Devotion of the Divine Mercy
by Mike Navarro
Divine Mercy Background in the Church
To open the millennium Pope John Paul II declared that the Second Sunday of Easter would become the Feast of Divine Mercy, and he exhorted the faithful to participate in the Divine Mercy Devotion.
On the first Feast of Divine Mercy, celebrated on April 30, 2000, he canonized St. Faustina.
St. Faustina, a Sister from Poland, lived from 1905-1938 (33 years old). She entered the Apostolic Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at the age of 20.
She mystically received over 17 extraordinary private revelations from Jesus, the Divine Mercy chaplet prayer, and the Divine Mercy Image.
Since the year 2000, every pope (JPII, BXVI, and Francis) has celebrated the Vatican’s Divine Mercy Mass, and the Divine Mercy Service at 3:00 from the Chair of Peter. In so doing, our Holy Fathers have put their imprimatur on this powerful devotion.
Another true sign was on April 2, 2005, after the Divine Mercy Vigil Mass celebrated in St. Peter’s Cathedral, JPII passed away. Pope John Paul II was canonized on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, 2014.
DOWNLOAD THE BULLETINDOWNLOAD THE BULLETINLast year Pope Francis culminated the Year of Mercy when he celebrated the Vatican’s Divine Mercy Service.
Divine Mercy Devotion (Pray the Chaplet, Participate in the Novena, and Attend Divine Mercy Celebration Service)
Recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, a five minute prayer.
The Divine Mercy Novena starts on Good Friday, March 30th and ends the following Saturday. Each day the chaplet is prayed for certain souls:
- Day 1: All sinners
- Day 2: Priest and Religious
- Day 3: Devout and Faithful Souls
- Day 4: Those Who Do Not Believe in God
- Day 5: Those Who Have Separated Themselves from the Church
- Day 6: Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children
- Day 7: Souls Who Venerate and Glorify My Mercy
- Day 8: Those Detained in Purgatory
- Day 9: Those Who Have Become Lukewarm in Faith
Jesus’ special promise to those who complete the Divine Mercy Novena, go to confession, and receive communion on Divine Mercy Sunday: “…shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day are open all the divine floodgates through which graces flow.”
Attend the Divine Mercy Celebration Service. At the service the Image is Displayed, Blessed, and Venerated, and personal articles are also blessed.
The image has the five wounds of Jesus. Emanating from the heart of Jesus is a pale ray and a red ray. The pale ray symbolizes the water which cleanses and purifies and the red ray represents the blood which gives new life to souls.
Words inscribed on the image are “Jesus, I Trust in You.”
Jesus’ Promises to People who recite and spread the Devotion of Divine Mercy:
“Souls who spread the honor of my mercy I shield through their entire life and at the hour of death will receive great mercy.”
When you pray the 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.”
Closing
Our Holy Fathers have told us that Divine Mercy is the greatest attribute of God, and it is especially needed in our modern, secular times.
All are invited to attend our Divine Mercy Service to receive these powerful graces and blessings of Mercy.
