Divine Mercy Feast Day Is April 3

How to prepare for the Feast of Divine Mercy.

Saint Faustina wrote in her diary on Good Friday 1937:

Jesus is commanding me to make a novena before the Feast of Mercy, and today I am to begin it for the conversion of the whole world and for the recognition of The Divine Mercy...so that every soul will praise My goodness. I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable depths of My mercy.  (Diary entry 1059)

To observe this wonderful feast on April 3 and receive holy grace and full forgiveness, do the following:

• Ask Jesus to help you place all your trust in the Divine Mercy of His Most Sacred Heart.
• Start a Novena to the Divine Mercy, using the Chaplet, on Good Friday, March 25, in preparation for the feast.
• Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance on April 3, or seven days before or after, with  the desire never to sin again. Be contrite and humble as you pray in front of the tabernacle.
• Receive Holy Communion on April 3.
• Venerate the image of Divine Mercy.
• Practice works of selfless love and mercy, by helping others and offering prayers to save souls.

* * *

My daughter, look into My Merciful Heart and reflect its compassion in your own heart and in your deeds, so that you who proclaim My mercy to the world, may yourself be aflame with it. (Diary entry 1688)

I Am Not Alone,Because Jesus Is With Me

In October 1936, Saint Faustina wrote in her diary:

I have understood that at certain and most difficult moments I shall be alone, deserted by everyone, and that I must face all the storms and fight with all the strength of my soul, even with those from whom I expected to get help.

But I am not alone, because Jesus is with me, and with Him I fear nothing. I am well aware of everything, and I know what God is demanding of me. Suffering, contempt, ridicule, persecution, and humiliation will be my constant lot. I know no other way. For sincere love – ingratitude; this is my path, marked out by the footprints of Jesus.

My Jesus, my strength and my only hope, in You alone is all my hope. My trust will
not be frustrated. (Diary entry 746)

God Protects, in a Special Way,A Soul That Loves Him Sincerely

From Saint Faustina's diary in 1937.

April 17. Today, during a catechetical lecture [by Father Theodore], I was given a confirmation of what I had understood interiorly and lived by for quite some time; namely, that if a soul loves God sincerely and is intimately united with Him, then, even though such a soul may be living in the midst of difficult external circumstances, nothing can disturb its interior life; and in the midst of corruption, it can remain pure and unsullied; because the great love of God gives it strength for battle, and God also protects in a special way, even in a miraculous way, a soul that loves Him sincerely. (Diary entry 1094)

St. Therese's Parents - Zelie and Louis Martin - Are Canonized

If you know St. Therese of the Child Jesus, then you may know her parents, Zelie and Louis Martin. Called to marriage since their religious vocations didn't work out, Zelie and Louis were a devout and loving couple, having nine children -- five surviving daughters became nuns. They each suffered during their lives but never lost faith or their love for one other. They are a model for married couples. Pray for their intercession, especially now that  they have been cannonized, to find a suitable mate and for greater love in marriage.



Prayer 
Louis and Zelie Martin,
you who, in your life as a couple and as parents,
have given witness of an exemplary Christian life
by fulfilling the duties of your state in life
and practicing the evangelical virtues,
we turn to you today.
We pray especially for the synod fathers:
that they may let themselves be guided by the Holy Spirit
so that the Church can send a clear and encouraging word
to the families of today.
Let the example of your unfailing trust in God
|and of your abandonment to His will,
in joys but also through the trials, sorrows,
and suffering with which your life was filled,
encourage us to persevere in our daily difficulties
and to live in joy and Christian hope.
Intercede for us with our Father
that we may obtain the graces
of which we have such need in our everyday life on earth
and that, like you, we may reach eternal happiness.
Amen.

'Mercy Surrounds the One Who Trusts in the Lord' - Psalm 32

Psalm 32
Remission of Sin

Of David. A maskil.

Blessed is the one whose fault is removed,
whose sin is forgiven.
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputes no guilt,
in whose spirit is no deceit.

Because I kept silent, my bones wasted away;
I groaned all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength withered as in dry summer heat.
Then I declared my sin to you;
my guilt I did not hide.
I said, “I confess my transgression to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
Therefore every loyal person should pray to you
in time of distress.
Though flood waters threaten,
they will never reach him.
You are my shelter; you guard me from distress;
with joyful shouts of deliverance you surround me.

I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk,
give you counsel with my eye upon you.
Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding;
with bit and bridle their temper is curbed,
else they will not come to you.

Many are the sorrows of the wicked one,
but mercy surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous;
exult, all you upright of heart.

Holy Trinity, One Union of Love

Saint Faustina wrote of her love of the Most Holy Trinity in her diary in 1935. Let us have the same devotion, and pray to Faustina to help us honor the Holy Trinity as she did.

I knew, more distinctly, than ever before, the Three divine Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But their being, their equality, and their majesty are one. My soul is in communion with these Three; but I do not know how to express this in words; yet, my soul understands it well. Whoever is united to One of the Three Persons is thereby united to the whole Blessed Trinity, for this Oneness is indivisible. This vision, or rather, this knowledge filled my soul with unimaginable happiness, because God is so great. What I am describing I did not see with me eyes, as on previous occasions, but in a purely interior manner, in a purely spiritual way, independent of the senses. This continued until the end of Holy Mass. (Diary entry 472)

The Divine Mercy Chaplet,From Our Lord to Saint Faustina

Saint Faustina encountered many hurdles during her time on Earth. Like us, she suffered in mind and body, often wanting to do more than she could. Instead of feeling defeated, she trusted in Our Lord's Great Mercy. He lavished her with many gifts. One of those gifts was receiving visions -- although some were very frightening, she persevered. In one such encounter, she received the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on Friday, September 13, 1935. Read from her diary:

In the evening, when I was in my cell, I saw an Angel, the executor of divine wrath. He was clothed in a dazzling robe, his face gloriously bright, a cloud beneath his feet. From the cloud, bolts of thunder and flashes of lightning were springing into his hands; and from his hand they were going forth, and only then were they striking the earth. When I saw this sign of divine wrath which was about to strike the earth, and in particular a certain place, which for good reasons I cannot name, I began to implore the Angel to hold off for a few moments, and the world would do penance. But my plea was a mere nothing in the face of the divine anger. Just then I saw the Most Holy Trinity. The greatness of Its majesty pierced me deeply, and I did not dare to repeat my entreaties. At that very moment I felt in my soul the power of Jesus' grace, which dwells in my soul. When I became conscious of this grace, I was instantly snatched up before the Throne of God. Oh, how great is our Lord and God and how incomprehensible His holiness! I will make no attempt to describe this greatness, because before long we shall all see Him as He is. I found myself pleading with God for the world with words heard interiorly.

As I was praying in this manner, I saw the Angel's helplessness: he could not carry out the just punishment which was rightly due for sins. Never before had I prayed with such inner power as I did then.

The words with which I entreated God are these: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved son, Our Lord Jesus Christ for our sins and those of the whole world; for the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us.

The next morning, when I entered chapel, I heard these words interiorly: Every time you enter the chapel, immediately recite the prayer which I taught you yesterday. When I had said the prayer, in my soul I heard these words: This prayer will serve to appease My wrath. You will recite it for nine days, on the beads of the rosary, in the following manner: First of all, you will say one OUR FATHER and HAIL MARY and the I BELIEVE IN GOD. Then on the OUR FATHER beads you will 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 on the whole world.” In conclusion, three times you will recite these words: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” (Diary entries 474-476)

See how to pray the Chaplet, especially needed during the 3 p.m. hour.

The Novena to Divine Mercy - Day 9

Today's Novena to Divine Mercy continues with prayers for those who have become lukewarm in their relationship with Jesus. These souls particularly offend the Most Sacred Heart  of Jesus because they believe yet they choose not to act. Pray intensely for them today.

Jesus asks: Today bring to Me souls who have become lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: "Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will." For them, the last hope of salvation is to flee to My mercy.

Let us pray together.

Most Compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself, I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love let these tepid souls, who like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love; and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Fire and ice cannot be joined;

Either the fire dies, or the ice melts.

But by Your mercy, O God,

You can make up for all that is lacking.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls, who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy... Amen.

Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

The Novena to Divine Mercy - Day 8

Today's Novena to Divine Mercy continues with prayers for the souls who are in Purgatory and waiting release into the heavenly kingdom. Your prayers will hasten their journey. Pray for them today.

Jesus asks: Today bring to Me the souls who are in the prison of Purgatory, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice.

Let us pray together.

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of the purifying fire, that in that place, too, the power of Your mercy may be praised.

From that terrible heat of the cleansing fire

Rises a plaint to Your mercy,

And they receive comfort, refreshment, relief

In the stream of mingled Blood and Water.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded, manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way than through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

The Novena to Divine Mercy - Day 7

Today's Novena to Divine Mercy continues with prayers for those who believe and trust in Jesus through His Divine Mercy. By praying the novena and chaplet, you are in the company of very blessed and special souls, and our dear Saint Faustina, whose hands God chose to proclaim his message of Love.

Jesus asks: Today bring to me the souls who especially venerate and glorify My mercy, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over My Passion and entered most deeply into My Spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death. 

Let us pray together.

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy. These souls are united to Jesus and carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

A soul who praises the goodness of her Lord

Is especially loved by Him.

She is always close to the living fountain

And draws graces from Mercy Divine.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus.  These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their spirit, overflowing with joy, sings a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promises of Jesus, who said to them, I Myself will defend as My own glory, during their lifetime, and especially at the hour of their death, those souls who will venerate My Fathomless mercy.

Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.