Oct 21, 2023
O great Pontiff
who stood as a bulwark
against the culture of death
threatening to overtake mankind,
who served to bring down the Enemy
with the sacrifice of your life and your many works:
under the Mantle of Our Mother,
you gathered the youth of the world as one
to hear your ringing exhortation;
you enlightened minds
assailed by doubt and despair;
you taught men and women the language of love
the Lord wrought into our very bodies…
for you knew the power of the Cross
and carried it till the end,
finding light in the dark night of suffering.
The gates of Hell could not stand
against your invocation of the Spirit –
pray we too shall open wide
the doors for Christ
and fear no evil as we entrust ourselves
entirely to our Redeemer
and His Divine Mercy.