The Gift Of His Life 

Some eighty five years past

Came a man who would change us

Sent from God to us as a gift

A man who would guide us

In times of trouble and change

A man to help us heal the rift

Through loss and through war

In courage and strength

With prayer as his staff he lived

Bearing the pain of a special life

He lived the way of the cross

A triumph over strife

A boy, a man, a priest forever

With gifts of the Spirit he lived

Of hope, trust, and faith

His path so ordained in heaven

Serving all mankind with his life

His life for us was leaven

A life lived in prayer

Speaking for us and with us each day

Close to God’s merciful heart

He taught us to trust in His way

And that God from us, to the end

Will never part

Our teacher, our prophet, our friend

For all mankind he lived His faith

And preached love through deed and word

Taught that life is prayer, a shining Christ light

In the darkness of hunger, thirst and fear

He lived and died teaching what is right

This father showed that love is a smile,

Or a hug, or even a tear

He spoke boldly the way of the truth and of life

And lived as Jesus taught without fear

With a touch of his hand or a wave and blessing

Gave us all freely his loving care

He’s left us now and there’s a void

Where we once placed our hope and trust

We feel empty now that he has gone

Once filled by his presence and so by his love

But left behind with us now his blessed gift

That through his life our hearts did lift

With shared graces from God above

A star of brilliant light has passed

Lighting the night of life’s dark sky

He taught us well

Our fears he did quell

But this gift, with John Paul, did not die

Love lives on, in the lessons he taught

In our memory and consciousness now

Through his great life we have proof

In our minds and our hearts

That upon Your Church the Holy Spirit

Has been truly endowed

Thank You dear Lord for this gift of great life

You have sent to lead us two score and seven

Your Church with grace You have filled.

With our new Pope may it continue to thrive

All souls now on earth join with those in heaven

In prayer and trust in Your holy will.