"Mary, Teach Us to Build Up the World": For and From JP2, B16's "Ave Maria"

Clad in an ermine-lined Easter mozzetta his predecessor never would've worn, B16 appeared via videolink at the close of tonight's Beatification Vigil to give the final blessing to the swelling crowd at Circus Maximus.

Prior to doing so, however, the reigning pontiff reprised the text of a prayer penned and delivered by John Paul II at the end of his days -- the soon-to-be Blessed's opening prayer at the Grotto of Massabielle on the last of his 104 foreign trips: the frail Pope's August 2004 visit to Lourdes, Europe's most beloved Marian shrine... and in a particular way, the sanctuary of the sick.

Given today's Pope's return to it, here below is the text of the prayer....

Hail Mary, poor and humble Woman,
Blessed by the Most High!
Virgin of hope, dawn of a new era,
We join in your song of praise,
to celebrate the Lord’s mercy,
to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom
and the full liberation of humanity.

Hail Mary, lowly handmaid of the Lord,
Glorious Mother of Christ!
Faithful Virgin, holy dwelling-place of the Word,
Teach us to persevere in listening to the Word,
and to be docile to the voice of the Spirit,
attentive to his promptings in the depths of our conscience
and to his manifestations in the events of history.

Hail Mary, Woman of sorrows,
Mother of the living!
Virgin spouse beneath the Cross, the new Eve,
Be our guide along the paths of the world.
Teach us to experience and to spread the love of Christ,
to stand with you before the innumerable crosses
on which your Son is still crucified.

Hail Mary, woman of faith,
First of the disciples!
Virgin Mother of the Church, help us always
to account for the hope that is in us,
with trust in human goodness and the Father’s love.
Teach us to build up the world beginning from within:
in the depths of silence and prayer,
in the joy of fraternal love,
in the unique fruitfulness of the Cross.

Holy Mary,
Mother of believers,
pray for us.
Amen.

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