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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Blessed John Paul's New Tomb

Cardinal Stanislav Dziwisz, Archbishop of Krakow and former personal secretary of Pope John Paul II, prays in front of the Tomb of  new blessed John Paul II at the St. Peter's Basilica on May 3, 2011 in Vatican City, Vatican.  The body of John Paul II was moved to the new resting place, near Michelangelo's 'The Pieta' statue, after a lavish beatification ceremony.

Here is a photograph of Blessed John Paul's new tomb, beneath the altar of St Sebastian in St Peter's Basilica.  Cardinal Dziwisz is depicted about to offer Mass. 

The tomb is beautiful - simple and noble.  It will probably become the most visited placed in the basilica, I can imagine the crowds that will congregate around it.  I can also imagine the efforts priests will go  to get a chance to offer Mass over the tomb.  Priests, with the proper identification papers, can offer Mass in St Peter's between 6.30 and 9am each morning, and there are a few altar/tombs which are in great demand - St Peter's, St Pius X, Blessed John XXIII. 

Whenever I came to St Peter's to offer Mass I always got the altar/tomb of St Gregory Nazianzen, to whom I have a devotion.  Call it coincidence?  Nah, just Greg looking after a friend.  Perhaps next time I'm over, Blessed John Paul might grant me the favour of offering Mass at his tomb.

Tomb of St Gregory Nazianzen beneath the Image of Our Lady in St Peter's Basilica


UPDATE: Some reactions to the new tomb as recorded by the Catholic News Agency.

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