Feast Day for Venerable Pope John Paul II Announced

October 22 will mark the feast of Pope John Paul II. The date chosen marks the day of his papal inauguration in 1978.

Like that news? Then you'll love this. Usually, thanksgiving Masses for a beatification are limited to places where the person lived or worked. However, “the exceptional character of the beatification of the Venerable John Paul II, recognized by the entire Catholic Church spread throughout the world,” led to a general permission for the thanksgiving Mass, as stated by a decree from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. It is up to the ordinary when and where the Mass(es) are offered. The only requirement is that they are celebrated previous to May 1, 2012 (a year after his beatification).

As I read the announcement, I began to think to myself of all the changes that will occur when/if he is canonized a saint. For example, we'd start seeing churches named Pope John Paul II. I don't know why I find this so interesting, but the idea that someone is living memory would be plastered across churches around the world is just... interesting.

But don't go getting your excitement up too early. Simply being beatified, Venerable John Paul II will not be placed in the liturgical calendar for diocese other than Rome and Poland (except for up to May 1, 2012), and his patronage will not be used for parish and church names (again, in diocese other than Rome and Poland). Though a diocese may request the Vatican to use his name or place it on their liturgical calendar, tradition says that they'll be denied. With canonization, however, universal public liturgical veneration becomes possible.

Let us pray the collect for Pope John Paul II:
O God, who are rich in mercy and who willed that the Blessed John Paul II should preside as Pope over your universal Church, grant, we pray, that instructed by his teaching, we may open our hearts to the saving grace of Christ, the sole redeemer of mankind. Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

UPDATE:
General Decree
Office of Readings
Collect and Readings
Vatican Biography
25th Anniversary of his Pontificate
Travels
Documents
World Youth Days