The Sacred Heart and The Divine Mercy -- 2 Magnificent Devotions That Emanate From The Merciful Heart Of Jesus Christ

An optional closing prayer for the Divine Mercy Chaplet goes like this: "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." This comes from #950 of St. Faustina's Diary.

What is this "holy will" of God? Our salvation. St. Paul, in his First Letter to Timothy, declares: "God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth" (2: 4). Our Lord's words to St. Faustina echo this: "Write that the greater the misery of a soul, the greater its right to My mercy; [urge] all souls to trust in the unfathomable abyss of My mercy, because I want to save them all. On the cross, the fountain of My mercy was opened wide by the lance for all souls--no one have I excluded!" (#1182).

God wills all to be saved but he cannot impose that will on anyone. God cannot force his love on anyone. Love must be freely given and received. So when humanity rejected God's will and love, God set out to prove his love by sending his Son to live and suffer and die for us. On the cross his Sacred Heart was pierced and blood and water flowed forth. The image of Divine Mercy with its red and white rays coming from the center of the risen Jesus depict this. Jesus told St. Faustina: "The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is 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" (#299).

The rays come straight from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This Heart reveals God's greatest attribute--Mercy. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Merciful Heart. It is Divine Mercy.

Are devotion to the Sacred Heart and devotion to Divine Mercy in competition? Has Divine Mercy replaced the Sacred Heart? No. Dr. Robert Stackpole, director of the John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA, in his book Jesus, Mercy Incarnate, states that the Divine Mercy and the Sacred Heart are "so closely bound up with each other as to be absolutely inseparable." The reason is simple: "Jesus has only one Heart! His Sacred Heart is His Merciful Heart--they are one and the same." These devotions are not in competition. Dr. Stackpole writes: "In short, the differences between these two devotions are best described as differences of emphasis, for both spring from a common source: devotion to the same Heart of Jesus, overflowing with merciful love for us."

Anyone who reads the Diary of St. Faustina will see that Divine Mercy was revealed to her in the context of her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Devotion to Divine Mercy is a further development of devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Eucharist.

At the Last Supper Jesus told his disciples "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now" (John 16: 12). Jesus is the fullest revelation of God. There is no new revelation after Jesus. This is the Church's constant teaching. Yet, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to continue to help the Church grow in its understanding of this revelation of God's love in the Person of Jesus. Moreover, after his ascension to the right hand of the Father, Jesus has also appeared from time to time to teach the Church.

He appeared to Saul and asked him: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" (Acts 9: 4). In this question Jesus made it clear to the future St. Paul that he and his Body, the Church, are one. Later, when he wrote his First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul would elaborate on this doctrine of the Body of Christ and the union of Christ with the members of the Church.

In the 1200's Jesus appeared to St. Juliana during a time when belief in the Blessed Sacrament was disappearing. He asked for a feast in honor of his Body and Blood, Corpus Christi. In the 1600's, at a time when devotion to God's love in the Eucharist had grown cold and many of the faithful were filled with fear rather than love, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary and asked for a feast in honor of his Sacred Heart. He told her: "My divine Heart is so passionately fond of the human race, and of you in particular, that it cannot keep back the pent-up flames of its burning charity any longer. They must burst out through you and reveal my Heart to the world, so as to enrich mankind with my precious treasures. He complained to her: "There it is, that Heart so deeply in love with men, it spared no means of proof--wearing itself out until it was utterly spent! This meets with scant appreciation from most of them; all I get back is ingratitude--witness their irreverence, their sacrileges, their coldness and contempt for me in this Sacrament of Love." The Feast and Devotion to the Sacred Heart in no way replaced the feast and devotion to the Holy Eucharist.

Then in the 1930's, during what many have called the most merciless century in human history, Jesus appeared to St. Faustina, revealed his Heart to her in the context of Eucharistic adoration, and called for a feast and devotion to his Divine Mercy. In words that echo those spoken to St. Margaret Mary, he said: "The flames of mercy are burning Me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain they cause Me when they do not want to accept them!" (#1074). And he complained: "Oh, how painful it is to Me that souls so seldom unite themselves to Me in Holy Communion. I wait for souls, and they are indifferent toward Me. I love them tenderly and sincerely, and they distrust Me. I want to lavish My graces on them, and they do not want to accept them" (#1447). The Feast and Devotion to Divine Mercy in no way replaced the Feasts and Devotion to the Holy Eucharist and the Sacred Heart.

Think for a moment: what is the greatest obstacle to holiness? Our natural response is to think of our temptations and sins. But Jesus told St. Faustina it was something else: "My child, know that the greatest obstacles to holiness are discouragement and an exaggerated anxiety. These will deprive you of the ability to practice virtue. All temptations united together ought not disturb your interior peace, not even momentarily. Sensitiveness and discouragement are the fruits of self-love. You should not become discouraged, but strive to make My love reign in place of your self-love. Have confidence, My child. Do not lose heart in coming for pardon, for I am always ready to forgive you" (#1488).

Dis-cour-agement. The center of that word comes from the Latin word "cor" or "heart." When we become discouraged we lose heart. To have courage we need only turn to the Heart of Jesus. He gives his Heart to us in the Eucharist where he is present Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, including his Heart. This is the new heart that God promised through the Prophet Ezekiel.

God replaces our sin-hardened hearts with the Heart of his Son when we receive him in Holy Communion.

Have Mercy On Us and On The Whole World

You have likely seen this image of Jesus all over Washington, State Of Missouri and beyond. It’s posted outside of churches, along roadsides and at people’s mailboxes.

It’s more than just another illustration of Christ. It’s a ministry and a devotion called the Divine Mercy which includes a specific set of short prayers and intentions.

A crew of four volunteers from St. Francis Borgia Parish in Washington have been making these signs for the last six years, but they’ve never been more busy than right now.

“We have worked nonstop the most since this virus started,” said Bill Gegg, one of the volunteers.
A man from Florissant recently came to the crew’s workshop and picked up 50 signs. Then he came back for more.

“I think he has bought 250 by now,” Gegg remarked.

Many people are buying multiple signs so they can share them with others, said Kenn Obermark, a retired painter and Divine Mercy volunteer.

It seems the more signs the crew makes, the more people call to place orders. They have even shipped packs of signs out of state and overseas to Germany.

Interest in the Divine Mercy may be picking up right now because it was Holy Week, and many faithful people will begin praying the Divine Mercy Novena on Good Friday.

But people who are familiar with the prayers also believe they are a powerful tool that can help turn the tide in the world’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘We Need to Pray Because People Are Losing Hope’

The message of the Divine Mercy ministry is God’s love, according to the official website, thedivinemercy.org.

“He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy,” the website reads.

Seeing the image of Divine Mercy, which feature the words “Jesus, I Trust in You,” is an opportunity to ask for His mercy, be merciful to others and completely trust in Jesus.

“Divine Mercy Sunday is always the Sunday after Easter, and the Gospel of the day is about Jesus making his appearance after the Resurrection to his Apostles,” said Father Joe Wormek, pastor at St. Francis Borgia. “During this appearance Jesus gives the Apostles the power to forgive sins.”

The Image of Divine Mercy illustrates forgiveness with the colors of the large rays of light pouring from Jesus’ chest — red represents blood and Him dying on the cross to forgive sins, and the pale/blue color represents the water of Baptism, Father Joe explained.

The words of the Divine Mercy prayers, referred to as a chaplet since beads are used to keep track of the order, seem especially meaningful right now, he said:

“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;” and

“For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world” (this is said 50 times in the chaplet).

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, people, understandably, are trying to figure out why it is happening, said Father Joe.

“Of course, one question, from a standpoint of faith, is always, ‘If God is so loving, why would He do this? Why is God permitting this?’ ” he said. “Sometimes it’s our own sinfulness that has caused the things that we do . . . so the idea is we call upon the mercy of God for forgiveness.

“It’s the power of prayer, and people are saying we need to pray because people are losing hope . . . ”

That’s where the image of Divine Mercy can make a difference, stressed Father Joe. At the very least, seeing the image will remind people that “Jesus is merciful, loving and kind. That he died on the cross for us,” said Father Joe.

“It’s a sign of hope. That’s what people need in this time. People are losing hope, losing faith.”
But seeing the Divine Mercy image also can remind people to pray.

How to Pray the Divine Mercy Prayers:

Many people pray the Divine Mercy chaplet every day, said Father Joe. The 3 p.m. hour is the suggested time, since that corresponds to when Christ died on the cross. But any time it is prayed is better than none, he said.

The prayers of the Divine Mercy chaplet follow the beads of a rosary, but using a rosary is not necessary, said Father Joe, who noted there is a free app available that not only helps people keep track of the prayers, but also offers an audio version where they can simply pray along.

For specific details on how to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet, go to

www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet.

Divine Mercy Novena:

Every year people pray the Divine Mercy Novena beginning on Good Friday and continuing through Saturday of the following week. This year that is Friday, April 10, through Saturday, April 18, leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday.

Normally Borgia parish would hold a special hour-long service on Divine Mercy Sunday, but that has been canceled due to the social distancing requirements to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Each day of the Divine Mercy Novena has a specific intention that people are praying for, said Mary Armistead, a member of the SFB Cenacle or small faith-sharing study group that meets weekly (although it is currently suspended).

“This Novena was given to St. Faustina Kowalska in 1930s Poland. It is directed at the entire world. You don’t have to be Catholic to say this prayer,” said Armistead.

“At Borgia, we try to emphasize that novena and get the larger Catholic community, and anyone really, to understand this novena and recognize its importance.”

Saint Faustina:

Sister Faustina was a nun in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland during the 1930s when Jesus appeared to her and asked her to record the experiences, which she compiled into notebooks that today are known as the “Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska.” (Sister Faustina was made a saint in 2000.)

The image that is seen on the Divine Mercy signs is a rendering of the image that Sister Faustina described.

Signs Come in Three Sizes:

The SFB Cenacle was meeting on Wednesdays after the 7 a.m. Mass at Borgia to study the diary of St. Faustina, scripture and the catechism of the Catholic church.

The group operates under the Eucharistic Apostles of the Divine Mercy, a nonprofit Apostolate of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary., headquartered in Stockbridge, Mass.

Part of the group’s mission is “to bring a hurting world the Divine Mercy message and devotion.”

Between 20 and 25 people were attending the weekly meetings before they were suspended last month. They would pray and promote the message of Divine Mercy as a group and also individually on other days.

The four-man crew who make the Divine Mercy signs are members of the SFB Cenacle. Along with Obermark and Gegg it includes Michael Tolksdorf and Alan Jean.

They sell the signs in three sizes — 8 by 10 inches, 12 by 15 inches and 16 by 24 inches — for a suggested donation between $10-30, depending on the size and whether the image is a double (front and back) or a single.

There also are some larger sizes measured in feet that are available as custom orders.

The image is printed on billboard-quality material so it will last a long time, and the framing material also is weather-proof.

The idea to begin creating the signs came out of the group’s intention to spread the message of the Divine Mercy.

Obermark had received a $500 donation from a man with whom he had given the Divine Mercy chaplet, which is said to be particularly powerful when prayed with a dying person.

“Jesus is saying, ‘I will give that person my mercy,’ basically,” said Obermark. “He’s saying, it will forgive your punishments.”

The man’s family prayed it with a relative who was dying, and he was so impressed, said it was the most beautiful evening with the family, that he donated $500 to help spread the image and message to more people, said Obermark.

But how best to do that? Obermark had occasionally seen the Divine Mercy image alongside roads when he traveled in other states, so he contacted Ziglin Graphics in Washington to find out how much a large 8- by 10-foot print of the Divine Mercy image would cost.

The $500 donation almost covered the cost of four images, and the Cenacle group held a bake sale to make up the difference.

The jump to making smaller signs for individual people to place in their yards came from seeing so many political signs around town, said Obermark.

Seeing them and filling so many new orders these days is a feeling more joyous than the crew expected.

“We are on Cloud Nine knowing so many people want the image and are putting it up to share with others,” said Obermark. “It’s the Holy Spirit sending these people to us.”

“It’s a great ministry,” said Gegg, noting they are proud to be continuing the mission to spread the message.

“One of our banners at Borgia, says ‘Keep the Mission Going, Divine Mercy.’ And that’s our philosophy,” said Gegg. “Our mission is to get the message out.”

The group is quick to point out that they couldn’t keep the mission going without the support of a few local businesses, including John Hall Lumber and Ziglin Graphics, which provide the materials, and Williams Brothers and the Washington Knights of Columbus, which hold fundraisers.

For more information on the Divine Mercy signs or to place an order, contact Kenn Obermark at 636-239-7456 or 636-358-3053.

Credits : The Missourian 

Reading The Divine Mercy Diary -- Reading The Actual Words Of Jesus Christ

When we read the Diary of St. Faustina, we must always try to remember that we are reading the actual words of Jesus. In many ways, we have been extremely blessed to live in a time when a book of this magnitude exists. A countless number of saints and holy people would have loved to have had in their possession a book which contained the actual words of Jesus, other than the Bible of course.

As we read through the Diary of St. Faustina, we get a profound insight into the personality of Jesus. His words are always gentle and kind. We get a sense of the suffering He feels as He looks at mankind and the countless sins we commit, and yet He remains committed to His promises of Mercy for everyone who repents and seeks His mercy.

The Diary is not a man-made item. St. Faustina did not create the Diary as a clever way to promote the mercy of God. In the Diary, we read that she was reluctant to even write down her experiences and only did so in accordance with the commands of her spiritual director. She often suffered serious doubts as to the authenticity of the locutions and visions she was experiencing and often wondered if she was mentally ill. Fr. Sopocko actually doubted her too for a long time and had her examined by a psychologist who reported that she was perfectly healthy psychologically. Fr. Sopocko, who was an esteemed theologian, had grave reservations as to the validity of the messages of Divine Mercy. But we learn in the Diary that his prudence was actually pleasing to Jesus.

One of the occasions that convinced Fr. Sopocko that the locutions and visions of St. Faustina were genuine was the message which Jesus gave to St. Faustina to relate to him. At that time, Fr. Sopocko was still very unsure as to what he believed about the revelations of Divine Mercy. He had the Image of Divine Mercy painted, but as he was still unconvinced, so he hid it in the corridor of a local convent.

Soon after, St. Faustina came to him and told him that Jesus asked that the Image be displayed in public and not hidden away in a convent. There was no way that St. Faustina could have known that he had done this, so this message helped him to realize that the locutions and visions of St. Faustina were genuine. By the time of her death in 1938, Fr. Sopocko was absolutely convinced that the experiences and messages which St. Faustina was recording in her Diary and reporting to him personally were authentic and he became one of the most important promoters of the new messages of Divine Mercy to the world.

Since St. Faustina’s death, there have been a remarkable number of astounding miracles through the intercession of St. Faustina and the prayers of Divine Mercy. It would seem that every Divine Mercy devotee has a personal story regarding a grace or miracle they have received through their Divine Mercy prayers. But the miracles which have been granted to people are to confirm to the world that the messages of Divine Mercy which were given to St. Faustina, who recorded them in her Diary, are genuinely from Jesus.

It is this fact which makes the Diary so incredibly special because we can read the Diary and know that we are reading the actual words of Jesus. This is an amazing aspect of the Diary. In the Diary, through the life experience of St. Faustina, we can often find answers to many of the personal and spiritual questions we have from time to time. The remarkable honesty of St. Faustina allows us to see the inner workings of her soul, which we will see are often related to the problems, trials, joys and hopes we all experience as we make our way through life. The questions she often poses to Jesus can often be the questions we ask ourselves during our daily life. What is wonderful about the Diary are the answers and revelations which Jesus gives back to St. Faustina. If we had any doubts as to the accuracy of our deliberations or the wisdom of our decisions, we will often find an answer to our problems in the Diary.

To a greater degree however, the Diary answers our spiritual questions in a more precise manner. As we engage with the challenges of being a Catholic, we will constantly have questions and doubts as to what is the correct response to a situation or what is expected of us by Jesus. Throughout the Diary of St. Faustina, Jesus reveals to us the answers to our questions. Obviously, it will not be a direct answer to our specific question, but through the Diary, Jesus gives us His wisdom and council as to how we should live and respond to the world we live in. He shows us the dangers which beset us and how to avoid them. He teaches us how to live in accordance with His holy Will, which is and can only be the best and surest way to live. His words comfort us in our afflictions and help us to find the strength to cope with the sufferings we will all experience during our earthy life.

The Diary also reveals to us the sublime holiness of each Mass and the Eucharist and the myriad of supernatural events which occur, but we can never see. The Diary shows us that images like the Mother of Mercy Shrine in Vilnius and the Divine Mercy Image are living images, and not just ordinary paintings of a religious icon. The Diary reveals truths about Heaven and the mind of God which were hitherto unavailable to humanity. Outstanding theologians such as St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Anthony of Padua would have been amazed and astounded by the Diary of St. Faustina.

It is the fact that we are reading the actual words of Jesus is what makes the Diary of St. Faustina so special. It is amazing to hold such a holy and special book in our hands and be so privileged that God has chosen to reveal this mystery to us, as it is not everyone in the world who believes what we believe or has access to the treasure of knowledge and wisdom contained within the covers of this unique book.

The words of Jesus in the Diary captivate our souls and our imaginations and teach us with one simple passage what might otherwise take years to learn. Furthermore, as the years go by and we read and re-read the Diary, we will notice that we are continuously learning about the Devotion and the revelations of Divine Mercy but also about the Church, our spiritual life, St. Faustina and the other significant people in the Diary and many other fascinating insights about the visible and invisible worlds. As we read the Diary, we must never forget or lose sight of the fact that we are reading the words of Jesus. We must continually renew our spirit to be inspired and taught by Jesus through His wonderful messages to St. Faustina which were meant for us all.

In Short, The Diary Of Saint Faustina is a Must Read For Everyone.

Credits : Divine Mercy Scotland 

Understanding The Significance Of The 3.00 Prayer

At 3 O’Clock on Good Friday, Jesus died in incomprehensible agony on the wooden Cross which the Roman soldiers had nailed Him to. The soldier appointed to watch the bodies checked if the three whom they had crucified were still alive, but when he examined Jesus, he discovered Jesus had already died. So he did not break His legs, which was a Roman custom, thereby fulfilling the prophecy "Not one of his bones will be broken" (Psalm 34). Instead, he took a spear and pierced His sacred body, driving the iron blade into His Merciful Heart. As he withdrew the spear, there followed a gush of blood and water. The soldier was shocked and gave witness to St. John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, of this event. It is this moment which changed the world forever, and it is this prayer that commemorates that extraordinary moment.

The red and pale white rays emanating from the Heart of Jesus in the Image of Divine Mercy represent the blood and water which gushed forth from His pierced Heart on Good Friday. Jesus asked that all who venerate His mercy honour His Passion by remembering Him with this prayer at 3 O’Clock in the afternoon. He asks us, “If only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony”. (Diary 1320) At this moment, He asks us to implore His Mercy, especially for sinners. He told St. Faustina, "as often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners; for at that moment, mercy was opened wide for every soul". (Diary 1572)

The short prayer which Jesus taught St. Faustina for the veneration of His Mercy at 3 O’Clock is, “O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You”. This is also known as the Conversion Prayer. Jesus told St. Faustina, "I desire that you know more profoundly the love that burns in My Heart for souls, and you will understand this when you meditate upon My Passion. Call upon My mercy on behalf of sinners; I desire their salvation. When you say this prayer, with a contrite heart and with faith on behalf of some sinner, I will give him the grace of conversion. This is the prayer: “O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You.” (Diary 186-187) St. Faustina also created her own prayer for this moment, which is: 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)

Jesus asked, that as often as we “hear the clock strike the third hour” that we deeply contemplate His Passion, “if only for a brief moment”. But after we observe the moment of the death of the Messiah at 3 O’Clock with this special prayer, we then have before us “the hour of great mercy for the whole world”. (Diary 1320) Jesus has let us know that in Heaven, the 3 O’Clock hour is a special holy hour, as He said, "it was the hour of grace for the whole world — mercy triumphed over justice...In this hour, you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking...In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion". (Diary 1320, 1572) He asked St. Faustina, that if she had time she should make the Stations of the Cross during this special hour. He acknowledged that her duties might prevent her from being able to do this, but He asked that on these occasions, she step into a church and adore His Mercy, if only for a brief moment. He also said that if she did not have the opportunity to enter a church, she could pause, wherever she was, and “immerse yourself in prayer there where you happen to be, if only for a very brief instant”. (Diary 1572)

The Passion of Jesus is a disturbing image in our minds. His betrayal by Judas and the abandonment of His friends; the brutality of the scourging and the violence of the Roman soldiers and the Jewish observers; the suffering He endured while carrying His heavy wooden cross; the emotional agony of meeting His mother, suffering so much by the sight of her Son; the sharp pain of the nails as they entered into His hands and feet and the three hours in which He was left dying in agonising pain on that cross, all the time being mocked by onlookers, who did not even have the compassion to give a tortured dying man a drink of water. So why would Jesus, who is love and mercy, want us to contemplate daily this brutal and disturbing event of the death of the promised Messiah?

The Passion of Jesus is the proof of His love for us. He underwent this horrifying ordeal so that He could forever stand between us and the uncompromising Justice of the Father and ask for mercy on our behalf. At the moment of our Judgement, we cannot defend ourselves and it is not possible for God the Father to be unjust. He must exercise justice and punish sin, as He ordained that the world should be created in this fashion. There is but one means to save a soul and that is to ask God for mercy and only the Passion of Jesus and His appeal to the Father to show us mercy, is the only way that we can obtain the mercy of God.

Although it is Jesus who underwent this agony so that He could beg mercy for us, He was fulfilling the Will of His Father. It was God’s Will that there be a means by which He could grant us pardon and therefore prevent Him from rendering justice to sinners. It shows us the incomprehensible mystery of the mercy of God. For He created a way so that He could grant mercy to those who don’t deserve it, but it shows His love and unwillingness to condemn souls, especially souls who do not want to be condemned. It shows His Love and His desire that we spend all of eternity with Him in perfect peace, tranquillity and love. In many ways, God has set events up so that He could have an excuse to forgive us, for that is His true desire, the hallmark of His perfect love, His desire to forgive and forget, so that souls can be re-united with Him in love.

So initially when we contemplate the Passion of Jesus, we are disturbed by the violence of His terrifying ordeal, but we should come to understand that His Passion is a solemn pledge of His love for us and His desire to pour out His mercy into our souls, to heal our wounds and arrange that we will live forever with Him in Heaven. We will understand the sacrifice which Jesus made on our behalf when we contemplate His Passion.

This understanding will help us to know the love which burns in His heart, the love which is the only love which can satisfy the longing of the human heart, as it is perfect love, and it is the love for which we were created. It is this love which Jesus wants us to understand, for He knows that once we understand the extreme measures to which He was willing to go to save our souls, we will grow in trust and after we learn to trust, only then can we learn to love and enter deeper into the Mystery of His Divine Mercy. Only then will life become special. Only then does the meaning of life start to make sense and the excitement of living become a reality. For everyone knows that the passing pleasures of the world bring no lasting joy and often bring far more trouble then the moment of joy which the worldly indulgence of self promised.

It is during the 3 O’Clock Holy Hour that we should, if our duties permit, contemplate the Passion of Jesus. Jesus told St. Faustina, “There are few souls who contemplate My Passion with true feeling; I give great graces to souls who meditate devoutly on My Passion. Without special help from Me, you are not even capable of accepting My graces. You know who you are”. (Diary 737-738) Although it is very hard to understand, we cannot survive without God’s graces. There are special graces which greatly enhance our lives and our souls. But it is also possible for us to lose God’s grace through sin and sometimes God withholds graces from souls as a punishment. But if we keep His commandments and ask God with a genuine love, for His grace, He will not refuse it, as it is His burning desire and the driving force of His love, to give us more graces than we can contain. Again His generosity is a hallmark of His perfect love and mercy. Jesus told St. Faustina, "There is more merit to one hour of meditation on My sorrowful Passion than there is to a whole year of flagellation that draws blood; the contemplation of My painful wounds is of great profit to you, and it brings Me great joy". (Diary 369)

So there are two distinct parts to the 3 O’Clock Hour. The first is the moment of the death of Jesus at 3 O’Clock. We immerse ourselves in the Passion of Jesus and pray with great love and gratitude to Him, thanking Him for His love for us. We say the short prayer and offer it for sinners. The second part of this holy hour is the prayer and meditation during this Holy Hour. If we have time, Jesus requested that we pray the Stations of the Cross and to meditate with true feeling His sorrowful Passion. As He has told us, it is the hour of great mercy for the world and He has promised that He will refuse nothing to the soul who makes a request of His grace in virtue of His Passion. He has revealed to us that this meditation has more merit for us than an entire year of the most extreme form of penance. He has revealed that the contemplation of His Passion brings Him great joy and helps us to grow in trust and love of God.

This holy hour is an exceptionally important element of the devotion to Divine Mercy. For if we do not take the time everyday to contemplate and understand the mercy of God and the sacrifice that Jesus made for mankind, how can we understand the purpose of the Chaplet, the Image, the Novena and particularly the Feast of Mercy? The Passion of Jesus teaches us what true mercy is. How can we grow in love of God if we don’t trust Him? And if we don’t understand the depth of His mercy, we may never truly trust Him and therefore never truly love Him. We will be forever standing afar from Jesus, fearful and distrusting. But Jesus understands the reasons why we behave like this. We are viewing Him through our human experience where doubt, fear and an unwillingness to forgive, condition our everyday lives.

We refuse to believe that God is as good, as merciful and as loving as He says He is and as He has proven He is. It is for this reason that the 3 O’Clock Holy hour is so important, for it is only through meditation on the Passion of Jesus that we, in our own way, will begin to understand how incomprehensible and infinite His mercy is and also believe that He has forgiven us. Only then can we believe in His Goodness and only then will we feel in our souls His love and mercy for each and every one of us, regardless of our past sins.

Credits : Divine Mercy Scotland 

The Divine Mercy Chaplet ------ A Healing And Saving Prayer

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a truly special and holy prayer because it was created by Jesus for mankind. He revealed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy to a Polish nun called St. Faustina through a series of visions and inner locutions in 1935, while she was living in Vilnius, Lithuania. Between 1935-1938, Jesus demonstrated to her the unlimited power of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy through a number of extraordinary miracles and events.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is not restricted to any set of intentions or petitions. Jesus showed St.Faustina the power of the Chaplet by teaching her that the Chaplet even had the power to change the weather conditions in the area where she lived. (Diary 1197) It is reasonable to believe that He did this to demonstrate the boundless power of this new prayer. Jesus explained to her that He would grant unimaginable graces to those who prayed the Chaplet once their petition was compatible with His Divine Will. (Diary 1731)

Even though it is absolutely true that the power of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is not restricted in any way, it is also true that it does have a central purpose within the Devotion to Divine Mercy. This main purpose is to save dying sinners. In the sections of the Diary where St.Faustina records her experiences of praying the Chaplet, the vast majority of these entries reference occasions where she was requested by Jesus to pray the Chaplet for a dying sinner. Jesus revealed to her that praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for a dying soul appeases the Just Anger of God and allows Him to defend the soul against the Divine Justice of God as the soul dies. It was though this revelation which Jesus chose to make known this new prayer to the world. (Diary 811)

Jesus introduced the Chaplet of Divine Mercy through a vision granted to St. Faustina. In the vision, St. Faustina saw the Angel of Divine Wrath who was ready to send the just punishments of God to a specific country. St. Faustina deliberately does not mention this country but it is clear that she was aware of how the activities of this country incurred the Divine Justice of God. St. Faustina records that she was brought before the Holy Trinity at which time she began to plead for mercy for mankind with a prayer she heard interiorly, a prayer she had never heard before. She observed that as she was praying this special prayer, the Angel of Divine Wrath was unable to carry out his task of sending the just punishments of God to earth. The following day, as she entered the Chapel, Jesus spoke to her and explained that the main purpose of Chaplet of Divine Mercy is to appease the Just Anger of the Holy Trinity.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a fascinating prayer and how Jesus chose to reveal it to us is even more fascinating. On the one hand, Jesus shows us the terrifying power of the Just Anger of God. It is a warning to us that this aspect of God is a reality and we should never become complacent about sin or our earthly journey to Heaven. But more than that, it is a symbol of God’s inextinguishable desire to forgive us and heal us of the wounds of our sins. It is a true sign of God’s Mercy for He gives the sinner a means to disarm His Justice and seek mercy when he doesn’t deserve it. This prayer offers us an insight into the incomprehensible workings of the mercy of God.

Our sins rightly deserve to be punished but God has chosen to give us a prayer which will prevent Him from punishing us and ask Him to forgive us and to heal us. In human terms, it is completely out of sync with our natural inclination towards strict justice and our unwillingness to forgive those who have offended us.

But the Chaplet shows us that this is not the case with God. It shows us that through this prayer, we can obtain mercy for ourselves, our family and friends, our communities, our country and even the whole world. It also offers us an incomparable means to pray for our personal intentions in a way which, in the past, was probably restricted to the prayers of the great saints like Padre Pio, St. Anthony and St. Theresa of Avila.

The Chaplet offers God a gift that is so holy and so sacred that no human offering could ever compare. It is an offering of the perfect love of Jesus. Some priests have even likened this prayer to Holy Mass, insofar as, at Mass, we also offer God the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus to the Father in atonement for the sins of mankind. Obviously, the fundamental difference between Mass and the Chaplet is that we don’t physically receive the Eucharist every time we pray the Chaplet, but the offering is similar, and it is a spiritual communion, as oppose to a physical communion.

The paragraphs in the Diary which refer to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy clearly demonstrate that this prayer maybe the most powerful prayer that has ever existed, with the exception of the Mass and the Holy Rosary.

But there are more reasons why Jesus gave this Chaplet to mankind other than just a powerful means to seek forgiveness and seek answers to our everyday prayers. It is predominantly to be used for the salvation of souls, but it is also a symbol of the second coming of Jesus. Jesus has revealed that through the recitation of the Chaplet, we can save souls who are not even in the same country as us or whom we never met. We are simply praying for the salvation of any soul who is dying. That is why Jesus asked that a new religious order be founded who would continuously pray the Chaplet for the souls of dying sinners, because it will offer a continuous defense for any souls who might be dying unprepared in any part of the world.

This fact shows that Jesus plans, through this devotion, to save every soul. But the Chaplet is also a symbol of the second coming of Jesus. He told St. Faustina that the Chaplet was a “sign for the end times” and He also told her that “a spark” (Pope John Paul II) would come from Poland to prepare the world for the second coming of Christ, which is Judgement Day. (Diary 848, 1732).

He implored St. Faustina to tell the world about the Chaplet of Divine Mercy so that they could obtain mercy before this day. But hidden in these messages is His message to us, for He knew that we would all read the Diary in the future. Jesus is revealing to us that this devotion is to prepare the world for Judgement Day and it is through the Chaplet, He wishes that an incalculable number of souls might be saved before this appointed time.

Credits : Divine Mercy Scotland

Father Michael Sopocko --- The Divine Mercy Priest

Father Michael Sopocko walked among saints while on earth, and now he has been confirmed among them in heaven. On Sept. 28, 2008, he was declared Blessed Michael Sopocko at a special Mass at the Church of Divine Mercy in Bialystok, Poland. Saint Faustina praised him greatly in her Diary, and now those praises will be echoed by the Church.

Here is a passage in which St. Faustina refers to him: “He is a priest after My own Heart (...) Through him it pleased Me to pro­claim the worship of My mercy” (Diary 1256). “His thought is closely united to Mine, so be at peace about what con­cerns My work. I will not let him make a mistake, and you should do nothing without his permission” (Diary 1408).

In another place of the Diary She asks Jesus about him “At the same time, I saw a certain person [Father Sopocko] and, in part, the condition of his soul and the ordeals God was sending him. His sufferings were of the mind and in a form so acute that I pitied him and said to the Lord, “Why do you treat him like that?”

 And the Lord answered, For the sake of his triple crown. And the Lord also gave me to understand what unimaginable glory awaits the person who resembles the suffering Jesus here on earth. That person will resemble Jesus in His glory. The Heavenly Father will recognize and glorify our soul to the extent that He sees in us a resemblance to His Son. I understood that this assimilation into Jesus is granted to us while we are here on earth. I see pure and innocent souls upon whom God has exercised His justice; these souls are the victims who sustain the world and who fill up what is lacking in the Passion of Jesus. They are not many in number. I rejoice greatly that God has allowed me to know such souls (Diary 604).

Michael Sopocko was born on November 1, 1888 in Juszewszczyzna, then under Imperial Russia. The Czarist authority persecuted the Catholic Church as well as both the Polish and Lithuanian people within its territories. In the Sopocko family, of noble lineage, the Polish and Catholic traditions were conserved and developed. The young Michael matured in this religious and patriotic atmosphere. Motivated by a desire for unconditional service to God, the Church and humanity, he entered the Major Seminary in Vilnius. On June 15, 1914, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Franciszek Karewicz.

For four years (1914-1918) he worked as a parochial vicar in Taboryszki, where he opened two mission churches at Miedniki and at Onzadow, as well as various schools.

When informed by someone that the German authorities who checks that zone may arrest him, he left the parish and went to Warsaw. There he became a military chaplain for the Polish army. While dedicated to his ministry as chaplain, he enrolled as a student in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Warsaw from which he obtained a doctoral degree. At the same time, he graduated from the National Pedagogical Institute. In 1924, he became a coordinator of the regional military chaplaincies, based in Vilnius.

In 1927, Archbishop Romuald Jalbrzykowski entrusted to him the responsibility of being the Spiritual Director for the Major Seminary. During this same period he taught for the faculty of Theology at Stefan Batory University also in Vilnius. He eventually requested the Archbishop to release him from both the military pastoral care and from the seminary duties. His desire was to dedicate himself entirely to theological pursuits. In 1934, he received the title of `docent’ in pastoral theology. While teaching, he never forgot the importance of pastoral service. He was rector of St. Michael Church and also served as confessor for Religious Sisters.

One of the most significant events of Fr. Sopocko’s life occurred in 1933, when he became the Spiritual Director of Saint Faustina Kowalska of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Mother of Mercy. He continued to assist the Saint after his transfer to Lagiewniki, where she died on October 5, 1938. As her confessor, he undertook a thorough evaluation of Sr. Faustina’s mystical experiences concerning the devotion to the Divine Mercy. Following his advice, she wrote of these in her “Diary” To this day this remains a spiritual classic.

The Divine Mercy devotion became a life-giving inspiration for Fr. Sopocko. With his assistance, and under the direction of Sister Faustina, the artist Eugeniusz Kazimirowski painted the first portrait of Merciful Jesus. Fr. Sopocko wrote extensively on the subject of the Divine Mercy, and, in 1938 he established a committee charged with building the Divine Mercy Church in Vilnius. However, this attempt had to be delayed due to the onset of World War II.

But despite the war and German occupation, Fr. Sopocko persisted in his efforts to promote the devotion to the Divine Mercy. Filled with zeal, he constantly helped those who were oppressed and threatened with extermination, for example, numerous Jewish people. Fortunately, he managed to avoid arrest and imprisonment. In 1942, along with his fellow seminary professors and students, he was forced to go into hiding near Vilnius. He remained concealed for two years.

Yet it was during that very time when Fr. Sopocko played a major role in establishing a new Religious Congregation. According to the revelations of Saint Faustina, this Congregation was to promote love for the Divine Mercy. After the War, he wrote the Congregation’s constitution. And he became actively engaged in the growth and development of what we know as the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Mercy.

In 1947, Archbishop Jalbrzykowski, who has been for two years in Bialystok with his diocesan Curia, sought for Fr. Sopocko come to the same city. He therefore accepted a position as professor in the Archdiocesan Major Seminary. There he taught pedagogy, catechetic, homiletics, pastoral theology and spirituality. Additionally he continued to further the apostolate of the Divine Mercy.

He also made serious efforts to obtain official approval for the Divine Mercy devotion from the Church authorities. Fr. Sopocko worked tirelessly on the biblical, theological, and pastoral bases by which to explain the doctrinal truth concerning the Divine Mercy devotion. His publications were translated into numerous languages including: Latin, English, French, Italian, and Portuguese.

Fr. Michael Sopocko died on February 15, 1975, in his apartment on Poleska Street. He was popularly acclaimed for his sanctity. He was buried in the parish cemetery in Biatystok. Following the inauguration of the process for his Beatification, his body was moved to the Church of the Divine Mercy in November 30, 1988.

Sister Faustina wrote in her Diary: “One evening as I entered my cell, I saw the Lord Jesus exposed in the monstrance under the open sky, as it seemed. At the feet of Jesus I saw my confessor, and behind him a great number of the highest ranking ecclesiastics, clothed in vestments the like of which I had never seen except in this vision; behind them, groups of religious from various orders; and further still I saw enormous crowds of people, which extended far beyond my vision.

I saw the two rays coming out from the host, as in the image, closely united but not intermingled; and they passed through the hands of my confessor, then through the hands of the clergy and from their hands to the people, and then they returned to the host… And at that moment I saw myself once again in the cell which I had just entered” (Diary 344).

These prophesies was fulfilled on Sept. 28, 2008, when he was declared Blessed Michael Sopocko at a special Mass at the Church of Divine Mercy in Bialystok, Poland.

Credits : Time Of Mercy 

Small Town In The Mid - Western United States Observes More Than 30 Years Of Dedication To The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion

Many people come to Sauk Centre in Minnesota to visit the birthplace of famed novelist Sinclair Lewis, but four local men would argue that the small community can offer something much more — the Gift of the Divine Mercy.

More Than 30 years ago, a retired insurance agent, a restaurant night cook, a motel owner and a woodcarver-repairman saw to it their hometown would become the first U.S. community dedicated to the devotion.


“We got something even greater than Sinclair Lewis,” said Paul Theisen, former motel owner.


Years before Blessed John Paul II instituted Divine Mercy Sunday, observed the Sunday after Easter, Theisen, Vern Botz, Roman Kulzer and Lawrence Kaas worked to establish a Divine Mercy Shrine at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre and have been guardians of it ever since.

The shrine was dedicated in 1982, but its beginnings date to November 1979, when three of the men — Theisen, Botz and Kulzer — were inspired by an article about Jesus Christ as the Divine Mercy that they read in a publication called Divine Love. 

They were captivated by the message: “Ask for God’s mercy.” “Be merciful. “Completely trust in Jesus. … The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.”


The three made a verbal commitment to promote the devotion in their community. Kaas would join them later.


“I had been looking for a job at the time and once I made this commitment, a job came within two weeks,” said Botz. “God was already protecting me and my family.”


St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, began the Divine Mercy devotion in the late 1930s based on a vision she had of Jesus in which he said he would show mercy to those who pray for it and who share that mercy with others.


Saint John Paul II beatified the nun in 1993. He canonized her April 30, 2000, and instituted Divine Mercy Sunday.


As Archbishop of Krakow, the pope took a personal interest in St. Faustina, helping to retract a Vatican ban on her diary by demonstrating the prohibition had been based on misleading translations of the nun’s revelatory writings. The ban was lifted in 1978, six months before his election as pope.


There is a National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass. It is a ministry of the St. Stanislaus Kostka province of the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception.


In Sauk Centre in February 1981, Theisen, Botz and Kulzer presented to their bishop — Bishop George H. Speltz of St. Cloud — their idea of carving a Divine Mercy statue. (The late bishop headed the diocese from 1968 to 1987.)


The men decided the home of a traveling shrine would be St. Paul’s, which had its own special connection to Divine Mercy. The current church’s cornerstone was laid the Sunday after Easter in 1906, only one year after St. Faustina was born.


With the blessing of the bishop and the approval of Father Elmer Torberg, then St. Paul’s pastor, the men searched for a carver for a statue of “Merciful Jesus” to dedicate the Sauk Centre Community to the Divine Mercy Devotion.


The carver was Kaas. He knew nothing of the message or the devotion. Kulzer showed him a picture taken from the Divine Love publication. With that image as his guide, Kaas spent about 120 hours carving a nearly 46-inch-tall statue, using mainly handmade tools.


He used butternut wood as the base, white oak from northern Wisconsin for the cross and bamboo for the red and white rays.

While Kaas was carving the statue, the other three men worked to distribute Divine Mercy Novena Booklets in Minnesota. 

They sent information about the devotion to congressional representatives Congress and national leaders, including Ex -President Ronald Reagan.


Botz and Kulzer sent a letter to Saint John Paul informing him of their project and inviting him to attend the dedication.


Theisen and Kaas visited the Marian Helpers in Stockbridge to resolve questions the priests there had about the Sauk Centre mission.


The Divine Mercy Shrine at St. Paul’s Church was dedicated April 18, 1982. Bishop Speltz was the main celebrant. The concelebrants were Father Torberg and Father Richard Drabik, who at the time was provincial of the Marian Helpers of Stockbridge.


In the congregation was Maureen Digan, who was from Massachusetts. 

Her recovery from a serious illness in 1981 could not be explained by doctors and was deemed a miracle by the Vatican and attributed to the intercession of Sister Faustina Kowalska. 

It was the miracle needed for her beatification.


According to Theisen, since the dedication the presence of the Divine Mercy Statue has brought many conversions, healings of family relationships and what he called miracles.


He and Kaas took the traveling shrine to various communities, giving witness and spreading the Divine Mercy devotion. 

They never went where they were not welcomed. In recent years they have not been as busy taking it from place to place, but the four men continue to be guardians of the shrine.


“This has been such an extraordinary experience for us,” said Theisen. “To deny Christ now would be impossible.”

Credits : Catholic Philly