Pope St. John Paul II Novena - Day 9

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O Blessed Trinity, we thank you for having graced the Church with Saint John Paul II and for allowing the tenderness of your fatherly care, the glory of the Cross of Christ and the splendor of the Spirit of love to shine through him. Trusting fully in your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd. He has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you. Grant us, by his intercession, and according to your will, the graces we implore (mention request here…) through Christ our Lord. Amen. Your motto was Totus tuus, or Totally yours Blessed Virgin Mary. Dear St. John Paul, the surest, straightest road to Christ is through His Mother. When I am lost in life’s brambles, ask Our Lady to come rescue me and bring me back to the road that Jesus wants me on. Teach me your love for Mary. Our Father Hail Mary Glory Be (Optional) Divine Mercy Chaplet In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Pope Saint John Paul II was instrumental in my conversion back to the Church after 60+ years. Also Saint Gemma Galgani has kept me on the path to Heaven. from R.A. Who Was Pope St. John Paul II? Pope St. John Paul II was born Karol Wojtyla in 1920 in Poland. His mother died when he was a boy, and then as a late teen he faced the Nazi occupation of Poland. In spite of the Nazis, he studied for the priesthood and was ordained in 1946. He went on to become auxiliary bishop of Krakow in 1958, and four years later was influential in the Second Vatican Council. In the 1960s he became Archbishop of Krakow then was elevated to the College of Cardinals. After the surprising death of Pope John Paul I in 1978, Pope St. John Paul II was elected bishop of Rome, the first non-Italian pope in over 450 years. JPII’s great love and wisdom inspired youth around the world. He tirelessly visited countless countries, bringing hope to people and spreading the Gospel of Christ. He inaugurated World Youth Day, and every three years millions of young Catholics flock to the destination where the Pope leads them to go deeper in their faith. Pope St. John Paul II died in April 2005. (Credit for the prayers of this novena go to the JP2 Falcons and the John Paul II Training Center.)