The Divine Mercy Devotion

Jesus said when He appeared to Saint Faustina "You are the secretary of My Mercy, I have chosen you for that office in this life, and in the next".
The Canonisation of St. Faustina took place on 30th April, 2000 by Pope John Paul !!.
Divine Mercy Sunday - what a great Gift Jesus has given to the world. On this Day, the Feast of Mercy, we can receive a Grace equaled only by the Grace of Holy Baptism. After receiving this on the Feast Day you then only have to worry about the sins you commit in the future. Your past life and sins no longer exist. This means on this Day your soul can be renewed as on the day of Baptism. Sister Faustina wrote in her Diary: "The Lord told me to recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy as a Novena for the nine days before the Feast of Mercy. It is to begin on Good Friday. Jesus asks that the Feast of Mercy be preceded by a Novena consisting of the recitation of the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. Jesus demands that the feat be celebrated solemly that it, as a liturgical feast of the Church Universal. With regard to the manner of its celebration He expressed two wishes: In the first place, the image of the Divine Mercy is to be ceremoniously blessed on this feast and on this same Sunday it is to be publicly, that is, liturgically venerated. Secondly, "On that day priests are to speak to souls about this great and unfathomable Mercy of Mine". In sermons preached on this day it is proper also by all means to direct attention to the most singular grace which Jesus attached to the celebration of this feast. Namely;
"The soul that will go to confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment".
*
Our Lord does not explicitly say we have to get confession on the Feast itself. Sr. Faustina herself, made it on the Saturday before.
This extraordinary grace promised by Jesus in connection with the Feast of Mercy is something greater by far than a plenary indulgence. A plenerary indulgence consists only in the forgiveness of temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven, it is never the forgiveness of sins themselves.

The remarkable grace of the Feast of Mercy is also very much akin to the grace of Baptism. The Sacramental grace of Baptism received by an adult is not only the removal of original sin but is also the forgiveness of all personal sins and any punishment due to them so the soul cleansed on the Feast of Mercy is like the soul of one newly Baptised in the promises mentioned, however, Christ joined the forgiveness of all sins and punishemnt to the Holy Communion receive dont eh Feast of Mercy. In other words so far as tat matter is concerned He raise it (the Holy Communion on the Feast of Mercy) to the rank of a second Baptism."
It is obvious that in order to effect the complete forgiveness of sin and punishment the Holy Communion on the Feast of Mercy must not only be a worthy one, but in fact, must also be the expression of the fulfillment of the basic requirement of the Divine Mercy Devotion. Unworthily received, or not accompanied by trust in the Divine Mercy and by some deed of mercy toward one's neighbor, it would be a contradiction of the Devotion to the Divine Mercy. Instead of the most singular grace, it would draw divine wrath upon the head of the recipient. The revelations given to Saint Faustina includes the need of practicing mercy towards one's neighbor daily by dee, word, or prayer as a second foundation stone.The church teaches us to be merciful in various ways.


THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY
  1. Feed the hungry
  2. Give drink to the thirsty
  3. Clothe the naked
  4. Shelter the homeless
  5. Comfort the imprisoned
  6. Visit the sick
  7. Bury the dead
THE SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY
  1. Admonish sinners
  2. Instruct the uniformed
  3. Counsel the doubtful
  4. Comfort the sorrowful
  5. Be patient with those in error
  6. Forgive offences
  7. Pray for the living and the dead

 

Short History of The Devotion To The Divine Mercy  

On February 22nd 1931 Sister Faustina records in her Diary "I saw Jesus dressed in a white garment. He held one hand raised in blessing and the other hand was touching His garment at the breast. From under the garment came two rays of light, one red the other pale.
Jesus said "paint a picture according to the vision you see and with the signature, Jesus I trust in You, I desire that this picture be venerated first in your chapel and then throughout the whole world". Later Sr. Faustina's Spiritual Director told her to ask Jesus what the rays signified and Jesus explained to her.The rays represent the Blood and Water which gushed forth from the depths of my Mercy when My agonising Heart was pierced ont he cross. The pale rays symbolise the water, which cleanses and purifies the soul: the red rays represent the blood, which gives new life to the soul. These rays will shield the soul before the justice of My Father. Fortunate are those who live in this shelter for the justice of God will not reach them there".
St. Faustina writes in her diary: "The Lord permitted me to see the immensity and greatness of His Mercy. If soul could only realise how much God loves them! Earthly human understanding, is only a pale shadow of the reality", Jesus pleaded for help in seeking the return, though His mercy, of all who have lost their faith and offended God.
Write, the greater the sinner, the greater the mercy. Summon all those to confidence in the incomprehensible depth of My Mercy for I desire to save all. The well of Mercy was opened wide with a lance on the Cross for all souls. I do not exclude anyone." The Divine Image and The Promises

Our Lord instructed Saint Faustina to paint His Image with the signature "Jesus I trust in You". our Lord wished the Image to be venerated and attached a great promise to it: I promise the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I further promise that soul victory over enemies here on earth especially at the hour of death. I Myself, shall defend that soul as My own glory...".Jesus said "Write down these words, my daughter. Speak to the world about my Mercy; let all mankind recognise my unfathomable mercy. It is a sign for the end times; after it, will come the day of justice. While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fount of My mercy; let them profit from the blood and water which gushed forth for them.To people who spread Devotion to The Divine Mercy. Jesus said: "Souls who spread the honour of My mercy I shield through their entire life and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Saviour".The Importance of the Chaplet of Mercy for the dying. Jesus said "write that when they 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 Saviour. The Prophesy
Write this down, that before My coming as judge I shall come first as the King of Mercy. Before the coming of that day of justice, there will be a sign in the heavens. All light will be extinguished in heaven and earth. There will appear in the sky the Sign of the Cross . From each of the wounds on My hands and feet will shine forth a light that will for a brief time brighten the earth. This will be a short time before the last day".

HOW TO RECITE THE CHAPLET/ROSARY


The Lord said to Saint Faustina: You will recite this chaplet on the beads of the Rosary in the following manner:First of all you will say, one OUR FATHER, one HAIL MARY, and The Apostles Creed.

SAY THE OUR FATHER
Our Father, who art in heavenhallowed be Thy Name;Thy Kingdom come;Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil. Amen

SAY ONE HAIL MARY
Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with Thee.
Blessed art Thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit
of Thy Womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinner,
now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

THE APOSTLES CREED

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in he Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Then on the OUR FATHER BEADS you 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 the whole world.

In conclusion after the five decades you will say three times:Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


 
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