Prayer to God the Father
by His Holiness Pope John Paul II for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.
Blessed are you, Lord, Father in heaven, who, in your infinite mercy, stooped down
to us in our distress and gave us Jesus, your Son, born of a woman, to be our Saviour and
friend, our brother and redeemer.
We thank you, good Father, for the gift of the Jubilee Year; make it a time of
favour for us, the year of a great return to the father's house, where, full of love, you
await your straying children to embrace them in your forgiveness and welcome them to your
table, in their festive garments.
We praise you, Father, forever!
Father, most merciful, during this Holy Year may our love for you and for our
neighbour grow ever stronger: may Christ's disciples promote justice and peace; may they
proclaim the Good News to the poor; and may the Church our Mother direct her love
especially to the little ones and the neglected.
We praise you, Father, forever!
Father of Justice, may the Great Jubilee be the fitting time for all Catholics to
rediscover the joy of living by your word and obeying your will; may they know the
goodness of fraternal communion, as they break bread together and praise you in hymns and
inspired songs.
We praise you, Father, forever!
Father, rich in mercy, may the holy Jubilee be a time of openness, of dialogue and
encounter, among all who believe in Christ and with the followers of other religions: in
your immense love, be bountiful in mercy to all.
We praise you, Father, forever!
O God, Almighty Father, as we make our way to you, our ultimate destiny, may all
your children experience the gentle company of Mary most holy, image of purest love, whom
you chose to be Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church.
We praise you, Father, forever!
To you, Father of life, eternal source of all that is, highest good and
everlasting light, be honour and glory, praise and thanksgiving, with the Son and with the
Spirit, for ages unending. Amen.
Ioannes Paulus PP. II
|
