Program For The Beatification Of John Paul II

EWTN ^ | April 5, 2011

[NYer]

VATICAN CITY, 5 APR 2011 (VIS) - This morning, a conference was held at the Holy See Press Office to present the preparations and the program for the beatification of John Paul II. The speakers were Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome; Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., director of Vatican Radio, the Vatican Television Centre (CTV) and the Holy See Press Office; Fr. Cesare Atuire, director general of Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi; Msgr. Marco Frisina, director of the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Vicariate of Rome; and Fr. Walter Insero, director of the Office of Social Communications of the Vicariate of Rome.

Cardinal Vallini presented the full program for the celebrations for the beatification, which he described as "strongly characterised by particular elements intended to emphasise the richness of John Paul II's personality, and the impact of his pontificate on the life of the diocese of Rome and on the whole world".

1. The Vigil, 30 April (Circus Maximus, 20.00 to 22.30).

The celebration will be divided into two parts. The first part will be dedicated to remembering the words and actions of John Paul II. There shall then be a solemn procession during which the image of Maria Salus Populi Romani will be enthroned; this shall be accompanied by representatives of all the parishes and chaplaincies of the diocese. Privileged accounts will be given by Joaquin Navarro-Valls and Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, both of whom worked closely with the Pope, and by Sr. Marie Simon-Pierre, whose miraculous recovery opened the way for the beatification process. This first part of the celebrations will be concluded with the hymn "Totus tuus", composed for the 50th anniversary of John Paul's priestly ordination.

The second part will focus on the celebration of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, which were introduced by John Paul II. After the hymn "Open the doors to Christ", Cardinal Vallini will give an introduction summarising the spiritual and pastoral character of John Paul II. The Rosary will then be recited, with a live connection to five Marian sanctuaries around the world. Each of the five Mysteries of the Rosary shall be linked to a prayer intention of importance to John Paul II. In the Sanctuary of Lagniewniki, Krakow, the prayer intention will take the theme of youth; in the Sanctuary of Kawekamo, Bugando, Tanzania, the family; in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lebanon, Harissa, evangelisation; in the Basilica of Sancta Maria de Guadalupe, Mexico City, hope and peace among peoples; and in the Sanctuary of Fatima, the Church.

To conclude the vigil, Benedict XVI shall recite the final oration and impart the apostolic blessing to all participants, in live transmission from the Apostolic Palace.

That night the following churches shall remain open for the oration: Sant' Agnese in Agone, Piazza Navona; San Marco al Campidoglio; Santa Anastasia; Santissimo Nome di Gesù all'Argentina; Santa Maria in Vallicella; San Giovanni dei Fiorentini; San Andrea della Valle; and San Bartolomeo all'Isola.

2. Mass of Beatification, 1 May, Sunday after Easter or of Divine Mercy (St. Peter's Square, 09.00: hour of preparation; 10.00: officiated by the Holy Father).

The solemn liturgy of beatification shall be preceded by an hour of preparation during which the faithful shall pray together the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, a devotion introduced by Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska and dear to the Blessed John Paul II. The preparation will conclude with an Invocation to Mercy in the world, with the hymn "Jezu ufam tobie". This will be followed by Mass, with the texts for the Sunday after Easter. At the end of the rite of beatification, the unveiling of the tapestry depicting the newly Blessed shall be accompanied by the Hymn to the Blessed in Latin.

3. Mass of thanksgiving, Monday 2 May (officiated by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, St. Peter's Square, 10.30).

Mass on Monday 2 May shall be the first celebrated in honour of the newly Blessed John Paul II. The texts shall be those of the Mass of the Blessed John Paul II. Music during the celebrations shall be provided by the Choir of the Diocese of Rome, with the participation of the Choir of Warsaw and the Wadowice Symphony Orchestra, Poland.

Fr. Lombardi explained that in the evening of Friday 29 April the tomb of the Blessed Pope Innocent XI - currently in the Chapel of St. Sebastian in St. Peter's Basilica - shall be transferred to the Altar of Transfiguration, to make way for the body of John Paul II. That morning, the coffin of John Paul II - which shall not be opened - will be transferred before the tomb of St. Peter, in the Vatican grotto. On the morning of 1 May, it will be brought before the Altar of Confession in the Basilica.

Following the beatification ceremony, the Pope and the concelebrating cardinals will make their way to the Altar of Confession in the Basilica and will pray for a moment before the body of the newly Blessed. From that evening, those who wish to do so may venerate the remains of John Paul II.

Fr. Walter Insero shall present the new project, "Digital Sentinels", recalling the polish Pope's address to the young as "sentinels of the morning" on World Youth Day 2000 in Rome.

Through the already well-known portal "Pope2You", provided by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, it will be possible to send digital postcards with phrases, in several languages, extracted from John Paul II's various addresses to young people. These postcards may be used as invitations to young people to come to Rome to celebrate the beatification of John Paul II. Furthermore, through this portal it will be possible to follow the scheduled celebrations (Vigil, beatification Mass, Mass of thanksgiving).

This initiative, carried out in collaboration with Vatican Radio, the Vatican Television Center and the Office for Social Communications of the Vicariate of Rome, is managed by a group of young volunteers, several seminarians from colleges in Rome who provide translations in various languages, and friends from other continents.

[NYer]

As we draw closer to the event, I will post the dates and times for EWTN’s live coverage.

[Celtic Cross]

Is it a bit soon?

[Celtic Cross]

Is it a bit soon?

[NYer]

Soon for what?

[Celtic Cross]

For the Beatification Of John Paul II. He was a great man, but he only died I think six years ago. I guess I tend toward caution and procrastination.

[aimee5291]

no

[aimee5291]

I know some might see it as too soon...but not me.

I look forward to beatification and will watch EWTN...

Thanks NY for posting

[NYer]

He was a great man, but he only died I think six years ago. I guess I tend toward caution and procrastination.

Prior to the year 1234, the Church did not have a formal process of beatification. Usually martyrs and those recognized as holy were declared saints by the Church at the time of their deaths. Beginning with Pope Urban VIII in 1634, various Popes have revised and improved the norms and procedures for canonization.

Today the process proceeds as follows: When a person dies who has "fame of sanctity" or "fame of martyrdom," the Bishop of the Diocese usually initiates the investigation. One element is whether any special favor or miracle has been granted through this candidate saint's intercession.

At one time, saints were popularly proclaimed. As you may recall, the same thing happened upon the death of JPII. In April of 2009, Pope Benedict XVI, told Pilgrims gathered in Rome "With you, I pray for the gift of beatification". Friday, January 14, 2011 the Holy See released the "Decree for the Beatification of the Servant of God John Paul II." The full decree is found here.

Deacon Keith Fournier wrote a beautiful and detailed argument for the beatification of JPII which you can read here.

Already several miracles have been attributed to his intercession. It only took one to begin the beatification process that will culminate on the Feast of the Divine Mercy, May 1. Hope you can tune in and watch. Millions are expected to pack Rome to join in the celebration of our beloved Pope John Paull II's beatification.

[Republic]

We are not Catholics. Yet I cannot express the depth of feelings and respect we held and still hold for this beloved man.

My hsb and child attended a mass in Rome years back as part of a 6th grade school trip. (Lived in GE at the time. They stood at the rail and he walked by, holding out his hands for the children to touch. Pure warmth.

Family, again, years back, when we lived in Maryland, got to see John Paul in Baltimore as he passed within twenty feet or so of us in the famous glass Pope mobile. We stood on a street corner, just filled with joy and called out his name as he passed by.

His love was palpable. He exuded such immense power through his tenderness, especially towards the youth of this world.

When the masses are held for the huge gathering of the children of the world at the Vatican complex, he radiated such love and joy. Always tried to catch it on TV. I will never forget the back and forth chants of " John Paul II, we love you! " and his return chant of " And I love you, too. " Back and forth, over and over, pure love spoken. I welled up so often it was beyond ridiculous, but there you have it.

He does not need the mantle of sainthood to represent the love he spread in my heart. Yet how thrilled I am to know that over the world, so many feel as I do, that this was the man who served as the head of the Catholic Church who was, exactly the right choice for this awesome job.

[NYer]

Thank you for sharing such a personal testimonial of your encounters with Pope John Paul II. As you so well noted, he exuded power through tenderness. This from a man who lost his mother and brother while still a child, followed by his father shortly thereafter. By age 20, he had lost the family he so loved. Not only was he alone but his country had been taken over by the nazis and the only way for him to survive was working in a limestone quarry. Last week, I caught a film that captures these horrific years. It is entitled: "Witness to Evil". It can be watched online, via the internet. It captures his resistance to the forces of evil oppression and how it led to his becoming a priest. On several occasions, his life was miraculously spared - testimony to the hand of God.

Witness to Evil - YOUNG JOHN PAUL II, PART 1

Wishing you and your family a truly Blessed Easter!

[Tax-chick]

Thank you for the notice. The Hispanic Ministry will be throwing a party for the beatification and Divine Mercy Sunday at our parish.