The Vigil: testimonies and prayer

The Servant of God, John Paul II was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on Divine Mercy Sunday, which this year falls on May 1, during Holy Mass in Saint Peter's Square amid the cheers of pilgrims. Many of whom had taken part the previous evening in the Vigil at the Circus Maximus in the heart of Rome.

Vigils have a special significance: they are symbolic of a gift to the Church : in this case represented by the forthcoming beatification of the Servant of God, John Paul II. They are also a moment of reflection and prayer, one of communion of the local diocese gathered together on this occasion around the Vicar General for the diocese of Rome, Cardinal Agostino Vallini, on the eve of the beatification of their much loved former Bishop of Rome.

This Vigil had two main moments to it: one dedicated to highlighting the memory of the future blessed and another more specifically to prayer, John Paul II’s favourite prayer: the Rosary.

Turning then to the first part of the evening vigil : among those who shared their personal testimonies were three of the Polish Pontiff’s closest collaborators and advisors.
Cadinal Vallini who described John Paul II’s unforgettable strength in witnessing to faith, free from fear or compromises , true until his last breath despite the burden of suffering.

The cardinal also highlighted the impact of the Polish Pontiff’s witness to faith, which through his apostolic journeys inspired millions of men and women the world over, of all races and cultures. How it was from Christ that he drew energy and fullness of humanity.

His former Secretary Staniswaf Dziwisz, now Cardinal Archbishop of Cracow also gave his witness remarking how saintly John Paul II was both in life and death. How like a biblical patriarch he had prepared us for his death , taking us by the hand."I feel he is with us here tonight", he quipped.

Also among those who gave witness was John Paul II’s former Press Officer Joaquin Navarro-Valls who highlighted how despite his own suffering , his prayers were dedicated not to himself but to the intentions of others".

One of the key speakers was French Sister, Marie Simon Pierre, whose miraculous recovery from Parkinson’s disease attributed to the intercession of John Paul II allowed the beatification process to enter into its final stages. She expressed her emotion at having contributed to this beatification process . Thank you she said in French , ‘Merci’.

All spoke in the presence of pilgrims youn gand old , in Rome for the beatification but also in the presence of a strong representation of the Rome diocese. Let’s recall for a moment, how attentive John Paul II always was, to his role as Bishop of Rome. So much so that in the course of his pontificate there was hardly a Roman parish he had not visited.

As they spoke , projectors relayed on to the giant screens , images of John Paul II but also of the ancient icon of Our Lady of Salus Populi Romani, housed within the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. A pointer to the special devotion to Our Lady of John Paul II, also echoed in the choice of the hymn chosen to put an end to the first part of this vigil: the 'Totus Tuus', composed for the 50^th anniversary of John Paul II’s priestly ordination.

The second part of this Vigil was dedicated in a special way to prayer, specifically to the Mysteries of Light , the five new mysteries Pope John Paul II added to the traditional 15, when he published his encyclical letter on the Rosary, ' Rosarium Virginis Mariae'. Each of these Mysteries of light is a revelation of the Kingdom now present among us in the person of Jesus . They are: Our Lord’s Baptism , the Wedding at Cana , the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God , the Transfiguration and the Institution of the Eucharist.

This particular moment was marked by the hymn “ Open your doors to Christ “, a reminder of John Paul II’s invitation to us, not be afraid and open our doors to Christ. And then echoing this openness, the recitation of these mysteries took place with live link ups to five Marian shrines across the world, each of these dedicated to a specific theme. Beginning with youth in Poland at the Shrine of Lagniewniki in Kracow a place both familiar and dear to the Polish Pontiff as it’s from here that Saint Faustina Kowalska spread her message of divine mercy . And then in the following order : the family at the Shrine of Kawekamo Tanzania , evangelization at the Shrine of Our lady of Lebanon in Harissa, peace at the Shrine of Sancta Maria de Guadalupe in Mexico City and finally, the Church at the Portuguese Shrine of Fatima, so especially significant to John Paul II.

Finally the present Bishop of Rome , Pope Benedict took part in the Vigil with a prayer and a final blessing from the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, projected on to bumper screens across Rome.

And when the Vigil ended on the notes of the Salve Regina , the ancient Roman arena, came alive with the flickering lights of the candles held by the faithful. And those who wished continued their vigil by walking into the night, making their way towards the Vatican in prayer and meditation . Stopping by along the way at the eight churches that had thrown open wide their doors. They are: Santa Anastasia, San Bartolomeo on the Tiber Island , San Marco in Piazza Venezia, Santissimo Nome di Gesù in Piazza di Torre Argentina , Sant Andrea della Valle, Sant Agnese in Agone in Piazza Navona, Santa Maria in Valicella and prior to crossing the Tiber, San Giovanni dei Fiorentini.
And in these Churches they received a welcome from the young Catholics of Rome and from the priests on hand to impart for the Sacrament of Reconciliation .

Listen to Veronica Scarisbrick's report: