Here's a genuine "Great"

Almost without exception, the clerics in my parish have been referring to the former Pope as "John Paul the Great" and, I believe, have renamed the John Paul II Room in this manner.

'Hear, hear!' I say.

Fr. Shane Tharp has written a beautiful prayer for the canonization of John Paul that I will reprint below. I am using it to intercede for some things on my heart. I'll share one of them with you -- I'm within a couple of weeks of putting my house up for sale. It's a slow market in these parts, exacerbated by the fact that I'm a little tardy for the buy/sell rush that comes in the Spring. But I'm asking God to sell it within 9 days of its listing. My Protestant daughter said, "Oh Mom! Say a Novena." Good for her. This may be a foolish request and is certainly minor in the scheme of things. But I trust that the Father likes his children to ask for what they need and even for what they want, trusting him to do what's best.

I'll keep you posted. And, meanwhile, here's Fr. Tharp's prayer:

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.