coffin under the altar of the Chapel of St. Sebastian will most likely take place May 2 after the basilica closes... More Photos
John Paul II and his Seven visits to the United States
Yes, America, you are beautiful indeed, and blessed in so many ways:
“It’s going to be several hundred years before the Church really takes on board the breadth and depth of the explication of the Gospel, by John Paul II and in that sense we’re going to be thinking, and arguing, about him for hundreds of years.” Mr Weigel said that six years after the pope’s death his connection with young people continued to bear fruit in many ways: in priesthood vocations over the last decade, in women’s religious orders inspired by Pope John Paul and in renewal movements. He further stated that John Paul II was a pivotal figure in the collapse of European Communism, and a great Christian witness of the last half of the twentieth century. The latter explains the former, which is itself something deeply significant for understanding the cultural dynamics of history."
George Weigel, author of the papal biographies
Prayer for the Canonization of John Paul II
O Blessed Trinity,
We thank you for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II
and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care,
the glory of the cross of Christ,
and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him.
The following 17-minute commemoration video looks back at the pontificate of John Paul II through images of his extensive travels, highlighting his seven visits to the United States and the mutual affection that developed between Pope John Paul II and the American people.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops prepared the video from clips in their archives. Some Photos therein courtesy L'Osservatore Romano from the book John Paul II: A Light for the World: the book was edited by Sister Mary Ann Walsh, RSM. © 2003 Published by Sheed & Ward. For more information
Pope John Paul II's 1987 Farewell Address to the United States at the end of Pastoral Visit to our Country -Detroit
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| Pope John Paul II speaks in Hamtramck during a 1987 visit to metro Detroit, Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka, then archbishop of Detroit, at right. From Archdiocese Detroit Web Site |
As I go, I take with me vivid memories of a dynamic nation, a warm and welcoming people, a Church abundantly blessed with a rich blend of cultural traditions. I depart with admiration for the ecumenical spirit that breathes strongly throughout this land, for the genuine enthusiasm of your young people, and for the hopeful aspirations of your most recent immigrants. I take with me an unforgettable memory of a country that God has richly blessed from the beginning until now. America the beautiful! So you sing in one of your national songs.
Yes, America, you are beautiful indeed, and blessed in so many ways:
- in your majestic mountains and fertile plains;
- in the goodness and sacrifice hidden in your teeming cities and expanding suburbs;
- in your genius for invention and for splendid progress;
- in the power that you use for service and in the wealth that you share with others;
- in what you give to your own, and in what you do for others beyond your borders;
- in how you serve, and in how you keep alive the flame of hope in many hearts;
- in your quest for excellence and in your desire to right all wrongs.
- in the goodness and sacrifice hidden in your teeming cities and expanding suburbs;
- in your genius for invention and for splendid progress;
- in the power that you use for service and in the wealth that you share with others;
- in what you give to your own, and in what you do for others beyond your borders;
- in how you serve, and in how you keep alive the flame of hope in many hearts;
- in your quest for excellence and in your desire to right all wrongs.
Yes, America, all this belongs to you. But your greatest beauty and your richest blessing is found in the human person: in each man, woman and child, in every immigrant, in every native-born son and daughter.
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| CNS Photo/Joe Rimkus Jr. Michigan Catholic Article |
If you want equal justice for all, and true freedom and lasting peace, then, America
“America
- feeding the poor and welcoming refugees;
- reinforcing the social fabric of this nation;
- promoting the true advancement of women;
- securing the rights of minorities;
- pursuing disarmament, while guaranteeing legitimate defence; all this will succeed only if respect for life and its protection by the law is granted to every human being from conception until natural death.” Excerpts from 1987 Farewell speech in Detroit
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| Photo © Speramus-We-Hope |
Pope John Paul while in America carried the pro-life banner proudly. He has urged bishops and lay Catholics to fight abortion and euthanasia, saying the “slaughter of the innocents” must be stopped.
“It’s going to be several hundred years before the Church really takes on board the breadth and depth of the explication of the Gospel, by John Paul II and in that sense we’re going to be thinking, and arguing, about him for hundreds of years.” Mr Weigel said that six years after the pope’s death his connection with young people continued to bear fruit in many ways: in priesthood vocations over the last decade, in women’s religious orders inspired by Pope John Paul and in renewal movements. He further stated that John Paul II was a pivotal figure in the collapse of European Communism, and a great Christian witness of the last half of the twentieth century. The latter explains the former, which is itself something deeply significant for understanding the cultural dynamics of history."
George Weigel, author of the papal biographies
Prayer for the Canonization of John Paul II
O Blessed Trinity,
We thank you for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II
and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care,
the glory of the cross of Christ,
and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him.
Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy
and in the maternal intercession of Mary,
he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd,
and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure
of ordinary Christian life
and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you.
and in the maternal intercession of Mary,
he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd,
and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure
of ordinary Christian life
and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you.
Grant us, by his intercession, and according to your will,
the graces we implore,
hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints. Amen.
the graces we implore,
hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints. Amen.
