Prayer for the Canonization of John Paul the Great

I am way behind on this one, but Fr. Shane Tharp over at the Catholic Ragemonkeys composed a beautiful prayer for us all to use to pray for the intercession of John Paul II and for his canonization. Yes, it's soon, but hey, as Fr. Tharp observes, "Without being sacriligious, personally, he went to Heaven so directly, there were skid marks on the carpet of the papal apartment." I couldn't agree more!

Particularly since Pope Benedict has formally opened the cause (5 years early!), I think we should all get this one down!

Prayer for the Canonization of John Paul the Great

God of Mercy and of Justice,
you graciously deigned to give to your Church a firm foundation stone as she travels her pilgrim way in the world.
Your Son called Simon the Apostle, Peter,
making him the rock upon which the Church would be founded.
In the successors of St. Peter, we hear you speaking,
strengthening the faith of your children,

You have, in every age and in every place,
led the people claimed by your Son through the visible shepherd of our unity.
We praise you for your generous care for our souls.
In our own time, you have blessed the Church with an outstanding example of truth and virtue
in the person of John Paul II.
He made of himself a gift, freely and totally given, to your Son through His Blessed Mother.
Despite sorrow in his life, he has called us, in your name,
to be not afraid,
to set out into deep water,
to not settle for mediocrity.
We praise you and thank you for your generosity.

If it be in accordance with your will,
raise this holy man to the glories of the altar.
Manifest in our times signs and wonders which demonstrate that he rests now in the glory of Heaven.
By his intercession, I bring my petition to you. (Mention your petition here.)

Glory and honor to you,
through your Son,
in the power of the Holy Spirit,
now and until the ages of man run dry.
We ask these things through Christ our Lord. Amen.