I had to endure many difficult moments,
which I would not wish even on my worst enemies.
Nevertheless, I consider my prison days as a higher
education in humility. In prison I learned a great many
things, as how to be of service to others in their need.
Prison in itself is not such a terrible place after all.
What is frightening is the company one is forced
to keep, being locked up in the same cell with all kinds
of criminals, spies, insane, and some other strange characters.
Blessed Basil
"Prisoner for the Lord"
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O Christ, our Lord and Savior,
in Your boundless love for the human race
You assured us that "whatever we will ask You,
You will do it for us".
Encouraged by your living promise,
we humbly ask You to glorify Your faithful servant,
Bishop Basil Hopko,
who by his trials and tribulations gave living testimony
to his complete trust in You,
hoping to receive from You "a great reward in Heaven".
Inspired by his Trust in You,
we humbly implore you to hear our prayer,
and through the intercession of that Man of Hope,
Bishop Basil, grant us (here make your request).
For you, O Christ our God, are Help to the helpless
and Hope to the hopeless,
and we render glory to You
with Your Eternal Father
and All-Holy Spirit,
now and ever and forever.
Amen.
Beatified on 14 September 2003 by Pope John Paul II at Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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