Wednesday, 3 October 2018
Monday, 5 March 2018
The Universal Power of Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy Sunday will be celebrated throughout the whole Church on April 8, 2018.
This Feast was instituted by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000, in response to a direct request by the Lord Jesus to a Polish nun, St. Faustina Kowalska, whom Pope John Paul II canonized that year.
Beginning in 1931, Jesus began to appear to St. Faustina in her convent in Krakow and asked her to become his "secretary," and take down what he revealed to her for the good of the Church and the world. He revealed to her the message of his divine, merciful love. She wrote down what the Lord said and it filled in her diary — what turned out to be 689 pages in the English translation. The Lord talked about how he wanted to pour out on the world his mercy, how he wanted people to trust in his mercy and ask for it, and how he wanted them to share his merciful love with others.
Jesus didn't teach us anything new about his merciful love; he just reiterated it. What was new was that the Lord Jesus asked the Church, and that means each one of us, to grow in his Divine Mercy by five practices:
a) Divine Mercy Sunday, which we're celebrating today for the fourth time — The Lord said, "I want... the first Sunday after Easter ... to be the Feast of Mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and a 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 soul 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." The Holy Father, four years ago, said, "It is important that we accept in its entirety the message that comes to us from God's Word on this second Sunday of Easter. From now on, throughout the whole Church, this day will take the name of 'Divine Mercy Sunday.'" But we have to live it, seek confession within eight days of the feast and properly receive Holy Communion.
b) To pray to the image of Divine Mercy — The Lord revealed to St. Faustina an image that he desired to be made: "One night when I was in my cell, I perceived the presence of the Lord Jesus dressed in a white tunic. One hand was raised in blessing, the other rested on his chest. From an opening in the tunic in the chest, two great ways were coming out, one read and the other clear... After some time, Jesus said to me, "Paint an image in accordance with what you see, with the inscription, "Jesus, I trust in you."
A little later, Our Lord explained to her the meaning of the two rays: "The two rays represent the Blood and the Water. The white ray represents the Water [baptism], that justifies souls; the red ray represents the Blood that is the life of souls [the Eucharist]. Both rays flow from the depths of my Mercy when, on the Cross, my Heart in agony was opened by the lance."
c) To pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy — This is something that people can pray on Rosary beads. It is a devotion that is happily becoming more and more popular today. St. Faustina heard an interior voice that taught her this prayer. On the larger beads of the Rosary, one says, "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 for those of the whole world." On the ten smaller beads, we pray, "For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world." You pray five "decades" in this way, after which, one prays three times the "Holy, Holy, Holy" from the Good Friday reproaches, "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One," "have mercy on us and on the whole world." What we're doing in this beautiful prayer is offering Christ's own sacrifice during the Triduum, to the Father.
We're lifting up the Eucharist — Christ's body, blood, soul and divinity — and making Christ's prayer our own. There is no more powerful prayer! Jesus promised, "It pleases me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet... if it be compatible with my Will." This is especially true of the moment of death. Jesus specifically asked priests — and I'm obeying him right now — to "recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once [with an attitude of trust, humility and sorrow for sin], he would receive grace from my infinite mercy."
d) To pray particularly at three in the afternoon, the time in which Jesus died on the Cross, invoking the Mercy of the Lord — Jesus said to St. Faustina, "At three in the afternoon, implore my Mercy, especially for sinners, or at least briefly reflect on my Passion, especially on the abandonment I felt at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great Mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to penetrate my mortal sadness. In that hour, I will deny nothing to the soul that asks me in the name of my Passion. Jesus gave three indispensible conditions to hear prayers made at the hour of Mercy: the prayer has to be directed to Jesus, take place at three, and invoke the value and merits of his passion.
e) To make a novena between Good Friday and Divine Mercy Sunday to implore divine mercy. He gave St. Faustina an intention for each day of the novena. He said, "I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fount of My mercy, that they may draw from there strength and refreshment and whatever graces they need in the hardships of life and, especially, at the hour of death.
On each day you will bring to my Heart a different group of souls, and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy, and I will bring all these souls into the house of My Father. The groups, for each of the days, are all humanity, especially sinners; priests and religious; the pious and faithful; those who do not believe in Jesus and who don't yet know him; our separated Christian brothers and sisters; the meek and humble and children; those who venerate the mercy of Jesus; those in Purgatory; and the lukewarm.
As we, in this Mass, offer the Eternal Father in heaven Jesus' body, blood, soul and divinity, we ask the Father, who is Rich in Mercy, to grant us this tremendous gift, so that we might become merciful as he is merciful. In response to Jesus' merciful love shown to us on the Cross, here in the Eucharist, and on Easter Sunday evening when he established the sacrament of his mercy to help us get to heaven, we say, "JESUS, WE TRUST IN YOU."
Credits : Catholic Culture
This Feast was instituted by Pope John Paul II in the year 2000, in response to a direct request by the Lord Jesus to a Polish nun, St. Faustina Kowalska, whom Pope John Paul II canonized that year.
Beginning in 1931, Jesus began to appear to St. Faustina in her convent in Krakow and asked her to become his "secretary," and take down what he revealed to her for the good of the Church and the world. He revealed to her the message of his divine, merciful love. She wrote down what the Lord said and it filled in her diary — what turned out to be 689 pages in the English translation. The Lord talked about how he wanted to pour out on the world his mercy, how he wanted people to trust in his mercy and ask for it, and how he wanted them to share his merciful love with others.
Jesus didn't teach us anything new about his merciful love; he just reiterated it. What was new was that the Lord Jesus asked the Church, and that means each one of us, to grow in his Divine Mercy by five practices:
a) Divine Mercy Sunday, which we're celebrating today for the fourth time — The Lord said, "I want... the first Sunday after Easter ... to be the Feast of Mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and a 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 soul 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." The Holy Father, four years ago, said, "It is important that we accept in its entirety the message that comes to us from God's Word on this second Sunday of Easter. From now on, throughout the whole Church, this day will take the name of 'Divine Mercy Sunday.'" But we have to live it, seek confession within eight days of the feast and properly receive Holy Communion.
b) To pray to the image of Divine Mercy — The Lord revealed to St. Faustina an image that he desired to be made: "One night when I was in my cell, I perceived the presence of the Lord Jesus dressed in a white tunic. One hand was raised in blessing, the other rested on his chest. From an opening in the tunic in the chest, two great ways were coming out, one read and the other clear... After some time, Jesus said to me, "Paint an image in accordance with what you see, with the inscription, "Jesus, I trust in you."
A little later, Our Lord explained to her the meaning of the two rays: "The two rays represent the Blood and the Water. The white ray represents the Water [baptism], that justifies souls; the red ray represents the Blood that is the life of souls [the Eucharist]. Both rays flow from the depths of my Mercy when, on the Cross, my Heart in agony was opened by the lance."
c) To pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy — This is something that people can pray on Rosary beads. It is a devotion that is happily becoming more and more popular today. St. Faustina heard an interior voice that taught her this prayer. On the larger beads of the Rosary, one says, "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 for those of the whole world." On the ten smaller beads, we pray, "For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world." You pray five "decades" in this way, after which, one prays three times the "Holy, Holy, Holy" from the Good Friday reproaches, "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One," "have mercy on us and on the whole world." What we're doing in this beautiful prayer is offering Christ's own sacrifice during the Triduum, to the Father.
We're lifting up the Eucharist — Christ's body, blood, soul and divinity — and making Christ's prayer our own. There is no more powerful prayer! Jesus promised, "It pleases me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet... if it be compatible with my Will." This is especially true of the moment of death. Jesus specifically asked priests — and I'm obeying him right now — to "recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once [with an attitude of trust, humility and sorrow for sin], he would receive grace from my infinite mercy."
d) To pray particularly at three in the afternoon, the time in which Jesus died on the Cross, invoking the Mercy of the Lord — Jesus said to St. Faustina, "At three in the afternoon, implore my Mercy, especially for sinners, or at least briefly reflect on my Passion, especially on the abandonment I felt at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great Mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to penetrate my mortal sadness. In that hour, I will deny nothing to the soul that asks me in the name of my Passion. Jesus gave three indispensible conditions to hear prayers made at the hour of Mercy: the prayer has to be directed to Jesus, take place at three, and invoke the value and merits of his passion.
e) To make a novena between Good Friday and Divine Mercy Sunday to implore divine mercy. He gave St. Faustina an intention for each day of the novena. He said, "I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fount of My mercy, that they may draw from there strength and refreshment and whatever graces they need in the hardships of life and, especially, at the hour of death.
On each day you will bring to my Heart a different group of souls, and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy, and I will bring all these souls into the house of My Father. The groups, for each of the days, are all humanity, especially sinners; priests and religious; the pious and faithful; those who do not believe in Jesus and who don't yet know him; our separated Christian brothers and sisters; the meek and humble and children; those who venerate the mercy of Jesus; those in Purgatory; and the lukewarm.
We obviously don't have the time to describe in greater detail these practices. But there are booklets now available everywhere describing these practices. There are many websites devoted to Divine Mercy. The Lord wishes for each of us to start more deeply to trust in his mercy, to invoke it, receive it and share it. As Jesus said to St. Faustina, "Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustfully to divine mercy." We need to turn to him now for the peace our hearts desire, for the peace our world needs.
As we, in this Mass, offer the Eternal Father in heaven Jesus' body, blood, soul and divinity, we ask the Father, who is Rich in Mercy, to grant us this tremendous gift, so that we might become merciful as he is merciful. In response to Jesus' merciful love shown to us on the Cross, here in the Eucharist, and on Easter Sunday evening when he established the sacrament of his mercy to help us get to heaven, we say, "JESUS, WE TRUST IN YOU."
Credits : Catholic Culture
Saturday, 25 November 2017
Divine Mercy Sunday -- A Perspective On The Blessed Sacrament
There is a great connection between Divine Mercy and the Resurrection.
Jesus Christ specifically requested that the Feast of Divine Mercy be
celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter.
Here we have the culmination and conclusion of salvation history; Divine Mercy which is Eucharistically connected with Easter Sunday which is the Resurrection. This is because the final act, the greatest act, of God's Mercy will be the manifestation of his glory from the Blessed Sacrament.
Now, he is hidden in the Blessed Sacrament. One Day he will manifest his glory and all nations and all peoples will see it. This will not be "His Second Coming". His second coming will be like the sunrise.
What I mean is the revelation of his Eucharistic Glory will be like the first streaks of dawn.
The light of His glory will be his love and mercy.
These are the two rays Saint Faustina saw radiating from the Blessed Sacrament. The white rays representing His "Divine Love" while the pink rays represent His "Divine Mercy".
These are the rays all humanity will one day see.
As Saul, was converted by "A Light that suddenly flashed around him" (Acts 9:3), so will the whole world be converted by the glorious light coming from the Blessed Sacrament. This is what Saint Peter calls "the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord and everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord." (Acts 2:20).
Archbishop Pearce, is a Holy Catholic Bishop who lives in Providence, Rhode Island. After he retired as Bishop of Suva, Fiji he was asked to translate the Diary of Saint Faustina from Polish to English.
According to Archbishop Pearce, the most outstanding vision of Saint Faustina was before the Blessed Sacrament.
With each Holy Hour, made Rays would emanate from the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Christ and encircle the entire world. Every Man, Woman, and Child experiences a new effect of God's Love and Mercy for every "Holy Hour" made.
This is how much Jesus Christ appreciates your Holy Hour !! You so touch the Heart of Jesus Christ by coming to him in the Blessed Sacrament that you touch the "Heart of all Humanity"'.
You win countless graces for many who are far away from God to be converted and come back to the Heart of their God. Your Holy Hour saves souls and brings many people to Heaven who otherwise would have been lost and who would have gone to Hell.
This is called "REPARATION"!! You make up for what is lacking in the members of the "Mystical Body of Christ" by satisfying God's Divine Justice and opening up the floodgates of his Divine Mercy on the whole world.
Jesus Christ wants everyone to be saved and to go to Heaven. He said "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself. (John 12:32).
In our prayers before Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament we lift up all humanity to his "Merciful Heart" and beg him to have mercy on all.
Conclusion :
A Chapel of "Perpetual Adoration" is a powerhouse of prayer exploding in graces benefiting all mankind. The effect and influence of a single holy hour of prayer is the best for the good of all mankind.
Happy and Holy Feast of Divine Mercy Sunday to one and all.
Credits and References :
1) "Divine Mercy"
Could you not watch one hour with me.
April 1998 Newsletter N0- 6
By Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament
2) "Come to Me" in the Blessed Sacrament.
An Excellent Book in more ways than one that consists of 10 Eucharistic Holy Hours.
Here we have the culmination and conclusion of salvation history; Divine Mercy which is Eucharistically connected with Easter Sunday which is the Resurrection. This is because the final act, the greatest act, of God's Mercy will be the manifestation of his glory from the Blessed Sacrament.
Now, he is hidden in the Blessed Sacrament. One Day he will manifest his glory and all nations and all peoples will see it. This will not be "His Second Coming". His second coming will be like the sunrise.
What I mean is the revelation of his Eucharistic Glory will be like the first streaks of dawn.
The light of His glory will be his love and mercy.
These are the two rays Saint Faustina saw radiating from the Blessed Sacrament. The white rays representing His "Divine Love" while the pink rays represent His "Divine Mercy".
These are the rays all humanity will one day see.
As Saul, was converted by "A Light that suddenly flashed around him" (Acts 9:3), so will the whole world be converted by the glorious light coming from the Blessed Sacrament. This is what Saint Peter calls "the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord and everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord." (Acts 2:20).
Archbishop Pearce, is a Holy Catholic Bishop who lives in Providence, Rhode Island. After he retired as Bishop of Suva, Fiji he was asked to translate the Diary of Saint Faustina from Polish to English.
According to Archbishop Pearce, the most outstanding vision of Saint Faustina was before the Blessed Sacrament.
With each Holy Hour, made Rays would emanate from the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Christ and encircle the entire world. Every Man, Woman, and Child experiences a new effect of God's Love and Mercy for every "Holy Hour" made.
This is how much Jesus Christ appreciates your Holy Hour !! You so touch the Heart of Jesus Christ by coming to him in the Blessed Sacrament that you touch the "Heart of all Humanity"'.
You win countless graces for many who are far away from God to be converted and come back to the Heart of their God. Your Holy Hour saves souls and brings many people to Heaven who otherwise would have been lost and who would have gone to Hell.
This is called "REPARATION"!! You make up for what is lacking in the members of the "Mystical Body of Christ" by satisfying God's Divine Justice and opening up the floodgates of his Divine Mercy on the whole world.
Jesus Christ wants everyone to be saved and to go to Heaven. He said "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself. (John 12:32).
In our prayers before Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament we lift up all humanity to his "Merciful Heart" and beg him to have mercy on all.
Conclusion :
A Chapel of "Perpetual Adoration" is a powerhouse of prayer exploding in graces benefiting all mankind. The effect and influence of a single holy hour of prayer is the best for the good of all mankind.
Happy and Holy Feast of Divine Mercy Sunday to one and all.
Credits and References :
1) "Divine Mercy"
Could you not watch one hour with me.
April 1998 Newsletter N0- 6
By Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament
2) "Come to Me" in the Blessed Sacrament.
An Excellent Book in more ways than one that consists of 10 Eucharistic Holy Hours.
Friday, 24 November 2017
Apostles Of Divine Mercy
Apostles of Divine Mercy :
What is an Apostle of Divine Mercy ??
APOSTLE -- is derived from the Greek meaning one who is sent or MESSENGER.
OF DIVINE -- meaning of course of God.
MERCY -- or misericordia in Latin which is made up of 3 smaller words.
MISERIS -- miserable.
COR -- heart or love.
DARE -- to give.
So, an Apostle of Divine Mercy is one who brings the message of God's Love to the miserable. For, no one that is aware of God's existence and love could ever be miserable. Unfortunately, the world is full of miserable people.
The Message of Merciful Love :
Formerly, in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit spoke through the Prophets, today he speaks continuously. Jesus Christ to the Mystic Carmela Carabelli, Milan, May 1968.
The Messages are in the words of "Jesus" himself in the form of conversations with Mamma Carmela profound words of wisdom, words of counsel, and tremendous comfort and answers to questions we never ask because we don't know who to ask.
"I ask your help, as a beggar asks alms, will you help me ?? Jesus Christ Milan, 1969".
Jesus Christ asks for New Apostles :
My beloved daughter, I wish you to find new apostles to make a wide distribution of my message. I want to enter into each family to convert the hardest hearts. Take my Image to Hospitals, Hospices, Schools, Homes, and to the ends of the earth if you can.
Speak now to the whole world of my message of "Merciful Love". I will help you find new apostles. They will be my new elect and the beloved ones of my Heart and they will have a special place therein.
I will bless their families and I will deputise for them in directing their affairs if they give time to me. I will carry out in full that which I have told you in the Gospel. To him who seeks first the Kingdom of God and His Justice all the rest will be given in abundance.
And I say to you : " To anyone who propagates confidence and love towards my Mercy, I will give a hundred fold in this life and the next."
From the message of Merciful Love, Milan 27th April 1969.
History behind the message of Merciful Love :
The Message of Merciful Love, was received by Carmela Carabelli during a period which lasted some ten years from 1968 to 1978. It began in the Year that Rome had at last accepted new information on the "Revelations to the Servant of God" Sister Helena Faustina Kowalska and issued the first of two Decrees by which the Process of Beatification was formally opened on her behalf. The date was 31st January 1968. This was thirty years after the death of Sister Faustina.
In this same year in the north of Italy in the City of Milan, a widow with a large family who had given her whole life to works of mercy and charity in her city was praying one evening when she heard a voice, it said "You will be another witness to my Divine Mercy, I will bless you and give you special graces.
I ask your help as a beggar asks alms, Will you help me ?? I want you to find new Apostles, and once again spread my message of "Merciful Love" to the ends of this Earth."
Mankind keeps losing sight of the meaning of life. On the 12th of April 1969, the eve of Low Sunday, Jesus Christ spoke to her of the Feast of Mercy "a day of great forgiveness and reconciliation".
On the 22nd of March 1970, Sister Faustina herself gave a message to Carmela and her Prayer Group. (The Mother of Divine Love Prayer Group), she said it is not the first time that I come among you but it is the first time that I wish to speak, I am Sister Faustina and I ask you to make with particular devotion the Novena of Divine Mercy, so that all Men will begin to believe in the mystery of salvation, which is contained in the Devotion to the Divine Mercy.
Credits and References :
Divine Mercy Publications
P.O. Box 2005
Dublin 13, Ireland
Apostles Prayer :
Merciful Jesus Christ, We believe in thee and we trust in thee. Come to the aid of our weakness and our incapacity. Grant that we may be able to make thee known and loved by all men, and that confident in the immensity of thy love we may be able to combat the evil which is in us and in all the world, for thy Glory and our salvation Amen.
Nihil Obstat
Pietro Santoro
Bishop of Termoli
This beautiful prayer was inspired by Jesus Christ himself to Mamma Carmela on 22nd of April 1969 in Milan.
What is an Apostle of Divine Mercy ??
APOSTLE -- is derived from the Greek meaning one who is sent or MESSENGER.
OF DIVINE -- meaning of course of God.
MERCY -- or misericordia in Latin which is made up of 3 smaller words.
MISERIS -- miserable.
COR -- heart or love.
DARE -- to give.
So, an Apostle of Divine Mercy is one who brings the message of God's Love to the miserable. For, no one that is aware of God's existence and love could ever be miserable. Unfortunately, the world is full of miserable people.
The Message of Merciful Love :
Formerly, in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit spoke through the Prophets, today he speaks continuously. Jesus Christ to the Mystic Carmela Carabelli, Milan, May 1968.
The Messages are in the words of "Jesus" himself in the form of conversations with Mamma Carmela profound words of wisdom, words of counsel, and tremendous comfort and answers to questions we never ask because we don't know who to ask.
"I ask your help, as a beggar asks alms, will you help me ?? Jesus Christ Milan, 1969".
Jesus Christ asks for New Apostles :
My beloved daughter, I wish you to find new apostles to make a wide distribution of my message. I want to enter into each family to convert the hardest hearts. Take my Image to Hospitals, Hospices, Schools, Homes, and to the ends of the earth if you can.
Speak now to the whole world of my message of "Merciful Love". I will help you find new apostles. They will be my new elect and the beloved ones of my Heart and they will have a special place therein.
I will bless their families and I will deputise for them in directing their affairs if they give time to me. I will carry out in full that which I have told you in the Gospel. To him who seeks first the Kingdom of God and His Justice all the rest will be given in abundance.
And I say to you : " To anyone who propagates confidence and love towards my Mercy, I will give a hundred fold in this life and the next."
From the message of Merciful Love, Milan 27th April 1969.
History behind the message of Merciful Love :
The Message of Merciful Love, was received by Carmela Carabelli during a period which lasted some ten years from 1968 to 1978. It began in the Year that Rome had at last accepted new information on the "Revelations to the Servant of God" Sister Helena Faustina Kowalska and issued the first of two Decrees by which the Process of Beatification was formally opened on her behalf. The date was 31st January 1968. This was thirty years after the death of Sister Faustina.
In this same year in the north of Italy in the City of Milan, a widow with a large family who had given her whole life to works of mercy and charity in her city was praying one evening when she heard a voice, it said "You will be another witness to my Divine Mercy, I will bless you and give you special graces.
I ask your help as a beggar asks alms, Will you help me ?? I want you to find new Apostles, and once again spread my message of "Merciful Love" to the ends of this Earth."
Mankind keeps losing sight of the meaning of life. On the 12th of April 1969, the eve of Low Sunday, Jesus Christ spoke to her of the Feast of Mercy "a day of great forgiveness and reconciliation".
On the 22nd of March 1970, Sister Faustina herself gave a message to Carmela and her Prayer Group. (The Mother of Divine Love Prayer Group), she said it is not the first time that I come among you but it is the first time that I wish to speak, I am Sister Faustina and I ask you to make with particular devotion the Novena of Divine Mercy, so that all Men will begin to believe in the mystery of salvation, which is contained in the Devotion to the Divine Mercy.
Credits and References :
Divine Mercy Publications
P.O. Box 2005
Dublin 13, Ireland
Apostles Prayer :
Merciful Jesus Christ, We believe in thee and we trust in thee. Come to the aid of our weakness and our incapacity. Grant that we may be able to make thee known and loved by all men, and that confident in the immensity of thy love we may be able to combat the evil which is in us and in all the world, for thy Glory and our salvation Amen.
Nihil Obstat
Pietro Santoro
Bishop of Termoli
This beautiful prayer was inspired by Jesus Christ himself to Mamma Carmela on 22nd of April 1969 in Milan.
Thursday, 23 November 2017
Apparitions of Jesus Christ to Saint Faustina
Introduction :
Everywhere you turn, people are talking about Divine Mercy !! Hurricanes, Floods, Tsunamis, Global Warming, Earthquakes, and Fires.
Hardly an article can be written about any of these events without the thought of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Today, marks a significant date for all mankind.
87 years ago on February 22nd 1931 Jesus Christ appeared to Saint Faustina as "The Divine Mercy" with a special mission for her. He told her to paint an image as she witnessed him with two rays of light streaming from his heart, one red and the other pale like water and to sign it "Jesus, I trust in You".
Jesus Christ spent the next seven years speaking to her about his mercy and asked her to record his words in a diary, which she aptly named "Divine Mercy in my Soul". He made known to her that it was her job to prepare the world for his final coming.
Saint Pope John Paul the Great, by Divine Providence was immersed in the message of Divine Mercy at an early age and commented that it was "His Job given to him by God to bring this message to the world".
He later said "I give thanks to Divine Providence that I have been enabled to fulfil the will of the Merciful Christ by instituting the Feast of Divine Mercy". ( This was said on a visit to Poland in the 21st Century.)
Saint Pope John Paul the Great is also known as the "Divine Mercy Pope" simply because of what he did to promote the Divine Mercy Message and Devotion all over the world from 1985 - 2005.
Pope John Paul the Great lifted the ban on dissemination of the Divine Mercy Message and Devotion in 1978/1979. 14-15 years later, precisely in 1993 he beatified Sister Faustina and in the year 2000 he canonized her. He was a pioneer as far as promotion of the Divine Mercy Message and Devotion is concerned.
The Divine Mercy Diary has more than 14 entries where Jesus Christ had requested that a Feast of Mercy be established in the church as a "Last Hope of Salvation".
Saint Pope John Paul the Great established the Feast as Divine Mercy Sunday during the canonization in Rome of Saint Faustina in the Jubilee Year 2000 as the First Saint in the new millennium !!
Saint Pope John Paul the Great personally championed the cause of the Divine Mercy Message and Devotion for 20 long years.
Jesus Christ told Saint Faustina that "From Poland will come forth a spark that will prepare the world for my final coming" ( Diary 1732). No doubt, this was Pope John Paul who not only established the Feast requested by Jesus Christ, but issued an "unprecedented special plenary indulgence and specified; as the duties of priests, the proclamation of that plenary indulgence to all humanity".
If this wasn't proof enough of God's Providence in the matter, Our Beloved Pope Saint John Paul the Great passed into heaven on the "Vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday" after celebrating that feast and participating in the requirements of obtaining the plenary indulgence !!
The Image of the Divine Mercy is central to the entire message of Divine Mercy and has a special importance by being displayed in churches, specially on the Feast of Divine Mercy.
Jesus Christ related several times the importance of the image on the feast. He said "I desire that there be a Feast of Mercy. I want this image, which you will paint with a brush, to be solemnly blessed on the First Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy". ( Diary 49)
One day Saint Faustina said to Our Lord "They tell me that there is already such a feast and so why should I talk about it ??".
Jesus Christ answered "And who knows anything about this feast ?? No one !! Even those who should be proclaiming my mercy and teaching people about it often do not know about it themselves.
That is why I want the Image to be solemnly blessed on the First Sunday after Easter, and want it to be venerated "Publicly" so that every soul may know about it". ( Diary 340).
Conclusion :
Catholic Churches throughout the world that have permanently installed "Divine Mercy Images" are benefiting greatly. Jesus Christ surely knew what he was doing when he gave us this image. It is exactly what mankind will need to maintain its hope in the years ahead with natural disasters that are inevitable.
If it is true that a picture has a thousand words or more, then this one has untold millions.
Jesus Christ said "The two rays denote Blood and Water, The pale ray stands for water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the life of souls.
These two rays issued forth from the very depths of my tender mercy when my agonized heart was opened by a lance on the cross. Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him" ( Diary 299).
Credits :
Robert R. Allard
Director
Apostles of Divine Mercy
Everywhere you turn, people are talking about Divine Mercy !! Hurricanes, Floods, Tsunamis, Global Warming, Earthquakes, and Fires.
Hardly an article can be written about any of these events without the thought of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Today, marks a significant date for all mankind.
87 years ago on February 22nd 1931 Jesus Christ appeared to Saint Faustina as "The Divine Mercy" with a special mission for her. He told her to paint an image as she witnessed him with two rays of light streaming from his heart, one red and the other pale like water and to sign it "Jesus, I trust in You".
Jesus Christ spent the next seven years speaking to her about his mercy and asked her to record his words in a diary, which she aptly named "Divine Mercy in my Soul". He made known to her that it was her job to prepare the world for his final coming.
Saint Pope John Paul the Great, by Divine Providence was immersed in the message of Divine Mercy at an early age and commented that it was "His Job given to him by God to bring this message to the world".
He later said "I give thanks to Divine Providence that I have been enabled to fulfil the will of the Merciful Christ by instituting the Feast of Divine Mercy". ( This was said on a visit to Poland in the 21st Century.)
Saint Pope John Paul the Great is also known as the "Divine Mercy Pope" simply because of what he did to promote the Divine Mercy Message and Devotion all over the world from 1985 - 2005.
Pope John Paul the Great lifted the ban on dissemination of the Divine Mercy Message and Devotion in 1978/1979. 14-15 years later, precisely in 1993 he beatified Sister Faustina and in the year 2000 he canonized her. He was a pioneer as far as promotion of the Divine Mercy Message and Devotion is concerned.
The Divine Mercy Diary has more than 14 entries where Jesus Christ had requested that a Feast of Mercy be established in the church as a "Last Hope of Salvation".
Saint Pope John Paul the Great established the Feast as Divine Mercy Sunday during the canonization in Rome of Saint Faustina in the Jubilee Year 2000 as the First Saint in the new millennium !!
Saint Pope John Paul the Great personally championed the cause of the Divine Mercy Message and Devotion for 20 long years.
Jesus Christ told Saint Faustina that "From Poland will come forth a spark that will prepare the world for my final coming" ( Diary 1732). No doubt, this was Pope John Paul who not only established the Feast requested by Jesus Christ, but issued an "unprecedented special plenary indulgence and specified; as the duties of priests, the proclamation of that plenary indulgence to all humanity".
If this wasn't proof enough of God's Providence in the matter, Our Beloved Pope Saint John Paul the Great passed into heaven on the "Vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday" after celebrating that feast and participating in the requirements of obtaining the plenary indulgence !!
The Image of the Divine Mercy is central to the entire message of Divine Mercy and has a special importance by being displayed in churches, specially on the Feast of Divine Mercy.
Jesus Christ related several times the importance of the image on the feast. He said "I desire that there be a Feast of Mercy. I want this image, which you will paint with a brush, to be solemnly blessed on the First Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy". ( Diary 49)
One day Saint Faustina said to Our Lord "They tell me that there is already such a feast and so why should I talk about it ??".
Jesus Christ answered "And who knows anything about this feast ?? No one !! Even those who should be proclaiming my mercy and teaching people about it often do not know about it themselves.
That is why I want the Image to be solemnly blessed on the First Sunday after Easter, and want it to be venerated "Publicly" so that every soul may know about it". ( Diary 340).
Conclusion :
Catholic Churches throughout the world that have permanently installed "Divine Mercy Images" are benefiting greatly. Jesus Christ surely knew what he was doing when he gave us this image. It is exactly what mankind will need to maintain its hope in the years ahead with natural disasters that are inevitable.
If it is true that a picture has a thousand words or more, then this one has untold millions.
Jesus Christ said "The two rays denote Blood and Water, The pale ray stands for water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the life of souls.
These two rays issued forth from the very depths of my tender mercy when my agonized heart was opened by a lance on the cross. Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him" ( Diary 299).
Credits :
Robert R. Allard
Director
Apostles of Divine Mercy
Tuesday, 21 November 2017
The Story Behind The Painting Of The Merciful Jesus Christ In Vilnius
This is an inside look at how the image of the Merciful Jesus in the Lithuanian
capital of Vilnius was depicted by Artist Eugeniusz Kazimirowski in
secret under the supervision of Saint Faustina and Blessed Father Michael
Sopocko.
Born in Poland in 1905, Maria Faustina Kowalska belonged to the Order of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. After the Polish Nun received the Message of Divine Mercy from the Lord on various occasions in the 1930s, she spearheaded this project.
Given that Jesus wanted everyone to have access to this “well” of mercy, as he communicated to Sister Faustina, the church is open 24/7 every day of the week and there is a webcam to access from the whole world.
Here, we would like to share some details you may not have known about this image’s history.
Sr. Faustina went twice a week to the painter for six months. The painter’s workshop was under the living space of Father Sopocko (Sr. Faustina’s spiritual director) who lived in a house in the Visitation monastery because he was the chaplain there.
It was all done in secret, as who would have ever believed that Jesus had appeared to her and wanted to be really painted. However, Sr. Faustina’s first confessor confirmed to her that yes indeed, the Lord wished to be depicted. Sr. Faustina was always accompanied into the workshop by either a reliable parishioner or another sister.
Today, the painter’s workshop has been transformed into a chapel.
Still living in the house, at the Lord’s request, are the order of nuns founded by Fr. Sopocko. They are also taking care of the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Vilnius.
Jesus had told Sr. Faustina that what matters is that thanks to this picture, “everyone will come to receive my mercy.”
The brightest point in the picture is the heart. The light on the forehead signifies the presence of the Father.
The right hand is not raised in the painting as it is in Krakow: it is before the Lord, in a gesture of blessing.
The first time the painting was presented to the worship of the faithful was when the Jubilee of Redemption was to end (1933-1934): it was exposed in the chapel of the Madonna Porta dell’Aurora venerated by Lithuanians to the extent that the Soviets never dared to close it.
On that day, Fr. Sopocko gave a homily on Divine Mercy, as the Lord requested, and Sr. Faustina was there, very happy.
During the Soviet occupation, the image was hidden in Belarus.
Later, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Cardinal Audrys Backis (Archbishop of Vilnius, now emeritus) restored and put it in the Church of the Trinity, where Fr. Sopocko was once a priest. The church was restored too.
On the Feast of the Divine Mercy, April 18, 2004, Cardinal Audrys Juozas Backis, Metropolitan of Vilnius, reconsecrated the renovated church of the Holy Trinity in Vilnius into the Shrine of the Divine Mercy.
At the same time, he assigned a prayer service to be carried out by the Congregation of the Sisters of Merciful Jesus.
In September 2005, the first image of Merciful Jesus was placed in this Shrine.
The picture has generated “miracles” in people’s lives.
In 2000 at St. Peter’s in Vatican City, Pope John Paul II canonized Sr. Faustina and officially proclaimed the Feast of Divine Mercy.
Credits : Zenit News from Rome
Born in Poland in 1905, Maria Faustina Kowalska belonged to the Order of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. After the Polish Nun received the Message of Divine Mercy from the Lord on various occasions in the 1930s, she spearheaded this project.
Given that Jesus wanted everyone to have access to this “well” of mercy, as he communicated to Sister Faustina, the church is open 24/7 every day of the week and there is a webcam to access from the whole world.
Here, we would like to share some details you may not have known about this image’s history.
Sr. Faustina went twice a week to the painter for six months. The painter’s workshop was under the living space of Father Sopocko (Sr. Faustina’s spiritual director) who lived in a house in the Visitation monastery because he was the chaplain there.
It was all done in secret, as who would have ever believed that Jesus had appeared to her and wanted to be really painted. However, Sr. Faustina’s first confessor confirmed to her that yes indeed, the Lord wished to be depicted. Sr. Faustina was always accompanied into the workshop by either a reliable parishioner or another sister.
Today, the painter’s workshop has been transformed into a chapel.
Still living in the house, at the Lord’s request, are the order of nuns founded by Fr. Sopocko. They are also taking care of the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Vilnius.
Jesus had told Sr. Faustina that what matters is that thanks to this picture, “everyone will come to receive my mercy.”
The brightest point in the picture is the heart. The light on the forehead signifies the presence of the Father.
The right hand is not raised in the painting as it is in Krakow: it is before the Lord, in a gesture of blessing.
The first time the painting was presented to the worship of the faithful was when the Jubilee of Redemption was to end (1933-1934): it was exposed in the chapel of the Madonna Porta dell’Aurora venerated by Lithuanians to the extent that the Soviets never dared to close it.
On that day, Fr. Sopocko gave a homily on Divine Mercy, as the Lord requested, and Sr. Faustina was there, very happy.
During the Soviet occupation, the image was hidden in Belarus.
Later, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Cardinal Audrys Backis (Archbishop of Vilnius, now emeritus) restored and put it in the Church of the Trinity, where Fr. Sopocko was once a priest. The church was restored too.
On the Feast of the Divine Mercy, April 18, 2004, Cardinal Audrys Juozas Backis, Metropolitan of Vilnius, reconsecrated the renovated church of the Holy Trinity in Vilnius into the Shrine of the Divine Mercy.
At the same time, he assigned a prayer service to be carried out by the Congregation of the Sisters of Merciful Jesus.
In September 2005, the first image of Merciful Jesus was placed in this Shrine.
The picture has generated “miracles” in people’s lives.
In 2000 at St. Peter’s in Vatican City, Pope John Paul II canonized Sr. Faustina and officially proclaimed the Feast of Divine Mercy.
Credits : Zenit News from Rome
Monday, 20 November 2017
The Eucharist In The Life Of Saint Faustina
During the celebration of Corpus Christi in Rome in 2004, the
Pope announced the Year of the Holy Eucharist. Saint Faustina’s full
religious name was Sister Maria Faustina of the Most Blessed Sacrament
and her whole life revolved around the Holy Eucharist. If you read her
diary almost every page makes reference to the Eucharist.
In talking about her life to a friend she said, “The most solemn moment of my life is the moment when I receive Holy Communion and for every Holy Communion I give thanks to the Most Holy Trinity” (Diary 1804).
The sisters had a tradition that each sister drew a choice of patron for the year at the beginning of each New Year. Sister Faustina was overjoyed year after year when she drew "The Holy Eucharist" (Diary 360).
She had a special relationship to the Holy Eucharist, because Jesus gave her a clear understanding of this mystery. She describes it “as the wonderful gift of His presence on earth”. During Mass, “I thanked the Lord Jesus for having redeemed us and for having given us the greatest of all gifts, the Holy Eucharist”. “You wanted to stay with us, and so you left us yourself in the Sacrament of the Altar, and you opened wide your mercy to us. You opened an inexhaustible spring of mercy for us, giving us your dearest possession, the Blood and Water, that gushed forth from Your Heart” (Diary 1747).
During a Holy Hour, in a vision of the cenacle, Sr. Faustina saw the institution of the Holy Eucharist. She came to understand that, "At the moment of consecration...the sacrifice was fully consummated.
Hereafter, only the external ceremony of death will be carried out. Never in my whole life had I understood this mystery so profoundly as during that hour of adoration" (Diary 684, 757, 832).
She devoted a lot of her prayers to asking God to let the world understand more the unfathomable mystery and mercy of the Eucharist. She said, “Who will ever conceive and understand the depth of mercy that gushed forth from His Heart”?
It is only in eternity that we shall know the great mystery given to us in Holy Communion. One day we will know what God is doing for us in each Mass, and what sort of gift He is preparing through it for us.
“All the tongues of men and angels united could not find words adequate to describe this mystery of Your love and mercy”. “Transform me in Yourself, 0 Jesus, that I may be a living sacrifice and pleasing to You. I desire to atone at each moment of my life for poor sinners.“
Jesus answered her prayers telling her: “You are a living host, pleasing to the Heavenly Father” (Diary 1826). She said: All the good that is in me is due to the Holy Communion. I owe everything to it.
St. Faustina lived fully the prayer of the Church: “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love“.
Her experience of being like a living host, hidden, broken, and given, was to be the experience of her life - Her greatest desire was: to be hidden, like Jesus in the Eucharist; to be broken, like Jesus, in the passion; to be totally given, like Jesus, in the salvation of souls.
But, this experience was based on the union of love with the living God and this union was most profoundly experienced in conjunction with the Holy Eucharist, either during Mass and Holy Communion, or during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Her union with the Lord was, in His words, as a bride: Here, I am entirely yours, soul, body and divinity as Your Bridegroom. You know what love demands, one thing only, reciprocity. (Diary 1770) What she experienced during Holy Communion was a complete union with the Holy Trinity, “At that moment, I was drawn into the bosom of the Most Holy Trinity, and I was immersed in the love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit“. (Diary 1670, 1121,1129)
These times of union are a taste of Eternity she said. (Diary 969). Holy Communion was the strength and support of St. Faustina in her every day struggle of life. The Lord told her: In the Host is the power; it will defend you always. (Diary 616)
Throughout her diary, she recorded the strength she received from the Eucharist Throughout the day she adored Jesus, praising and asking Him for graces, especially for suffering children (Diary 1821).
A regular experience for St. Faustina was the vision of the Lord during Holy Mass. Over sixty such visions are recorded in her diary, mostly of the infant Jesus, a few occasions with the Blessed Mother, and at other times, Jesus during His passion and some of His majesty.
Some dozen times she records seeing the rays of mercy as in the image of the Merciful Savior coming from the Holy Eucharist, at times covering the world. (See Diary 420, 441, 1046)
These profound experiences during the Holy Eucharist were closely associated with the vessels of mercy, namely the Feast, the Image, the Chaplet, and the Three O'Clock prayer.
Holy Communion is the most important part of the celebration of the Feast of Divine Mercy. On a number of occasions, St. Faustina saw the Eucharist radiate red and white rays, like in the Image of Divine Mercy.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is Eucharistic. It is an offering of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the Father, in atonement for the sins of the world.
If you wanted to summarise the Diary of St. Faustina, you would have to come to the conclusion that all the vessels the Lord gave us through St. Faustina are Eucharistic. There was a very special place for the Holy Eucharist in the life of Sister Maria Faustina of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Credits : Divine Mercy Scotland
In talking about her life to a friend she said, “The most solemn moment of my life is the moment when I receive Holy Communion and for every Holy Communion I give thanks to the Most Holy Trinity” (Diary 1804).
The sisters had a tradition that each sister drew a choice of patron for the year at the beginning of each New Year. Sister Faustina was overjoyed year after year when she drew "The Holy Eucharist" (Diary 360).
She had a special relationship to the Holy Eucharist, because Jesus gave her a clear understanding of this mystery. She describes it “as the wonderful gift of His presence on earth”. During Mass, “I thanked the Lord Jesus for having redeemed us and for having given us the greatest of all gifts, the Holy Eucharist”. “You wanted to stay with us, and so you left us yourself in the Sacrament of the Altar, and you opened wide your mercy to us. You opened an inexhaustible spring of mercy for us, giving us your dearest possession, the Blood and Water, that gushed forth from Your Heart” (Diary 1747).
During a Holy Hour, in a vision of the cenacle, Sr. Faustina saw the institution of the Holy Eucharist. She came to understand that, "At the moment of consecration...the sacrifice was fully consummated.
Hereafter, only the external ceremony of death will be carried out. Never in my whole life had I understood this mystery so profoundly as during that hour of adoration" (Diary 684, 757, 832).
She devoted a lot of her prayers to asking God to let the world understand more the unfathomable mystery and mercy of the Eucharist. She said, “Who will ever conceive and understand the depth of mercy that gushed forth from His Heart”?
It is only in eternity that we shall know the great mystery given to us in Holy Communion. One day we will know what God is doing for us in each Mass, and what sort of gift He is preparing through it for us.
“All the tongues of men and angels united could not find words adequate to describe this mystery of Your love and mercy”. “Transform me in Yourself, 0 Jesus, that I may be a living sacrifice and pleasing to You. I desire to atone at each moment of my life for poor sinners.“
Jesus answered her prayers telling her: “You are a living host, pleasing to the Heavenly Father” (Diary 1826). She said: All the good that is in me is due to the Holy Communion. I owe everything to it.
St. Faustina lived fully the prayer of the Church: “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love“.
Her experience of being like a living host, hidden, broken, and given, was to be the experience of her life - Her greatest desire was: to be hidden, like Jesus in the Eucharist; to be broken, like Jesus, in the passion; to be totally given, like Jesus, in the salvation of souls.
But, this experience was based on the union of love with the living God and this union was most profoundly experienced in conjunction with the Holy Eucharist, either during Mass and Holy Communion, or during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Her union with the Lord was, in His words, as a bride: Here, I am entirely yours, soul, body and divinity as Your Bridegroom. You know what love demands, one thing only, reciprocity. (Diary 1770) What she experienced during Holy Communion was a complete union with the Holy Trinity, “At that moment, I was drawn into the bosom of the Most Holy Trinity, and I was immersed in the love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit“. (Diary 1670, 1121,1129)
These times of union are a taste of Eternity she said. (Diary 969). Holy Communion was the strength and support of St. Faustina in her every day struggle of life. The Lord told her: In the Host is the power; it will defend you always. (Diary 616)
Throughout her diary, she recorded the strength she received from the Eucharist Throughout the day she adored Jesus, praising and asking Him for graces, especially for suffering children (Diary 1821).
A regular experience for St. Faustina was the vision of the Lord during Holy Mass. Over sixty such visions are recorded in her diary, mostly of the infant Jesus, a few occasions with the Blessed Mother, and at other times, Jesus during His passion and some of His majesty.
Some dozen times she records seeing the rays of mercy as in the image of the Merciful Savior coming from the Holy Eucharist, at times covering the world. (See Diary 420, 441, 1046)
These profound experiences during the Holy Eucharist were closely associated with the vessels of mercy, namely the Feast, the Image, the Chaplet, and the Three O'Clock prayer.
Holy Communion is the most important part of the celebration of the Feast of Divine Mercy. On a number of occasions, St. Faustina saw the Eucharist radiate red and white rays, like in the Image of Divine Mercy.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is Eucharistic. It is an offering of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the Father, in atonement for the sins of the world.
If you wanted to summarise the Diary of St. Faustina, you would have to come to the conclusion that all the vessels the Lord gave us through St. Faustina are Eucharistic. There was a very special place for the Holy Eucharist in the life of Sister Maria Faustina of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Credits : Divine Mercy Scotland
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