Watch Now: Midnight Mass From St. Faustina's Chapel

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Have Faith, No Matter the Cross

When I steeped myself in prayer, I was transported in spirit to the chapel, where I saw the Lord Jesus, exposed in the monstrance. In place of the monstrance, I saw the glorious face of the Lord, and He said to me, What you see in reality, these souls see through faith. Oh, how pleasing to Me is their great faith! You see, although there appears to be no trace of life in Me, in reality it is present in its fullness in each and every Host. But for Me to be able to act upon a soul, the soul must have faith. O how pleasing to Me is living faith! (Diary entry 1420)

'Do Not Lose Your Peace'

Jesus wants us to be saints. How can we achieve it? We're not perfect -- at all. We have so many flaws and faults; we lose patience; we make bad choices; we miss chances to help others; we don't pray as we could. Jesus knows all this and still loves us. TRUST in HIM. If we trust, anything is possible. Read what Jesus told Saint Faustina.

This firm resolution to become a saint is extremely pleasing to Me. I bless your efforts and will give you opportunities to sanctify yourself. Be watchful that you lose no opportunity that My providence offers you for sanctification. If you do not succeed in taking advantage of an opportunity, do not lose your peace, but humble yourself profoundly before Me and, with great trust, immerse yourself completely in My mercy. In this way, you gain more than you have lost, because more favor is granted to a humble soul than the soul itself asks for... (Diary entry 1361)

Make Your Requests Known to God

Sunday's Second Reading PHIL 4:6-9

Brothers and sisters:
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.

The Power of the Spiritual Works of Mercy

Today is Saint Faustina's very special feast day, October 5, the day she died in 1938. By the accounts of those who were with her, she died in the radiant peace of God. She suffered a great deal in life and at death, but death could not bind her love of God, nor lessen the power and grace given to her through the Almighty, that her life was a sacrifice of mercy for each of us. Read these passages from her diary about a year before her death. These are Jesus' words to us on the importance of being merciful. As we are merciful to others, that is how God is merciful to us. So be generous with your mercy even when it's hard.

October 1, 1937. Daughter, I need sacrifice lovingly accomplished, because that alone has meaning for Me. Enormous indeed are the debts of the world which are due to Me; pure souls can pay them by their sacrifice, exercising mercy in spirit. (Diary entry 1316)

I understand Your words, Lord, and the magnitude of the mercy that ought to shine in my soul. Jesus: I know, My daughter, that you understand it and that you do everything within your power. But write this for the many souls who are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permission nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul. If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy. (Diary entry 1317)

So what can we do? It's not too hard. PRACTICE THE CORPORAL AND SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY. Jesus tells Saint Faustina that spiritual mercy carries more merit and can be achieved by everyone.

'Rise, And Do Not Be Afraid'

Today's Gospel is rich in meaning and imagery. Jesus is transfigured before three of the apostles. Scared when the voice of the Father calls them to listen to Jesus, they fall humbly to the ground, afraid to look toward the sky. Jesus, in His always gentle manner, touches them and says, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And that phrase He says to us. Don't be discouraged, don't be fearful, don't be worried. Jesus spiritually touches us when we pray, and His call to action is the same: "Rise, and do not be afraid." Root your trust and prayer intentions in Him.


Gospel of Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
"Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him."
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
"Rise, and do not be afraid."
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
"Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Prayer to Honor God's Name

Thanking God and blessing His Holy Name is a wonderful way to honor Him. Pray this responsorial psalm.

Responsorial Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.

R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

Today's Gospel 'Come to Me, All You Who Labor and Are Burdened'

It is easy to let your troubles overtake your joy, peace, calmness and kindness. Many times, the problems tempt you to feel overwhelmed. Jesus, in today's Gospel reading, says very directly to bring to Him all your woes and worrying. We can do this by praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, by offering our burdens to Him when praying before the Blessed Sacrament and before we seek the Sacrament of Penance. Prayer is a gift for you and to God.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed:
"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

Sacred Heart Litany

O Divine and Sacred Heart of Jesus, please love us, heal us, help us, guide us and bless us with God's everlasting peace and mercy. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.

Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy

Christ, hear us
Christ, graciously hear us.

The response is *Have mercy on us.

God the Father of Heaven,*
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,*
God, the Holy Spirit,*
Holy Trinity, One God,*
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father,*
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother,*
Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God,*
Heart of Jesus, of Infinite Majesty,*
Heart of Jesus, Sacred Temple of God,*
Heart of Jesus, Tabernacle of the Most High,*
Heart of Jesus, House of God and Gate of Heaven,*
Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity,*
Heart of Jesus, abode of justice and love,*
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love,*
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues,*
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise,*
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts,*
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all treasures of wisdom and knowledge,*
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fullness of divinity,*
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased,*
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received,*
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills,*
Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful,*
Heart of Jesus, enriching all who invoke Thee,*
Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness,*
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins,*
Heart of Jesus, loaded down with opprobrium,*
Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offenses,*
Heart of Jesus, obedient to death,*
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,*
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation,*
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection,*
Heart of Jesus, our peace and our reconciliation,*
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins,*
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in Thee,*
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee,*
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the Saints,*

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto Thine.

Let us pray;

Almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Thy most beloved Son and upon the praises and satisfaction which He offers Thee in the name of sinners; and to those who implore Thy mercy, in Thy great goodness, grant forgiveness in the name of the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest with Thee forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of Faith in God's Mercy

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole word. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us. Amen. (Diary entry 1319)