101 years ago in Wadowice was born Karol Wojtyła, the first Polish Pope, Saint John Paul II. In his person, God’s power and kindness become visible to us. He was giving hope to all people around the world. His words encouraged and opened hearts to Christ. We remember John Paul II as a great pope, a great Pole and a great man. Another anniversary of John Paul II’s birth is an opportunity to thank the Lord God for the gift of his pontificate and for his entire life. On Sunday, members of the John Paul II Foundation French Chapter gathered around the altar in the Polish church in Paris. Present was President Daniel Brzakowski and his wife Liliane Brzakowski, Mr. Henri Rogowski, a member of the Administrative Council of the John Paul II Foundation in Rome. There was also the current Consul of the Republic of Poland in Paris, Mrs. Anna Majda and the president of the newly formed Chapter of the John Paul II Foundation in Aulnay sous Bois, Mr. Czesław Noster with his wife Elisabeth. During the Mass celebrated by the Rector of the Polish Catholic Mission in France, Prelate Bogusław Brzyś, we thanked the Lord God for the gift of the Holy Father enjoyed by his Fatherland, the Church and to the entire world. We also thanked for the graces received. John Paul II left so many letters, encyclicals, homilies, but also prayers. It was out of her inspiration that he wrote an encyclical on the Holy Spirit. He once confessed that he had been praying to the Holy Spirit throughout his life. Not long before his death, he wrote it down to be remembered. At the end of the Mass, in expressing this prayer, opening our hearts to its beauty, we asked, together with John Paul II, for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Here is the content of prayer to the Holy Spirit:
“Holy Spirit, I ask you for the gift of wisdom,
for a better understanding of You and of Your divine perfections.
I ask you for the gift of understanding,
for a better understanding of the Holy Spirit and the mysteries of the Holy Faith.
Give me the gift of knowledge,
so that I may know how to orient my life according to the principles of this faith.
Give me the gift of counsel,
so that in all things I may seek counsel from You and always find it with You.
Give me the gift of fortitude,
so that no fear nor any earthly consideration might tear me from You.
Give me the gift of piety,
so that I may always serve Your divine majesty with a filial love.
Give me the gift of fear of God,
so that I may dread sin which offends you O my God. Amen.”
After the Mass, members of the John Paul II Foundation, together with the Rector, Bogusław Brzyś and Mrs. Consul Anna Majda, laid flowers before the bust of the Pope, which is located at the entrance to the church.
Elisabeth Noster
