Saturday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Respect Life Month

Blessed Virgin Mary

Saint: Pope Saint John Paul II (1920-2005)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 18:1-6 The Order of the Psalmody

Mass: Eph 4:7-16; Resp Ps 122; Lk 13:1-9

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY,

SAINT JOSEPH, DEFENDER OF LIFE,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

"Everyone knows John Paul II: his face, his characteristic way of moving and speaking; his immersion in prayer and his spontaneous cheerfulness. Many of his words have become indelibly engraved in our memories, starting with the passionate cry with which he introduced himself to the people at the beginning of his pontificate: 'Open wide the doors to Christ, and be not afraid of him!' Or this saying: 'No one can live a trial life: no one can love experimentally.' An entire pontificate is condensed in words like these. It is like he would like to open the doors for Christ everywhere and wishes to open up to people the gate that leads to true life, to true love."

(Pope Benedict XVI)

There is plenty to be said about Pope Saint John Paul II, the saint we commemorate today. I am fortunate to have on my shelf several of his Encyclical Letters (he wrote 14 of them), as well as a few Apostolic Exhortations (he wrote 15 of those), and a few other treasures. I chose a couple of passages to pass along. Another source is the website for our country's shrine in Washington, D.C., the Saint John Paul II National Shrine. Today's reflection begins with something I learned there. The words from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI provide us with a good summary of yet another great intercessor. Pope Saint John Paul II, help us to open wide the doors to Christ, and be not afraid of Him. United in faith and prayer, we go forth.

The breath of the divine life, the Holy Spirit, in its simplest and most common manner, expresses itself and makes itself felt in prayer. It is a beautiful and salutary thought that, wherever people are praying in the world, there the Holy Spirit is, the living breath of prayer. It is a beautiful and salutary thought to recognize that, if prayer is offered throughout the world, in the past, in the present, and in the future, equally widespread is the presence and action of the Holy Spirit, who "breathes" prayer in the heart of men and women in all the endless range of the most varied situations and conditions, sometimes favorable and sometimes unfavorable to the spiritual and religious life ...

The Holy Spirit is the gift that comes into man's heart together with prayer.

(Pope Saint John Paul II, Dominum et Vivificantem Holy Spirit Giver of Life, 65)

O Mary,

Mother of Mercy,

watch over all people,

that the Cross of Christ

may not be emptied of its power,

that man may not stray

from the path of the good

or become blind to sin,

but may put his hope ever more fully in God

who is "rich in mercy".

May he carry out the good works prepared

by God beforehand

and so live completely

"for the praise of His glory".

(Pope Saint John Paul II, Veritatis Splendor Splendor of Truth, 120)

POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: This is the Pope John Paul II hybrid tea rose, known as one of the finest, most fragrant roses of all time. And we have them here at Redwoods. God is praised. 

© Gertrude Feick 2022