With now under one month to go to the beatification of the Servant of God John Paul
II, those in charge of organising the mammoth event revealed the final program for
the three days of celebration, which include the testimony of Sr. Marie Simon-Pierre,
whose miraculous healing opened the way for the late Pope’s beatification and a live
link up with five Marian shrines around the world.
Cardinal Agostino Vallini,
Vicar general for the diocese of Rome, was joined by Msgr. Marco Frisina, Director
of the Diocesan liturgical Office and Vatican Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi
S.J. in a meeting with press.
The Cardinal Vicar revealed that from the out-set
“universal veneration”, a prerogative that belongs to Saints, was sought for the
soon to be Blessed, rather than the usual “local veneration” that is due to those
who are beatified. “Those who are saints are so because they live of God, - said
the Cardinal - and they are saints from baptism”. He went on to explain that the recognition
will be announced during the beatification rite along with the date on which, each
year, the liturgical memory of the newly Blessed will be celebrated.
The full
program for the celebrations for the beatification was then presented, 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 icon of Our Lady Salus Populi
Romani will be enthroned; this shall be accompanied by representatives of all
the parishes and chaplaincies of the diocese. Personal testimonies will then be given
by two of John Paul II’s closest collaborators, Joaquin Navarro-Valls and Cardinal
Stanislaw Dziwisz, 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 theMysteries
of Light 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, Pope Benedict XVI will recite the final
oration and impart his apostolic blessing to all participants, in live link up from
the Apostolic Palace.
That night, across Rome, the following churches shall
remain open for prayer: 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 will be preceded by an hour of prayerful preparation
of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, a devotion introduced by Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska
and dear to the soon-to- be-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 First Sunday after Easter. At the end of
the rite of beatification, a tapestry depicting the newly Blessed will be unveiled
to the notes of 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.
Listen to full report:
For more details
you can visit the website www.jpiibeatus.org, which is available in five languages.