On the Feast of the Holy Family, A Prayer from Saint John Paul II

Pope John Paul at Closing Mass of WYD Denver in Chasuble

Pope John Paul II’s Prayer on the Feast of the Holy Family

O Joseph, guardian and protector of the Holy Family, pray for us that through the example of your holy obedience all who dwell here may be guided in their daily work and journey of faith.

O Mary, our mother, through you Christ made his home with us on earth and sanctified the life of our homes. Pray for us that we may grow in holiness by your example of compassion and merciful love.

O Jesus, we set before you now our trials and joys. Look graciously upon this home, that it be dedicated to your Holy Family in peace, faith, and the example of your merciful love. Protect us both here and away, and welcome those who have gone before us into your heavenly home.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“I wish to invoke the protection of the Holy Family of Nazareth.. it is therefore the prototype and example for all Christian families..St. Joseph was a just man..may he always guard, protect and enlighten families. May the Virgin Mary, who is the Mother of the Church, also be the Mother of the Church of the home…May Christ the Lord, the Universal King, the King of families, be present in every Christian home as He was at Cana, bestowing light, joy, serenity, and strength.

St. John Paul II, pray for us!

: Pope John Paul II at Fatima

: Rosary Given to Father Kunst by Pope Saint John Paul II in 2004

: 7 Rosaries Gifted to Father Richard Kunst From Pope Saint John Paul II & One from Bp. Robert Brom

: Coat of Arms of Saint John Paul II

: Pope John Paul at Closing Mass of WYD Denver in Chasuble

: Chasuble Worn by the Pope Saint John Paul II For the Closing Mass of World Youth Day, Denver, 1993

The Featured Image: The Chasuble Worn by Pope John Paul II at the Closing Ceremony of World Youth Day Denver 1993 & Commentary by Father Richard Kunst

Father Richard Kunst, Curator & Commentator

This is one of my favorite items, of course, the chasuble that John Paul II wore for World Youth Day Denver. The chasuble came as a gift from our former bishop, Dennis Schnurr, who is now the Archbishop of Cincinnati. He was the head of World Youth Day Denver 1993. Over 500,000 people attended this gathering. And at the end of a very well run program, Pope John Paul gave the chasuble to him as a gift. And when Archbishop Schnurr became the bishop of Duluth, MN, of course, being the big collector that I am, I got very envious, and I probably had to go to confession at that point!

But then he appointed me the Vocation Director, and he said, “Father Kunst, if you get 25 seminarians at one time in the diocese of Duluth, I’ll give it to you.”

And so I worked really hard to accomplish this, obviously for better reasons than the chasuble. But eventually we got 23–close, but not the 25. And then he gave it to me as a gift. And so it’s an incredibly wonderful item (and a wonderful story included below this commentary).

We can see on the front of the chasuble we have the letters of the Virgin Mary–A V., and on the back there is an actual image of his coat of arms. This was used on the feast of the Assumption, August 15, at the closing Mass at World Youth Day.

Pope John Paul II inspired so many in my generation to the priesthood, through his life as a priest and as our Holy Father. The item is unique both for me and for my co-host, Father Ryan Moravitz, because we both have such personal stories connected to it.

Father Moravitz helped to get a zucchetto of Pope Benedict XVI when he was studying at the North American College in Rome. The agreement that the two of us made was that if Father Moravitz could get a zucchetto of Benedict XVI for the Collection,

he could wear the chasuble of Pope John Paul II for his first Mass. And sure enough, Father Moravitz did get the zucchetto. So only Bishop Schnurr, the Holy Father and the two of us have worn the chasuble.

It is humbling to have worn this chasuble. Father Moravitz remembers Father Kunst putting the chasuble on him in the sacristy prior to his first Mass of Thanksgiving. “Just being able to celebrate Eucharist in that chasuble that our Holy Father used in the United States at such an historic event in our nation, with World Youth Day in Denver–it is just an awesome thing.”

The Catholic Digest right after the Pope died listed the top 10 events of the pontificate of John Paul II. And they listed World Youth Day in the top 10. So that’s pretty significant. And then for us to have this most important item associated with that event and with this great Pope, and to have been able to wear it, is such a wonderful thing.

Both of these priests were present at the beatification. Father Kunst said he always had it in his mind that the last time he would wear the chasuble would be in the event of John Paul’s beatification.

And it was!