A Prayer

O God of sun and rain and sea,

powerful enough to be broken in your son,

and glorious enough to come to life again,

We praise you today,

especially for two among the cloud of witnesses

that guide us on our way,

William Joseph Chaminade and

the one who named him blessed,

John Paul II.

One marked by a vision in exile

and the other by prophecy in a small Italian town.

Two men centuries apart,

but whose lives converge

in day of birth and interment,

in times of hiding in plain sight,

in worlds at war,

in missions apostolic

before our lady’s heart.

Inspire us by their memory

toward the new heavens and new earth they sought,

where one heart and one spirit will rule,

where solidarity will be the norm,

a culture of life and of love,

each face reflecting gloriously the risen son,

with every tear wiped away,

and over death the victory won

always and for ever,

your kingdom finally come.

Father Joe Lackner
April 8, 2005