Today's the First Anniversary of the Beatification of Pope John Paul II

Brethren: Peace and Good to all of you.

Blessed Pope John Paul, the Great

Today, the (optional) memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, we celebrate the anniversary of the beatification of another Joseph, Karol Josef Wojtyla, known to the world as Pope John Paul II.

I can't add much to what others have said better about a life and a papacy that were so transcendental. He was the Pope of my late childhood, of my youth, and of most of my adult life. Slowly but steadily, with a firm hand, Blessed John Paul wrestled away the Church from the clutches of numerous "mini-magisteriums" from left and right, who had arrogated to themselves the authority to interpret the Deposit of Faithe the Lord entrusted to his Church in accordance to their own petty interests and prejudices. His legacy enabled his successor, Pope Benedict XVI to build the continuing reformation of the Church along channels set by the Blessed John Paul and with the same love, patience, and firm hand.

Let us bless God, the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for having raised a worthy shepherd amongst us, anointed by the Holy Spirit, to guide the Church in critical times. Let us ask for the intercession of the Blessed Pope John Paul the Great, for the protection of the Church and the generation that he helped raise up to face the challenges of our age.