John Paul II

After twenty six years our pope has passed 

Who sought millions of souls with the net he cast

Steadfast in spirit, proclaiming with love 

The splendor of truth that comes from above. 

 The family established as society’s core 

Upon this small block we are called to build more. 

To train up our children the way they should go 

This faith of our fathers the young ones must know. 

In his letter to families the pope said we must 

Instill in our children a posture of trust 

For the love of our God is greater you see 

Than trials we have, matter not what they be. 

In this modern world the church now we see 

As a beacon of light there to lead you and me 

Standing firm in the face of evil that’s bent 

On making us think we don’t need to repent 

 In the advent of this new millennium he 

Gave us saints for examples of how we should be 

Maximilian, Faustina, Jose Escriva 

Edith Stein, Blessed Teresa, Gianna Molla. 

 Our Church and the Eucharist truly are one 

The body of Christ taken flesh in the Son 

Too few of us recognize, oh what great powers 

 He gives to disciples that make holy hours. 

 In his letter to children the pope did reveal 

That faith comes from parents that do not conceal 

Their love for the Lord, for what’s right and what’s true, 

And the burden of praying for peace he gives you. 

 For teenagers too he composed words of wisdom 

To show they could enter, with faith, to God’s kingdom 

In spite of attractions of flesh that abound. 

In loving God’s way is true happiness found. 

 Our faith comes with reason, the two are a pair 

They work well together when we try to share 

With impoverished souls in luxury’s lap 

Who think they have all, but really it’s crap. 

The Gospel of Life includes hardship and pain. 

There is only one way for us to remain 

With the lord of our life who carried the cross, 

But to trust in the lord counting all else as loss. 

 The work of all humans is sure sanctified 

By offering God all our toils beside. 

If work is our prayer we pray constantly, 

Reflecting to others how his glory be. 

The role of the layman, no small task indeed,

Go into my vineyard was his fervent plead. 

Why just stand here idle when work must be done? 

There’s fruit to be picked, and you are the one. 

 A call to perfection in every heart ring, 

For we too are called priest, prophet and king. 

We all are accounted to act as the leaven, 

That works upon others and leads them to heaven. 

 He accomplished great things as our Pope for a while, 

Our papa touched millions with his ready smile. 

To visit all people he just couldn’t wait. 

We’ve now come to know him as John Paul the Great!