divine mercy chaplet pdf

April is the Month of the Most Holy Eucharist

In the traditional Liturgical Year, we begin April in Lent, move through Passiontide and the Easter Triduum, and end in Paschal Time (also known as Eastertide).  This is all a snippet of the “Cycle of Easter:  The Mystery of the Redemption,” which extends until Advent.  We will see our collective meditation upon the Redemption pass from penance and Our Lord’s Passion, to the glory of the Resurrection, foretelling our own Resurrection of soul and body after death.  After the sorrowful Holy Week, we enter into what the New Marian Missal calls “a time of uninterrupted joy and feasts.”  Eastertide includes the Octave of Easter (originally consecrated to the newly baptized), the Ascension of Our Lord and Pentecost.  The Paschal Candle, lit on the evening of Holy Saturday, shines until Ascension Thursday, representing the Resurrected Lord upon earth.

The 25th is the feast of Saint Mark and also what we traditionally call the Major Rogation Day.  Rogation Days are very similar to the seasonal Ember Days, but of different origin.  It is strange to have a day of penance during the Octave of Easter, so keeping the Rogation Day in a spirit of joy would be appropriate (pray the Litany of the Saints, see below).  To tie it in with April’s Eucharistic devotion, we might attend Mass or read Saint Mark’s account of the Last Supper, Mark 14:12-26.  Here is the definition of “Rogation Days” from Father John Hardon’s book, Modern Catholic Dictionary:

“Prescribed days of prayer and penance in spring. Two sets of rogation days were kept since early Christian times: the Major Rogation on April 25, the Feast of St. Mark; and the Minor Rogations on the last three days before Ascension Thursday. They were instituted to appease divine justice, ask for protection, and invoke God's blessing on the harvest. The Litany of the Saints was [prayed] in procession and the Rogation Mass followed. The feast of St. Mark, as the more ancient, was also called the Greater Litanies; it Christianized a pagan spring festival in honor of the god Robigus. The three other rogation days were adapted in Rome under Pope Leo III (reigned 795-816). (Etym. Latin rogatio, inquiry, request.)”

Divine Mercy Sunday is always one week after Easter and Our Lord Himself asked Saint Faustina to institute a novena, beginning on Good Friday.  You can find the Chaplet and Novena prayers on our Home page or you can print this PDF which includes the lesser-known Litany to the Divine Mercy.  Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, devoted herself profoundly to the Holy Eucharist and her Chaplet features these words:

“Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Thy dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”

During this Information Age, it is ironic that so few know and believe the teachings of Holy Church on the Body of Christ.  Holiness starts at home, so instructing those who need help with this is our primary responsibility.  Making reparation for the outrages against the Eucharist is also a wonderful thing.  There are various litanies and prayers-here is one: 

Litany of Reparation to the Blessed Sacrament

Some places have special Eucharistic devotions during Lent.  For instance, the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY, is honoring the 40 days of Lent with Adoration at 40 different parishes.  The USCCB’s 3-year National Eucharistic Revival continues until June 22nd.  There may be other activities associated with the Jubilee Year of 2025 (more on this holy year in the coming month on the blog).

Wishing you and your families many blessings as we celebrate Easter, the “Solemnity of Solemnities,” and honor the Most Holy Eucharist, that body both broken and resurrected.

Notable feasts of April:

5th-First Saturday

6th to 19th-Passion Sunday and Passiontide (trad)

13th-Palm Sunday

17th-Holy/Maundy Thursday

18th to 20th-EASTER TRIDUUM (traditionally, no meat is eaten on Holy Saturday)

25th-Saint Mark/Greater or Major Rogation Day

27th-Divine Mercy Sunday/Low Sunday (trad)

28th-Saint Louis de Montfort

29th-Saint Catherine of Siena

30th-Saint Catherine of Siena (trad)

HOMESCHOOLING ACTIVITIES FOR APRIL

1)       Create artwork or make a craft celebrating the joy of Easter.

2)      Write a short essay on the Paschal Candle, explaining its symbols and symbolism.

3)      Compose your own prayer to thank Jesus for the gift of Holy Communion. 

Eclipse Pilgrimage of Mercy

“X Marks the Spot”

Total Solar Eclipse Across North America

April 8th, 2024 

+  ECLIPSE PILGRIMAGE OF MERCY  +

Good Friday, March 29th to April 13th 

Novena of the Divine Mercy chaplet:  Good Friday to April 6th

Prior to Divine Mercy Sunday, April 7th 

Don’t worry if you start the Novena a bit late!

Divine Mercy Chaplet Special Novena Prayers

Pilgrimage to Holy Sites Across the Land:  April 7th to 13th

Pray the Full Rosary at a Shrine or Cathedral One Day of This Week

Don’t worry if you can’t travel, any church will be fine!

How to Pray a Full Rosary (all 4 Mysteries)

This eclipse, when seen with the total eclipse 7 years ago across North America, forms an “X” across the Midwest, USA.  Some say this is a prophetic sign of God’s wrath upon us.  Whether or not we see it as a sign, let us use this spectacular natural event as a catalyst to pray for mercy.  It is obvious we are living in dangerous times, both spiritually and temporally.  Let us call down God’s extraordinary graces with the Divine Mercy Novena.  Let us also travel to Catholic holy sites, which bear the Presence of Christ, to pray the Holy Rosary.  As the eclipse traverses the sky, may the Body of Christ traverse the land, sanctifying it and securing mercy. 

This is to be done individually by families or church groups.  No need to sign up for anything, just do it!

We would appreciate letting us know you have participated. Click “Contact” button above.

Printing & Distributing Helps Us Out and Promotes This Event. let’s lift up our prayer for mercy from sea to shining sea! we need your help. share in whatever ways you can. Thank you!

Eclipse Pilgrimage of Mercy PDF Printable

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