St. Pius V and St. Pius X, John XXIII and John Paul II

Two popes are to be canonized next Sunday, two popes closely connected with Vatican Council II, the council that launched a revolution in the Church comparable to that of 1789, according to Cardinal Suenens, and to that of 1917, according to Fr. Congar.

How can John XXIII and John Paul II join the ranks of the saints in the footsteps of their two canonized predecessors, St. Pius V, who applied the Council of Trent, and St. Pius X, who fought against Modernism?

How could we invoke John XXIII and John Paul II as the Church asks us in her divine liturgy to invoke St. Pius V: “O God, Who for the overthrow of the enemies of Thy Church and for the restoration of divine worship didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Pius as supreme Pontiff: grant that we may be defended by his patronage and so cleave to Thy service, that overcoming all the wiles of our enemies, we may rejoice in perpetual peace”? (Prayer from the Mass of May 5)

How could we seek the intercession of John XXIII and John Paul II, as the Church asks us to seek the intercession of St. Pius X: “O God, Who to safeguard Catholic faith and to restore all things in Christ, didst fill the Supreme Pontiff, St. Pius, with heavenly wisdom and apostolic fortitude: grant in Thy mercy, that by striving to fulfill his ordinances and to follow his example, we may reap eternal rewards”? (Prayer from the Mass of September 3)

St. Pius V and St. Pius X, in the glory of the Church Triumphant, pray for the Church Militant here below.

Fr. Alain Lorans

You can also read :
Letter to Friends and Benefactors no. 82
A Brochure on the Canonization of John Paul II
The dilemma presented by John Paul II’s canonization
Doubts about John XXIII and John Paul II’s canonizations
The canonization of Vatican II