Happy Mercy Sunday!

Divine Mercy Novena starts tomorrow...

The Divine Mercy Novena

Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. He gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said:
"These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy."

In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:

"On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for their souls."

(Check here for the novena details)

Divine Mercy

The Divine Mercy message has the power to take over a person's life. What effect can the message have on the way a person lives? The following list is a start.

You know you're a Divine Mercy apostle if:

1. You estimate distances in terms of Divine Mercy Chaplets ("Such-and-such a place is about two chaplets away ...").

2. You take a slightly longer way to drive home so that you can complete the chaplet you are reciting.

3. At Sunday Mass you mix up parts of the Apostles' Creed with the Nicene Creed.

4. You arrive slightly late for your 3 p.m. appointments because you pray the chaplet during the "Hour of Great Mercy".

5. When you hear that someone is dying, or has died, you immediately recite the conversion prayer that Jesus gave to St. Faustina: "O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You" (Diary, 187).

6. When you see a crucifix you also see the blood and water gushing forth from the Heart of Jesus.

7. You call St. Faustina "my Faustina," as Pope John Paul II did.

8. You carry Divine Mercy brochures and prayercards in your car/handbag just in case you meet someone who may need one.

9. You don't mind waiting anymore because you can use the time to pray the conversion prayer for those around you.

10. You have read St. Faustina's Diary so many times that you need to keep a tally on the inside cover.

11. When you pray the Rosary, you say the Apostles' Creed after the first Hail Mary.

12. You have the image of The Divine Mercy in various places around your home.

13. You hand out cards so other parishioners can commence the Divine Mercy Novena on Good Friday.

14. You have highlighted or underlined your favorite parts of St. Faustina's Diary.

15. You have memorized a favorite prayer from the Diary.

16. On your travel wish-list is a pilgrimage to the Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Poland.

17. You have tremendous trust in Jesus.

18. You don't mind not being able to sleep at night, because it gives you time to pray the chaplet.

19. You keep Rosary beads under your pillow.

20. You are learning more and more about how important the Passion of our Lord is to our salvation.

21. When you go to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, you take the Diary.

22. You pray the chaplet when you wake up in the morning, just in case you forget to pray it at 3 o'clock.

(By Annonymous)

Divine Mercy Sunday!

CHECK HERE for information on Divine Mercy Sunday from the National Shrine.


"Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world; for the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world" (Saint Faustina's Diary, 476).


"The Message of Divine Mercy has always been near and dear to me… which I took with me to the See of Peter and which it in a sense forms the image of this Pontificate."-Pope John Paul the Great



A meditation from From "One Bread One Body"
Jesus, if you would give us the grace of true understanding of
Your love for us, we would just kneel before You, and praise You,
and adore You out of sheer wonder at Your unconditional love.

We would be astounded at the mercy of Your love, and cry out in
awe at "Your mercy, mercy, mercy".

Yes, Jesus, You are a God of justice, but Your heart is full of
compassion and mercy.

Thank You oh Christ, for Your love, and thank You for Your
constant giving us of the graces that we might love You and all
in return.

Christ, Your heart is on fire with the love.

Please, with this flame of love, melt our human heart, and let
it become one with You.

Let our hearts beat in union with You, and let us see others
with Your eyes, and see their needs with Your heart. Thank You,
Amen and Amen.


Thank you, Lord Jesus, for loving us totally.

Divine Mercy Sunday coming up this Sunday!

Words of Pope John Paul II
" I give thanks to the Divine Providence that I have been enabled to contribute personally to the fulfilment of Christ's Will, through the Institution of the Feast of Divine Mercy. I pray unceasingly that God will have Mercy on us and on the whole world."

Pope John Paul II (7/6/97)
Shrine of Divine Mercy, Cracow, Poland.


Visit here for preparations for Divine Mercy Sunday.

GO TO: Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) for special presentations offered for Divine Mercy Sunday.

The Legacy of John Paul the Great

Two years ago, on April 2, the Vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope John Paul II went home to God. In his writings and homilies, Pope John Paul II described Divine Mercy as the answer to the world's problems and the message of the third millennium. The following is an excerpt from the definitive edition of John Paul II: The Great Mercy Pope, (Marian Press, 2006), by Fr. George Kosicki, CSB — a book that describes how the message of Divine Mercy shaped the pontificate of John Paul II:


Among the many legacies of John Paul II, his legacy of Divine Mercy stands out as exceptional. Among the two dozen marvelous legacies of John Paul II which I have read about, only in the legacies of Divine Mercy and in the apostolic letter At the Beginning of the New Millennium (January 6, 2001) where he gives the prayer "contemplate the face of Jesus with Mary" does he specifically say that he is passing them on to the whole world as the message and prayer for the Third Millennium:

At the canonization of St. Faustina, John Paul II said in his homily:



Sister Faustina's canonization has a particular eloquence. By this act I intend today to pass this message on to the new millennium. I pass it on to all people, so that they will learn to know even better the true face of God and the true face of their brethren (Homily of Canonization, Divine Mercy Sunday, April 20, 2000).


A year later another expression of John Paul II's legacy of Divine Mercy was given at his Regina Caeli talk, following the Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday (April 22, 2001) honoring the anniversary of the canonization of St. Faustina. Again, he passes on this message of hope to the third millennium:



Filled with joy we present ourselves before the Risen One today and say with faith: "Jesus, I trust in You!" May this confession full of love strengthen everyone on the path of daily life and encourage them to undertake works of mercy for their brothers and sisters. May this be a message of hope for the entire new millennium.


The Pope then challenges us to collaborate with the plan of Divine Mercy for the whole world:

See continuation of article here.

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Mercy Novena: Day Three

Third Day:
Today bring to Me ALL DEVOUT AND FAITHFUL SOULS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me.

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wonderous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Divine Mercy Novena: second day

This is a novena you may start now (the first day is in yesterday's post) or nine days before Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter Sunday) or at any time of the year.

Second Day:
Today bring to Me THE SOULS OF PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave Me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind.

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard—upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

What is Divine Mercy?

Divine Mercy Sunday
Divine Mercy Sunday is the Second Sunday of the Easter season. It was named by Pope John Paul II at the canonization of St. Maria Faustina on April 30, 2000, and then officially decreed by the Vatican.

Divine Mercy Sunday can be seen as the convergence of all the mysteries and graces of Holy Week and Easter Week. It is like a multi-exposure photograph of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Week. Or we can think of it as a converging lens that focuses the light of the Risen Christ into a radiant beam of merciful love and grace for the whole world.

In fact, Jesus revealed in various revelations to St. Faustina that it was His desire that we celebrate this special feast. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy. (Diary, 699)

Our Lord revealed to St. Faustina His desire to literally flood us with His graces on that day. Just consider each of the promises and desires that He expressed about Mercy Sunday, which are recorded in the main passage of the Diary — passage 699 — about Mercy Sunday:

On that day the very depths of My tender Mercy are open.

I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon these souls who approach the Fount of My mercy [the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist].

The soul that will go to Confession [beforehand] and receive Holy Communion [on that day] shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.

On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened.

Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet.

The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness.

It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter.


Forms of Devotion
The Divine Mercy Novena of Chaplets
A novena is typically nine days of prayer in preparation of a celebration of a feast day. At the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Novena is recited perpetually at the Hour of Great Mercy — the three o'clock hour.

The Chaplet can be said anytime, but the Lord specifically asked that it be recited as a novena. He promised, "By this Novena (of Chaplets), I will grant every possible grace to souls."

Intentions
For each of the nine days, our Lord gave Saint Faustina a different intention:
All mankind, especially sinners; the souls of priests and religious; all devout and faithful souls; those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know Jesus; the souls who have separated themselves from the Church; the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children; the souls who especially venerate and glorify His mercy; the souls detained in purgatory; and souls who have become lukewarm.

"I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fountain of My mercy, that they may draw therefrom strength and refreshment and whatever grace they have need of in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour of death."

NOVENA
First Day:
Today bring to Me ALL MANKIND, ESPECIALLY ALL SINNERS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me.

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

Roses from Potatoes: A Recipe for Redemption

Do you want to hear about potatoes today? Why potatoes? It has to do with Saint Faustina and we know that Divine Mercy Sunday is right around the corner. We have to start thinking about that and perhaps start a novena today. But for now, I invite you to read this article about Saint Faustina draining the potatoes.