Divine Mercy Sunday At Home

I was disappointed to see, when viewing the sites of my local parishes, not only no live-streamed Divine Mercy devotions, but not even any suggestions of how to perform this devotion at home. So, I came up with my own home program. The contemplation of the image is an idea I got from our Bishop’s (Bishop Barres) letter to the diocese of Rockville Centre, New York. The “Act of Contrition” just seems appropriate when seeking mercy. I included the “Prayer of Petition” to give Saint Faustina some recognition. And of course, her wonderful Chaplet!

If you do not have time for this today, please consider performing this devotion some time this coming week, with your family. EWTN does broadcast the Chaplet. Please see their schedule for this week: https://www.ewtn.com/tv/shows/chaplet-of-divine-mercy In addition, also on their site, here is everything you ever wanted to know about the Divine Mercy devotion: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/divine-mercy-12705

It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, that there has never been a more important time for this! Blessings to you and your families on this wonderful feast!

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Contemplation of Divine Mercy Image of Christ

This is the image above, given to us in Saint Faustina’s vision. A red stream and a white stream emanating from the Sacred Heart of Christ, representing the Blood and Water which flowed when His Heart was pierced on the Cross. If you have this image in your home, place it in front of you as you say the following prayers.

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Act of Contrition

Oh, my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen. I also resolve to avoid all occasion of sin.

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Prayer of Petition

O Jesus, who filled Thy handmaid Saint Faustina with profound veneration for Thy boundless Mercy, grant me, through her intercession, the grace for which I fervently pray: (mention request). My sins render me unworthy of Thy mercy, but be mindful of Saint Faustina’s spirit of sacrifice and self-denial and reward her virtue by granting the petition which, with childlike confidence, I present to Thee. Amen.

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Chaplet of Divine Mercy

With your Rosary beads, recite the following prayers: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet

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Prayer of Petition (slightly edited) courtesy https://www.daily-prayers.org/

Image courtesy http://stviator.azurewebsites.net/?s=%3Fpage+id%3D1829&search_404=1

Divine Mercy at My Church....

I would like to share my experience yesterday celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday at my church in Suffolk County, Long Island.  We had a bi-lingual (English/Spanish) celebration of the Mass with the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Exposition.  The whole celebration took 3 1/2 hours.  The turnout was great-a full church, about 90% Latino of all ages.  A bishop presided.  It was one of the most moving spiritual experiences of my life. 

As we sung the Divine Mercy Chaplet-half in English, half in Spanish-I began to feel a great unity.....first, with the wonderful devout Latino people present and gradually, I became aware of the entire world on this day raising a unified chorus to the Father...."For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!"  I thought of the recent terror attacks and murders, some specifically against Christians.  I thought of September 11th.  I thought of the abortion holocaust.  All the immorality.  The whole ailing world raising this prayer to God together on one day.  I felt Saint Faustina's presence with us-what an extraordinary accomplishment to secure this great and most necessary feast for the world.

During Exposition, many people crowded around the altar and knelt.  I decided to join them.  The whole church was praying with all their hearts, some shouting out, "Jesus, I trust in You!  Jesus, I love You!"  It reminded me of great paintings of the saints in Heaven, like the one above.  I felt as if I were standing with all of them at the end of time, as Saint John describes:

"After this I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands:  And they cried with a loud voice, saying: Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb."  Apocalypse 7:9

Suddenly a young women who was kneeling in front me fainted.  I have heard of such things, but have never actually seen it before.  I know this is a point of controversy....I have no specific opinion because I do not know enough about these things-I do have a certain reserve in these matters, as most traditional-minded Catholics do.  But I don't wish to get into any of that right now.  I will say, her face, as she lay unconscious, looked utterly peaceful-it even seemed she had a slight smile.  No one was concerned about her, except me (probably because they were familiar with this sort of thing).  I went up to her, stroked her forehead and prayed for her.  After a few minutes, she awoke, seemed dazed but peaceful, and carried on.

I thank the Most Holy Trinity for these blessings yesterday and also, I thank Saint Faustina for giving us the message of Our Lord's great mercy.  It just goes to show you how important each and every life is.  How important it is that we do the work God has uniquely given each one of us.  Whether we reach a few, or millions....it matters.  That is why we must always strive to be the best we can be...spiritually, mentally and physically...because someone....somewhere....is counting on us.

Image courtesy http://mute-the-silence.blogspot.com/2013/11/all-saints-day-in-greece-and-more.html