The Decree on the Liturgical Observance of the cult of Blessed John Paul II, Pope

Decree on the Liturgical Observance of the Cult of 

Blessed John Paul II, Pope

An exceptional character, recognized by the Catholic Church spread throughout the world, marks the beatification of Venerable John Paul II, of happy memory, which will take place May 1, 2011, in the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome, presided over by the Holy Father Benedict XVI. Given this extraordinariness, and following numerous requests regarding the cult of the new blessed, according to the places and forms established by law, this Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments is communicating in a timely manner what has been decided in this respect.

Mass of Thanksgiving

It has been decided that during the year following the beatification of John Paul II, namely until May 1, 2012, it will be possible to celebrate a Holy Mass of Thanksgiving to God in certain places and on certain days. The responsibility to establish the day or days, as well as the place or places of the gathering of the People of God, is the competence of the diocesan bishop for his diocese. Considering the local needs and pastoral conveniences, it is granted that a holy Mass be celebrated in honor of the new blessed on a Sunday during the year, and on a day between Nos. 10-13 of the table of liturgical days.

For religious families, it is the competence of the superior general to indicate the days and places [for the Thanksgiving Mass] for the entire religious family.

The appropriate collect [opening prayer] is to be prayed in honor of the blessed (see below) at the Mass, with the possibility of singing the gloria: The other prayers, such as the preface, and antiphons and the readings, are to be taken from the Common of Pastors, for a Pope. If it is celebrated on a Sunday, the readings can be adapted from the Common of Pastors for the first reading, with the related responsorial psalm, and for the Gospel.

Inserting the New Blessed Into Local Liturgical Calendars

It is established that the Oct. 22 celebration of the memorial of Blessed John Paul II, Pope, be inserted into the calendar of the Diocese of Rome and of the dioceses of Poland, and that it be celebrated every year.

The proper liturgical texts for the Mass are the collect and the second reading of the office of readings, with the related responsorial psalm (see below). The other texts are drawn from the Common of Pastors, for a Pope.

With regard to other local calendars, the request to place an optional memorial of Blessed John Paul II may be presented to this congregation by a conference of bishops for its territory, by the diocesan bishop for his diocese or by a superior general for a religious family.

Dedication of a Church to God in Honor of the New Blessed

An indult of the Apostolic See is needed to dedicate a church in honor of Blessed John Paul II (cf. Ordo dedicationis ecclesiae, Praenotanda, No. 4), except when his liturgical memorial has been inserted in the local calendar: in this case the indult is not need, and in the church named for the blessed, the memorial is raised to a liturgical feast (cf. Congregatio de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum, Notificatio de cultu Beatorum, May 21, 1999, No. 9).

Anything whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding.

From the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, April 2, 2011.

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The Text of the Collect

The opening prayer for the Mass in honor of the forthcoming blessed is published below. The other prayers -- the preface, the antiphons and the readings -- are from the Common of Pastors, for a Pope. The first reading is Isaiah 52:7-10; the responsorial psalm is 96/95:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10); the alleluia is John 10:14; the Gospel is John 21:15-17.

Common of Pastors, for a Pope

Collect

O God, who are rich in mercy

and who willed that the Blessed John Paul II

should preside as Pope over your universal Church,

grant, we pray, that instructed by his teaching,

we may open our hearts to the saving grace of Christ,

the sole Redeemer of mankind.

Who lives and reigns.

Collecta

Deus, dives in misericórdia,

qui beátum Ioánnem Paulum, papam,

univérsae Ecclésiae tuae praeésse voluísti,

praesta, quaésumus, ut, eius institútis edócti,

corda nostra salutíferae grátiae Christi,

uníus redemptóris hóminis, fidénter aperiámus.

Qui tecum.

[Translation by ZENIT]

Thanks to Fra. Dave dela Cruz for a copy of the decree.