Goal Is Holiness Through Prayer

This past Saturday, on the feast of All Saints, Pope John Paul appeared at his study window to recite the Angelus with pilgrims gathered below in St. Peter's Square and, in remarks before the prayer, said that this feast, "by inviting us to look at the immense multitude of those who have already reached the blessed homeland, shows us the path that leads to that destination."

He added that "the Saints and Blesseds of heaven remind us, pilgrims on earth, that the support we have every day in order to never lose sight of our eternal destination is above all prayer. For many of them this was the rosary, a prayer to which a year was dedicated, a year that closed yesterday "“ that offered a privileged means for their daily talk with the Lord. The Rosary led them to an ever greater intimacy with Christ and the Blessed Virgin. The Rosary can truly be a simple and accessible way for everyone to holiness, which is the vocation of every baptized person as well today's feast reminds us."

After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father noted that "it is the pious tradition during these days for faithful to go visit the graves of their dear ones and to pray for them. I too am spiritually visiting cemeteries in many parts of the world where those who preceded us in the sign of faith lie. In particular I pray for the repose of the souls of those about whom no one thinks, as well as for the many victims of violence."

On the feast of All Saints, it is customary for the Pope to go into the Vatican Grottoes to pray for his predecessors. This evening, however, according to Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, Pope John Paul celebrated a Mass in his private chapel for the 25th anniversary of the death of Popes Paul VI and John Paul I., who had also used this chapel.

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