He guided the Council to its close in 1965 and led the Church through the turbulent years afterward. His 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae, on marriage and the transmission of life, brought fierce criticism, and he suffered for it. He died on 6 August 1978 and was canonized in 2018. His feast is kept on 29 May, the anniversary of his priestly ordination in 1920.
Historical Context
In 1975 he wrote that “modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” It’s still quoted often.
A May 29 Prayer
Lord, on the feast of St Paul VI,
we pray for the Church he served in a time of great change.
Make us faithful to your truth and open to the world you love.
Heal the divisions between Christians.
Let my life be a witness, not just my words.
St Paul VI, pray for us.
Amen.
For Christian Unity
Lord, as Pope Paul and Patriarch Athenagoras embraced,
bring your divided Church together again.
Amen.
For the Pope
Lord, bless our Holy Father.
Give him wisdom, strength and holiness.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer
- On 29 May.
- During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 18-25 January.
- When praying for the pope and bishops.
Scripture Connection
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” — John 17:21
Paul VI took Jesus’ prayer for unity seriously, crossing old divides to embrace other Christians. It’s a prayer every Christian can join.
Related prayers
For St Paul the Apostle, his namesake, see the Prayer to St Paul. For May, the May 26 Prayer. For priests, the Prayer for Ordination.