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Divine Mercy Journey

- Articles by Frank Nigrelli
- DIVINE MERCY PRAYER SERVICE
  April 7, 2024 | 2:30PM
  (3:00 - 4:00PM - Hour of Great Mercy)
  St. Joseph Main Church
Introduction
- DIVINE MERCY Journey
  
  In our journey through the Liturgical seasons, we look forward to the upcoming seasons of Lent and the glorious joys of Easter Sunday immediately followed by a lesser known, but definitely important one ... the feast of DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY. Divine Mercy weekly postings will prepare us for this special day. The information is primarily derived from St Faustina Kowalska’s Diary and a book by Vinny Flynn called The Seven Secrets of Divine Mercy.
  
  ALL OF CREATION IS AN ACT OF MERCY!
  Devotion to Divine Mercy is not just a “private devotion.” It is THE DEVOTION, the “umbrella devotion” over everything else. Every other devotion in the Church, every ritual, every activity, every teaching, is under that umbrella. It’s all there to help us understand and ENTER INTO DIVINE MERCY and, therefore, into His DIVINE WILL.
  
  “Divine Mercy reaches human beings through the Heart of Christ crucified... Christ pours out His Mercy on humanity through the sending of the Spirit who, in the Trinity , is the Person-Love.”
  ~ Pope St. John Paul II, April 30, 2000
  
  Further, Jesus said to St. Faustina, “Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself entirely in My mercy with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of my Grace upon your soul. ... Tell souls that from this fount of Mercy, souls draw Graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity.” ~ St. Faustina’s Diary, #1602.
  
  Also, be cognizant that:
  
  Mercy: the word reveals the very mystery of the Most Holy Trinity.
  
  Mercy: the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us.
  
  Mercy: the fundamental law that dwells in the heart of every person.
  
  Mercy: the bridge that connects God to man.”
  
  (Pope Francis, Face of Mercy, … Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, #10,2)
Week 1
- f.i.n.c.h.
  
  This year, with the Lenten and Easter seasons propelling us into Divine Mercy Sunday, there is an urgency to prepare for this Feast. Weekly postings in the bulletin will help us prepare for that special day. The purpose of the Divine Mercy devotion is to lead us into dedicating oneself to living the message of Divine Mercy and trusting more in God. The devotion is summarized in the word … FINCH:
  
  Feast
  
  Image
  
  Novena
  
  Chaplet
  
  Hour of Great Mercy
- FEAST:
  
  Christ insisted on having a Feast fourteen times in Ft. Faustina’s Diary... to be observed on the Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday.
  
  On the Feast, the Divine Mercy Image is to be blessed and publicly venerated.
  
  The Feast is to be preceded by a Novena of Chaplets, given to St. Faustina.
  
  Recitation of the Chaplet and prayers for Divine Mercy on the Feast Day.
  
  Observance of the Feast must include works of mercy in word, deed, or prayer.
  
  To receive Jesus’ great promises, we must repent of our sins, be in a state of grace through sacramental Confession, and receive Holy Communion. (Diary 429, 965, 1588). The Graces received will be proportionate to the degree of trust we place in Jesus.
  
  In conclusion, the Feast of Mercy is the celebration of God the Father…squandering grace on mankind…to allow the Father’s plan of Mercy for all to be fulfilled!
Week 2
- tHE Image
  
  The Seven Secrets of Devine Mercy
  by Flynn
  
  St. Faustina’s Diary (Diary #1) begins with Jesus' command that she have an Image painted of Him. The Divine Mercy Image is not just a picture of Jesus. He wanted to reveal His Mercy as a font of Mercy. The Image is not only of the Merciful Jesus … but it is more! Pope St. John Paul II writes,: He, Himself is Mercy. To the person who sees it in Him, and finds it in Him, God becomes “visible” as THE FATHER WHO IS RICH IN MERCY (Rich in Mercy #2).
  
  Jesus’ right hand is extended in the gesture of a blessing, revealing The Father as the source of divine blessing.
  
  Jesus’ left hand is touching His garment, with the garment slightly drawn aside to welcome us into His Heart.
  
  From His Heart, two rays are emanating ... one red and the other pale to recall when, from Christ's pierced side, Blood and Water gushed out. The pale ray represents the Waters of Baptism and the Sacrament of Confession. The red ray represents the Blood, the life of souls [ie: the Eucharist, “This is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant ...” (Roman Missal 90)].
- “When you go to Confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which come forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it” (Diary 1602).
  
  Jesus’ left foot is slightly forward of his right foot and seems to indicate a walking forward position. He is always seeking us, moving toward us, wanting to be close to us.
  
  St. Faustina saw a merciful expression on His Face, with eyes slightly downward as from the Cross. The artists could never capture ‘that look’ but Jesus told her “Not in the beauty of the color, nor of the brush lies the greatness of this Image, but in My Grace.” (Diary 313).
  
  Regarding the Image; “Souls that say this chaplet will be embraced by My Mercy during their lifetime and especially at the hour of their death” (Diary 754). “I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature “Jesus, I trust in You” (Diary 1578).
  
  Remember, the Divine Mercy Image is to be treated as an icon that helps us enter into Jesus’ Heart. The best way is to receive His Mercy is by placing our trust in Him!
Week 3
- THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET
  
  The Chaplet is a prayer of our sincere offering to our loving Creator Father, joining us with Jesus in the offering of His Passion to the Father, in atonement for our sins…for our redemption. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy (so completely focused on the Passion of Christ) has become the prayer most often prayed at the three o’clock hour, the hour of Jesus’ death. Jesus instructed St. Faustina to pray it “unceasingly” and to encourage others to pray it as well (Diary, 687, 1541). Also, our Lord said to St. Faustina: “… When souls say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the Just Judge but as the Merciful Savior. … if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy. I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy.” (Diary #s 687, 1541, 1731) The Chaplet is said on ordinary rosary beads. The prayers said (besides the Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Apostles Creed) are:
  
  OPENING PRAYER (optional): You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty yourself upon us (Diary, 1319). O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You! (three times) (Diary, 84).
- ON THE “OUR FATHER” BEAD (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 (Diary, 476).
  
  ON THE “HAIL MARY” BEADS (of each decade): For the sake of his sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world (Diary, 476).
  
  CONCLUDING DOXOLOGY (after the five decades): Holy God, Holy Mighty one, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world (Three times) (Diary, 476).
  
  CONCLUDING PRAYER (optional): 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. Amen (Diary #950).
  
  Praying the Chaplet (while meditating on Jesus’ Passion) would be a wonderful enhancement to one’s daily Lenten prayers.
  
  Jesus, I Trust In You!
Week 4
- NOVENA TO DIVINE MERCY
  
  The Novena to Divine Mercy, given to St. Faustina by Our Lord, begins on Good Friday and ends on the Saturday within the Octave of Easter – the day before Divine Mercy Sunday (Diary 714, 796). The Novena has nine specific intentions and daily prayers which are listed in the red Divine Mercy Novena and Chaplets booklets, available in the Church (rectory office, vestibule, entrances, etc.).
  
  The Novena daily prayers to Jesus and Eternal Father (in the red booklet) can also be offered together with our intentions. Each of the daily intentions stated by Our Lord are:
  
  DAY 1:
  Today bring to Me all mankind, especially all sinners, and immerse them in the ocean of My Mercy.
  
  DAY 2:
  Today bring to Me the souls of priests and religious, and immerse them in My unfathomable Mercy.
  
  DAY 3:
  Today bring to Me all devout and faithful souls, and immerse them in the ocean of My Mercy.
- DAY 4:
  Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know Me.
  
  DAY 5:
  Today bring to Me the souls of those who have separated themselves from the Church.
  
  DAY 6:
  Today bring to Me the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children, and immerse them in My Mercy.
  
  DAY 7:
  Today bring to Me the souls who especially venerate and glorify My Mercy, and immerse them in My Mercy.
  
  DAY 8:
  Today bring to Me the souls who are detained in Purgatory, and immerse them in the abyss of My Mercy.
  
  DAY 9:
  Today bring to Me souls who have become lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My Mercy.
  
  NOTE: The Novena can be said during any nine-day period.
Week 5
- HOUR OF GREAT MERCY
  
  Jesus died on the cross at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. That is why Jesus told St. Faustina that the hour between 3 and 4 o’clock in the afternoon, every day of the year, is known as the Hour of Great Mercy. During that hour, Jesus asked St. Faustina to try to pray the Stations of the Cross, but He also told her “…if you 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 yourself in prayer there where you happen to be, if only for a very brief instant” (Diary, 1572). "At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, IMMERSE yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to enter into My mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion…” (Diary 1320)
- During this hour, Jesus wants us to remember His sacrifice: what He did for us on the Cross out of love. He wants our love in return. During this hour, we should pray for our loved ones and for the conversion of sinners. We can also pray the 3 o’clock prayer, which is normally prayed with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy:
  
  “You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty yourself out upon us” (Diary 1319). O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!” (Diary 84)
  
  During this Blessed Hour, a soul could also pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
  
  Note: These excerpts are from “Divine Mercy Explained” by Fr. Michael Gaitley.
Week 6
- THE GREAT DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY GRACE
  
  vs. Plenary Indulgence
  
  On Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus offers us a very great grace: the COMPLETE FORGIVENESS of ALL SIN and PUNISHMENT.
  
  To receive this grace, all that is necessary is to have gone to Confession sometime during Lent and to receive Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday.
  
  Jesus told St. Faustina, “The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion… shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary 699) This is an EXTRAORDINARY GIFT from Jesus. It means, if we were to die immediately after receiving THIS GRACE, we would not have to go to Purgatory. The theologian who was assigned to study the Grace of Divine Mercy Sunday likened it to a second Baptism because it is an extraordinary grace of being cleansed of sin and the punishment due to sin. In other words, our slate is wiped clean!
  
  Fr. Michael Gaitley, in his booklet, Divine Mercy Explained, says a lot of people confuse the GREAT GRACE of DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY with a plenary indulgence…but it is not!
- To gain a plenary indulgence, a person needs to:
  
  Complete the indulgenced act,
  
  Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father,
  
  Go to Confession (within 20 days),
  
  Receive Holy Communion on the day of the indulgence, and
  
  Be detached from all sin.
  
  NOTE: This last one is the hardest; Can a person be detached from ALL SIN?
  
  On the other hand, to receive the GREAT GRACE of DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY:
  
  Simply go to Confession sometime during Lent,
  
  Be in a state of grace (no mortal sin), and
  
  Receive Holy Communion with the INTENTION of RECEIVING THE PROMISED GRACE.
  
  This year, the opportunity to receive this great grace and gift from God will occur on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 7, 2024!
Week 7
- Passtion of Christ thru
  THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
  – 1 AND 2
  
  Jesus, I Trust In You!
  
  As we journey through Lent with our eyes focused on Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, we continue our Lenten self-denials of food and pleasurable items and spend our time reflecting on the Passion of the “Suffering Christ”. This week and the following two weeks will be on the Sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary. This week, we will center our meditations on the first two mysteries, The Agony in the Garden and The Scourging at the Pillar, where we join our hearts to Jesus’ and SUFFER WITH HIM.
  
  THE AGONY OF JESUS Reading 1
  
  I entered the sufferings which Jesus underwent in the Garden of Olives. The Lord pressed me to His Heart, and said, “I shall give you a small portion of My passion, but do not be afraid: be brave. Do not seek relief; but accept everything in submission to My will.” When Jesus was talking leave of me, such great pain filled my soul that it is impossible to express it. Every beat of Jesus’ heart was reflected in my heart, and it pierced my soul. During the course of this suffering, my love grew immeasurably. Together with Him, I underwent in a special way all the various tortures. The world still has no idea of all that Jesus suffered.
- I accompanied him to the Garden of Gethsemane. I stayed with Him in prison. I went with Him before the judges. I underwent with Him each of the tortures. Not one of His movements or looks escaped my notice. I came to know all the omnipotence of His love and His mercy towards souls.
  
  THE SCOURGING Reading 2
  
  I saw the Lord Jesus tied to a pillar, stripped of His clothes, and the scourging began immediately. I saw four men who took turns striking the Lord with scourges. My heart almost stopped at the sight of the tortures. I saw how the Lord Jesus suffered as he was being scourged. Oh, such an inconceivable agony! His blood flowed to the ground, and in some places His flesh started to fall off. I saw a few bare bones on His back. The meek Jesus moaned softly and sighed.
  
  The Lord said to me: “I suffer even greater pain than that which you see,” and Jesus gave me to know for what sins He subjected Himself to the scourging. These are the sins of impurity. Oh, how dreadful was Jesus’ moral suffering during the scourging!
Week 8
- Passion of Christ thru
  THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
  – 3 AND 4
  
  Jesus, I Trust In You!
  
  As we journey through Lent with our eyes focused on Palm Sunday, Easter, and Divine Mercy Sunday, we continue our Lenten self-denials of food and pleasurable items and spend our time reflecting on the “Passion of the “Suffering Christ”. This week we will center our meditations on the third and fourth mysteries, “The Crowning with Thorns”, and “The Carrying of the Cross”.
  
  Here we join our hearts to Jesus … SUFFER WITH HIM … but … ‘WITH HIS and our MOTHER MARY’… CONSOLE HIM … WITH OUR ACCEPTANCE AND GRATITUDE OF ‘HIS OBEDIENT REDEMPTIVE WORK’ … FOR THE SALVATION OF OUR SOULS.
  
  THE CROWNING WITH THORNS Reading 3
  
  After the scourging, the torturers took the Lord and stripped him of His own garment, which had already adhered to the wounds. As they took it off, His wounds reopened. Then they threw a dirty and tattered scarlet cloak over the fresh wounds of the Lord. They wove a crown of thorns, which they put on His sacred head.
- They put a reed in His hand, and made fun of Him, bowing to Him as a king. Some spat in His face, while others took the reed and struck Him on the head with it. Others caused Him pain by slapping Him. Still others covered His face and struck Him with their fists.
  
  Jesus bore all this with meekness. Who can comprehend Him… comprehend His suffering? Jesus’ eyes were downcast. Let every soul reflect on what Jesus was suffering at that moment. They tried to outdo each other in insulting the Lord.
  
  CARRYING OF THE CROSS Reading 4
  
  I saw a multitude of souls crucified like Him. Then I saw a second multitude of souls; and a third. The second multitude were not nailed to their crosses, but they were holding them firmly in their hands. The third were neither nailed to their crosses, nor holding them firmly in their hands, but they were dragging the crosses behind them, and were discontent.
  
  Jesus then said to me: Do you see these souls? Those who are like Me in the pain and contempt that they suffer … will be like Me, also, in glory; … and those who resemble Me less in pain and contempt … will also bear less resemblance to Me in glory.”
wEEK 9
- PASSTION OF CHRIST THRU
  THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
  – PALM SUNDAY
  
  Our Lenten journey continues with Jesus’ arrival at Jerusalem after He had called Lazarus out of the tomb. He is greeted by throngs of people shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” waving branches of palm trees, laying them at the feet of a young ass upon which He rode into the city. Then, Jesus goes to the upper room where He and the disciples were to share in the Passover meal known to us as the Last Supper including His last instructions and teachings, the washing of their feet, institution of the Eucharist and priesthood. At this memorable feast, His treacherous betrayer left the sacred banquet to alert Jesus’ enemies of His whereabouts. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus endures great suffering but is resolute in obeying the Father’s Will. His betrayer reveals Him to His enemies with a kiss and He is arrested. Peter, His chosen leader of this little band of disciples, denies knowing Him. Jesus is brought before the chief priests and rulers of the people and then sent to Pilate and Herod. Finally, Jesus is returned to Pilate who condemns Him to death by crucifixion after ‘the people’, shouting “Crucify Him!”, chose Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus. A brutal scourging follows that almost kills Jesus. Jesus is finally crowned King of the Jews with a crown of thorns. At last, He travels The Way of the Cross, carrying His Cross and falling from exhaustion 3 times. Helped by Simon of Cyrene…Jesus endured every hostility and demeaning act possible…interacting with his Mother Mary and other kindly people and brutally hostile beings. Then…finally on Calvary, Jesus was crucified with two thieves, one on each side of Him. A three-hour period of agony and pain and thirst hanging on the rough-hewn cross…ended with Jesus breathing His last at 3 o’clock.
- The Crucifixion Reading 5
  
  I saw a multitude of souls crucified like Him. Then I saw a second multitude of souls; and a third. The second multitude were not nailed to their crosses, but they were holding them firmly in their hands. The third were neither nailed to their crosses, nor holding them firmly in their hands, but they were dragging the crosses behind them, and were discontent.
  
  Jesus then said to me: Do you see these souls? Those who are like Me in the pain and contempt that they suffer…will be like Me, also, in glory;…and those who resemble Me less in pain and contempt…will also bear less resemblance to Me in glory.”
  
  Jesus, I trust in you!
  
  For the doubtful and naysayers…it is over…this so-called hero of the people has died and is put into the tomb to be forgotten and collect dust just like several other heralded individuals in the past. But we know that this is not the end of the story. There is an event unheard of in the past or present…a Joyful and Glorious Resurrection…an EASTER feast to displace the Passover Feast. An Easter Feast that will change the entire world. The darkest clouds of sorrow…will be replaced by the brightness of eternal light and the fresh waters of the stream fed by the spring thaw. Come Lord Jesus Come! ALLELUIA!!!
WEEK 10
- EAster Sunday
  
  SEE WHAT GREAT LOVE GOD HAS FOR HIS PEOPLE...
  ...His Son JESUS has defeated death and IS RISEN!
  
  Perfect Love has NO FEAR! Our Lord God the Father is trustworthy in all things!
  
  From the beginning of time, this was God’s great plan of redemption for His Creation…man! That His only Son Jesus was the only one who was worthy to pay the price of redemption for man’s (Adam’s) fall. In His unfathomable Divine Love, He poured out His Divine Mercy on His weak and sinful Creation despite the wretchedness of our ways. His saving lifeline to us today, is present on our altars in the Eucharist, which is Jesus Christ alive and well. He is our only way, truth, and life…to have hope in, to have faith in, to believe in. His only desire is for us, His Creation, to accept, receive, and return His love by being faithful to His Word. So, let us turn to Him and through Mary’s Immaculate Heart and with great joy turn from our worldly attractions and worship, praise and glorify God in The Father, Son Jesus, and The Holy Spirit. FIAT!
- VIVA CHRISTO REY!!!
  
  The first Sunday after Easter is the celebration of God’s infinite Mercy. All are invited.
  
  The celebration begins at 2:30 sharp to prepare for the 3 o’clock hour of great mercy
  
  2:30 PM…
  
  We will Bless the Divine Mercy Image
  
  Exposition of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament
  
  Gospel reading and reflection
  
  Litany of the Sacred Heart
  
  3 o’clock Hour…
  
  Divine Mercy Chaplet and prayers
  
  Reposition of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament
  
  Veneration of The Divine Mercy Image
  
  Continue to live in God’s Love and Mercy for every moment after, and be Jesus’ image to each other.
  
  Jesus, I Trust In You!
wEEK 11
- Divine Mercy Sunday
  aPRIL 7, 2024
  
  WITH THIS FEAST...
  ...the people of this world cry out to God for His Divine Love and Divine Mercy to flow out upon us and restore all of us to peace…everywhere!
  
  His Divine Love and Divine Mercy are coupled together as the infinite Dynamic Duo of peace among men. It is spelled out in Sacred Scripture from the books of Genesis through Revelation. Repeatedly, man receives everything as gift from God, and yet turns away and denies Him and falls into a deep chasm of agony and despair. Man has even denied and turned against God’s only son, Jesus, the second person in the Blessed Trinity, and crucified Him…despite Jesus’ great signs in fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies that identified Him as the long-awaited Messiah. Without fail, God rescued His people timeless in history, and restored them to the land He had given them for a home. His love and mercy have always been dependable and trusted. Including us today, He has never, and will never, abandon His people…we can absolutely trust in His love and mercy!
  
  At Jesus’ direction to St. Faustina and the listening heart of St. John Paul II, we have this special feast which praises God and shouts out, “Glory to God in the highest for his unfailing mercy.” Today, if we desire it, we will obtain forgiveness of sin and punishment. This extraordinary promise by Jesus is stated in the Diary #699 of St. Faustina as follows:
- “My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable Mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, especially sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender Mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon theses souls that approach the fount of My Mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sin and punishment. On that day, all the divine flood gates are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near Me, even though his sins may be as scarlet. My Mercy is so great that no mind, be it man or angel, will be able to fathom it throughout eternity.”
  
  As we close this celebration of infinite blessings, graces, and Mercy, we must continue forward without fear or trepidation, in hope and love and mercy in total and constant reliance upon our faithful and trustworthy god. In the Eucharist, through Jesus and our lady Mary, surrounded and protected by the holy spirit, we must be undaunted by the preposterous false and erroneous beliefs that ceaselessly surround us, bombard us and challenge us here in god’s creation, our world. Our reliance on him should be without fear and constant and he will deliver and protect us from all evil.
  
  Guard your faithful, O Lord, in Your unceasing mercy; may we be kept by your constant help from all harm and arrive to our eternal salvation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
  
  JESUS I TRUST IN YOU!
- cONCLUSION
  
  St. Faustina was the tenth of thirteen children born to a poor pious family in Glogowec, Poland. At an early age of 7, Jesus made His Call to serve Him known to her. She eventually joined the cloister in the Convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw.
  
  This simple, uneducated, but courageous woman, was consigned, by Our Lord Jesus, the great mission to proclaim His message of mercy to the whole world. As the Apostle of Mercy, she recorded Jesus’ messages in a diary we currently refer to as "The Diary."
  
  “I am sending you with my mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish mankind, but I desire to heal it; Pressing it to my merciful heart.” (Diary 1588) … “You are secretary of My mercy; I have chosen you for office of this and the next life.” (Diary 1605) “To make known to souls the great mercy that I have for them, and to exhort them to trust in the bottomless depth of My mercy.” (Diary 1567)
  
  The most comprehensive revelation is found in Diary entry #699:
  
  My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge for 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 opened all the divine floodgates through which graces flow. Let no soul fear to draw near to me, even though its sins be scarlet.
  
  My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity.
  
  The Feast of Mercy emerged from the 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.
  
  A quick summary of the Feast is identified in the word F.I.N.C.H.
              F … Feast
              I … Image
              N … Novena
              C … Chaplet
              H … Hour of Great Mercy
  
  FIRST … the Feast: Pope St. John Paul II announced at the canonization of Sr. Faustina on April 30, 2000, “It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on the Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the church, will be called Divine Mercy Sunday.” By the words ‘the whole message’, the Holy Father was referring to the connection between … the Passion Death, burial, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ, followed by the sending of the Holy Spirit … and The Feast of Divine Mercy, the Octave Day of Easter. The Pope said that this gift of mercy will be particularly needed in the third millennium. Mercy Sunday … is the crowning of that gift of mercy for the whole world IN OUR TIME.
  
  SECOND … the Image: Our Lord appeared to St. Faustina in a vision. She saw Jesus clothed in a white garment with His right hand raised in Blessing. His left hand was touching His garment in the area of His Heart from where two rays come forth, one red and the other pale. Jesus said to her: "Paint an Image according to the pattern you see with the signature: ‘Jesus, I Trust in You’ … I promise that the soul that venerates this Image will not perish. I also promise victory over its enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory" (Diary 47). St. Faustina asked what the meaning of the two rays was. She heard these words in reply: "The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the water which makes the soul righteous. The red ray stands for the blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issue forth from the depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. By the means of this Image, I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of my mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works" (Diary 742)
- THIRD … the Novena: The nine-day novena is not for personal intentions, but a prayer for the needs of the whole church and the world. We do this novena nine days before Divine Mercy Sunday beginning on Good Friday. Jesus Himself dictated the intentions for each day. By each specific prayer, she was to bring to His Heart a different group of souls each day and thus immerse them in the ocean of His mercy. Day 1 … All sinners … Day 2 … All priests and religious … Day 3 … All devout and faithful souls … Day 4 … All pagans and those who do not know Him … Day 5 … All souls separated from My Church … Day 6 … All meek and humble souls of little children … Day 7 … those who venerate and glorify my mercy … Day 8 … the souls in Purgatory … Day 9 … all souls who have become lukewarm.
  
  FOURTH … the Chaplet: St. Faustina received a vision regarding the chastisement of a certain city. Filled with God’s grace, she found herself pleading with God for mercy for this city. Continuing this inspired prayer, the deserved punishment was not performed and the following morning the Lord spoke to her: “This prayer will serve to appease My wrath. You will recite it … on the beads of the rosary in the following manner: First of all, you will say one Our Father and a Hail Mary and the I Believe in God. Then, on the Our Father beads, you will say the following words: '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 you will say the following words: ‘For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have Mercy on us and on the whole world.’ In Conclusion, three times you will recite these words: 'Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world'" (Diary 476). The Chaplet should be prayed at the 3 o’clock hour in remembrance of Christ’s death on the Cross. However, it can be said at anytime and especially in the presence of a soul that is at death’s hour. We are not asking for anything. We are offering a sacrifice of praise. We are offering to God the Father, His Beloved Son, that though His sacrifice on Calvary has opened heaven for us and has made amends for our sins so we can become one with God again.
  
  FIFTH … the Holy Hour of Great Mercy: “I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy” (Diary 687). "I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of grace that it cannot be contained within itself but radiates to other souls” (Diary 1074). The 3 o’clock Hour of Mercy is the hour of death of our Lord on the Cross. The chaplet is a priestly prayer offering our high priest Jesus, to the Father – it is the extension of the offering of the Mass to each moment. The floodgates of God’s mercy are opened. In His great mercy is giving us all a chance to start over with no temporal punishment. “I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls and especially poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sin and punishment. On that day, all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are open” (Diary 699). This is what is now called “The extraordinary promise of Jesus” whose requirements are Confession, Holy Communion, Veneration of The Image, be in the state of grace, and ask Jesus for the fulfillment of His promise. In addition, on June 13, 2002, Pope St. John Paul II established that a Plenary Indulgence be granted to those that fulfill the regular requirements for Plenary Indulgences ... sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayers for the intentions of the pope.
  
  In summary, the Feast of Divine Mercy is an awesome Feast through which Jesus (the visible God) reveals the Father (the invisible God) to us in The Image. Since in the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are ONE … when we see the Son, we also see the Father. The revelation continues as the pierced Heart pours out graces and love and mercy beyond our greatest dreams and literally cries out with an overwhelming voice … “I love you!”
  
  “I desire to unite with souls … when I come to a human heart in Holy Communion, My hands are full of all kinds of graces which I want to give to the soul. BUT, souls do not even pay any attention to me; they leave Me to Myself and busy themselves with other things. Oh, how sad I am that souls do not recognize Love! They treat Me as a dead object" (Diary 1385). This feast is that wake-up call to each of us … His call coming from the Heart of His Love and Mercy. In this time of great chaos … the important thing is HOW WE RESPOND to this call! The citizens of Nineveh responded to Jonah and were saved … now … in this time of history … it is our decision to put on ‘sack cloth, fast, and pray’ … that God will have mercy on we poor sinners.
  
  JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU!

Divine Mercy Journey

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Feast

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Novena

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Hour of Great Mercy