THE FEAST OF THE DIVINE MERCY

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THE FEAST OF THE DIVINE MERCY


According to Jesus' wish, the Feast of Mercy is to be celebrated on the FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. Jesus is showing us the close connection between the Easter mystery of man's Redemption and this feast. The liturgy for this day extols God most fully in the mystery of His mercy.

The Feast of Mercy is to be not only a day designated for the singular worship of God's Mercy, but also a day of grace for all people, particularly for sinners. Jesus attached great promises to this feast, the greatest of which is connected with the reception of Holy Communion on that day. It is the promise of Complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. In other words, this grace is equal only to the one we receive in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. The greatness of this feast lies also in the fact that everyone, even those who are converted that very day, may obtain any grace for the asking, if what they ask for be compatible with God's will.

"I want this image, Jesus told Sister Faustina,.... to be solemnly blessed on the FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My Mercy. The souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day are open all the divine floodgates through which graces flow. Let no soul fear to draw near ME, even though its sins be as scarlet.

The Feast of My Mercy has issued forth from My very depths for the consolation of the whole world and is confirmed in the vast depths of My tender Mercy."

THE HOUR OF MERCY

"As often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My Mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners; for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every soul."

It is Jesus' desire that the moment of His Death on the Cross (3:00 p.m.) be venerated every day; the hour which He said was the hour of grace for the whole world-mercy triumphed over justice.

Try your best, Jesus instructed Sr. Faustina, to make the Stations of the Cross in this hour, provided that your duties permit it; and if your are not able to make the Stations of the Cross, then at least step into the chapel for a moment and adore, in the Blessed Sacrament, My Heart, which is full of mercy; and should you be unable to step into the chapel, immerse yourslf in the prayer there where happen to be, if only for a very brief instant.

This is the hour, as Jesus promised, in which you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking. "I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of ME in virtue of My Passion."

The Hour of Mercy is associated explicitely with three o'clock in the afternoon.

PRAYERS AT THE HOUR OF MERCY

O Blood and Water,
which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus
as a fount of Mercy for us,
I TRUST IN YOU.

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Who is Sister Faustina?


SAINT FAUSTINA

The task of "proclaiming and ntroducing into life" the mystery of God's mercy, and imploring that mercy for the world, which the Holy Father Pope John Paul the Great places before the entire Church, was entrusted to Saint Faustina as her life's witness and mission.

Sister Faustina was born in 1905 in the village of Glogowiec near Lodz as the third of ten children in the family of Marianna and Stanislaw Kowalski. From her childhood she was distinguished by a love for prayer, diligence at work, obedience and a sensitivity for the poor. She attended not quite three years of elementary schooling, and later, as a teenager, left her family home to work as a domestic servant.

At the age of twenty she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in which, as Sister Maria Faustina, she spent thirteen years of her life performing the duties of cook, gardener, and doorkeeper. Her life, though seemingly very ordinary, monotonous and drab, concealed it itself an exceptionally profound union with God. From her childhood she desired to become a great saint, and she consistently strove toward that goal, working together with Jesus for the salvation of lost souls, even to the extent of offering her life as a sacrifice for sinners. Therefore, her life as a religious was marked with the stigma of suffering, but also with extraordinary mystical graces.

It was to this religious, who though simple, had boundless trust in God, that Jesus directed that amazing declaration, "In the Old Covenant I sent prophets wielding thunderbolts to My people. Today I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart."

The mission of the Saint Faustina consisted in 3 tasks:

- reminding the world of the truth of our faith revealed in Holy Scripture about the merciful love of God towards every human being.

- entreating God's mercy for the whole world, among others through the practice of new forms of devotion to Divine Mercy, such as the veneration of the image in the Divine Mercy with the inscription: Jesus I Trust in You,the feast of the Divine Mercy celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter, chaplet to the Divine Mercy, prayer at the Hour of Mercy (3: pm) and spreading the devotion to the Divine Mercy.

- initiating the apostolic movement of the Divine Mercy which undertakes the task of proclaiming and entreating God's mercy for the world and strives for perfection in the spirit of childlike confidence in God, expressed in the fulfillment of His will and the attitude of mercy towards one's neighbor.

Worn out and weakened by tuberculosis and the sufferings she bore in sacrifice for sinners, Sister Faustina died in the odor of sanctity in Krakow on October 5, 1938 at the age of 33.

On the first Sunday after Easter, April 18, 1993, in St. Peter's Square in Rome, Pope John Paul the Great declared her one of the community of the Saint. On the following day during his general audience he said, "God has spoken to us through the spiritual wealth of Saint Sister Faustina Kowalski. She left to the world the great message of Divine Mercy and an incentive to complete self-surrender to the Creator. God endowed her with a singular grace that enabled her to experience His mercy through mystical encounter and by a special gift of contemplative prayer.

Saint Sister Faustina, thank you for reminding the world of that great mystery of Divine Mercy; that <<startling mystery>> that inexpressible mystery of the Father, which today every individual and the whole world need so very much."

The Holy Father, Pope John Paul the Great canonized Sister Faustina on the first Sunday after Easter, on April 30, 2000 in St. Peter's Square in Rome.

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How to Pray THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET
Recite on ordinary rosary beads
Begin with:
THE OUR FATHER...
THE HAIL MARY.....
THE APOSTLE'S CREED..

On the "Our Father" beads:
(before each decade)

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.



On the "Hail Mary" beads:
(on the 10 small beads of each decade)

For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whold world.

Concluding Doxology:
(after five decades)

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
(three times)

Optional Conclusion

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit, ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU (3 times)

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The preparationfor this feast is to be a novena consisting of the recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet for nine (9) days, beginning on Good Friday. Sister Faustina's Diary also contains another novena which Jesus dictated for her own personal use and attached to it a promise regardig her person alone. All Christians may likewise make this novena with fervor. I will be posting the novena prayer each day (for you to follow, if you wish), starting on Good Friday which is April 14th and ends on Sunday - Feast of the Divine Mercy ( 1st Sunday after Easter) April 23rd -

[cordapya]

NOVENAbefore the Feast of Mercy

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 the 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 unite 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 forever and ever. Amen.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy...

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SECOND DAY

Today bring to Me the souls of priests and religious, and immerse them in My unfathomabe mercy. It was they who gave Me the 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 us, that we may perform worthy works of mercy, and that all who see us 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 religions; 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 whithout end. Amen.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

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THIRD DAY

Today bring to Me all devout and faithful souls, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross.They were that drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness

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

Eternal Father, trun 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.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

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FOURTH DAY

Today bring to Me the pagans and those who do not yet know me. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.

Most Compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of pagans who as yet do not know You. Let, the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and so not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of pagans and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen

Thed Chaplet of Divine Mercy

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FIFTH DAY

Today bring to Me the souls of heretics and schismatics,and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and heart; that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal, and in this way they alleviate My Passion.

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your heretics and schismatics. Draw them by and do not let them escape from abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to adore the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of heretics and schismatics, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

[cordapya]

NOVENA OF THE DIVINCE MERCY.

[Uhot]

Cordaps, thank you for the reminder. I was really recalling when the feast of the divine mercy was? thank very much again ....