Prayer for the Third Year of Preparation for
the Great Jubilee of
the Year 2000

by John Paul II

God, Creator of heaven and earth, Father of Jesus and our Father

Blessed are you, Lord,
Father in heaven,
who, in your infinite mercy,
stooped down to us in our distress
and gave us Jesus, your Son, born of a woman,
to be our savior and friend,
our brother and Redeemer.
We thank you, good Father,
for the gift of the Jubilee Year;
make it a time of favor for us,
the year of a great return to the Father’s house,
where, full of love, you await your straying children
to embrace them in your forgiveness
and welcome them to your table,
in their festive garments.

We praise you, Father, for ever!

Father most merciful,
during this Holy Year
may our love for you and for our neighbor
grow ever stronger:
may Christ’s disciples promote justice and peace;
may they proclaim the Good News to the poor,
and may the Church our Mother direct her love
especially to the little ones and the neglected.

We praise you, Father, for ever!

Father of justice,
may the Great Jubilee be the fitting time
for all Catholics to rediscover
the joy of living by your word
and obeying your will;
may they know the goodness of fraternal communion,
as they break bread together
and praise you in hymns and inspired songs.

We praise you, Father, for ever!

Father, rich in mercy,
may the Holy Jubilee be a time of openness, of dialogue and encounter,
among all who believe in Christ
and with followers of other religions:
in your immense love,
be bountiful in mercy to all.

We praise you, Father, for ever!

O God, Almighty Father,
as we make our way to you,
our ultimate destiny,
may all your children experience
the gentle company of Mary most holy,
image of purest love,
whom you chose to be Mother of Christ
and Mother of the Church.

We praise you, Father, for ever!

To you, Father of life,
eternal source of all that is,
highest good and everlasting light,
be honour and glory, praise and thanksgiving,
with the Son and with the Spirit,
for ages unending. Amen

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