Beatification and Canonization mean that a person lived his or her life with God: relying totally on God’s infinite mercy, going forward with God’s strength and power, believing in the impossible, loving one’s enemies and persecutors, forgiving in the midst of evil and violence, hoping beyond all hope, and leaving the world a better place.
That person lets those around him know that there is a force or spirit animating his or her life that is not of this world, but the next.
Such a person lets us catch a glimpse of the greatness and holiness to which we are all called, and shows us the face of God as we journey on our pilgrim way on earth.
Slide 2
Reader:
+We begin in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Loving and gracious God,
We gather today to celebrate the life, legacy and light of Pope Saint John XXIII and Pope Saint John Paul II.
May our prayers today help us celebrate their lives as they are raised to sainthood: Saint John XXIII “a man who let himself be guided by the Lord” and Saint John Paul II “the great missionary of the Church, a man who proclaimed the Gospel everywhere.”
We thank you for the gift of their heroic virtues of humanity, humility and holiness. “It is precisely their holiness that we recognize today: holiness that is a profound and transforming relationship with you, built up and lived in the daily effort to fulfill your will.”
We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Slide 3
Reader:
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
‘You are the salt of the earth;
but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?
It is no longer good for anything,
but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
‘You are the light of the world.
A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket,
but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works
and give glory to your Father in heaven.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Slide 4
Leader:
With the canonization of these two great servants, priests and bishops, we present our prayers to our gracious God, confident they will be received in love.
Our response is “Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II, pray for us.
Reader:
May we allow God’s will to be done in our lives on a daily basis. For this we pray…
May we base our lives on God’s word, immerse ourselves in the liturgy of the Church, and draw strength from the Eucharist and the Sacraments. For this we pray…
May our words and witness on Jesus’ behalf be positive, hopeful, courageous and straightforward. For this we pray…
May we model our lives on real heroes: those who serve the Lord as His disciples and witnesses. For this we pray…
May we cross thresholds, open doors, build bridges, embrace the Cross of suffering and proclaim the Gospel of Life to the people of our time. For this we pray…
May we be instruments and agents of mercy and tenderness, serving those around us. For this we pray.
Slide 5
Leader: We pause for a moment to reflect on the words of these two heroes of our faith, and the meaning their witness has for our own lives.
Reader: “Do not be afraid of the radicalness of his demands, because Jesus, who loved us first, is prepared to give Himself to you, as well as asking of you. If He asks much of you, it is because He knows you can give much.”
(Pope John Paul II, The Meaning of Vocation)
(pause)
Slide 6
Reader: “Consult not your fears, but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.”
(Pope John XXIII)
Slide 7
Leader:
We can only hope to have a small portion of the fidelity of Peter’s witness and the boldness of Paul’s proclamation that were so mightily present in Angelo Roncalli and Karol Wojtyla. May they intercede for us and for all, helping us to become real pontifexes, bridge builders, to the men and women of our time.
Loving God, we celebrate Your saints John XXIII and John Paul II, who dedicated their lives to You. Help us model our lives after theirs in their love for You, knowledge of You, and service to You and Your people.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
+In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.