Divine Mercy Sunday, April 19, During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Today is the wonderful feast of Divine Mercy.

It is the day when God's unfathomable Mercy and Goodness enter our hearts if we TRUST in Him. The more we trust, the more graces we receive.

This year's feast is unlike any other before it for the faithful who are suffering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Many in the United States and around the world are unable to participate in Divine Mercy Sunday in the traditional way, namely, to attend confession and receive Holy Communion at Mass due to closed churches and canceled services.

If you can attend Mass safely, please do it. If you are unable, then pray from home. Don't give up grace because you aren't celebrating in a church or with others.

On Sunday, April 19:

• If the Sacrament of Reconciliation with a priest is unavailable, say an Act of Contrition, with the desire never to sin again. Be contrite and humble as you pray. If you can attend church for a traditional confession, then do so seven days before or after the feast. When you do, you leave those sins in the past.
  
  
• Go to Mass. If you are unable to attend Mass in person, watch the Vatican's video stream of the Mass or via EWTN.
  
  
• Make a Spiritual Communion with this prayer. Pray for God's Mercy on you, your family and for the world.
  
  
• Venerate the image of Divine Mercy.
  
  
• Practice works of selfless love and mercy by helping others in trouble and offering prayers to save souls during the pandemic.

* * *

Watch live the events at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Cracow-Lagiewniki, where the image of The Divine Mercy and Saint Faustina's tomb reside.

After the feast, spread the message of Mercy and pray daily the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy.

From Saint Faustina's Diary:

November 5, 1934. One morning, when it was my duty to open the gate to let out our people who deliver baked goods, I entered the little chapel to visit Jesus for a minute and to renew the intentions of the day. Today, Jesus, I offer You all my sufferings, mortifications and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, so that he may approve the Feast of mercy. But, Jesus, I have one more word to say to You; I am very surprised that You bid me to talk about this Feast of mercy, for they tell me that there is already such a feast and so why should I talk about it? And Jesus said to me, And who knows anything about this feast? No one! Even those who should be proclaiming My mercy and teaching people about it often do not know about it themselves. That is why I want the image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it.

Make a novena for the Holy Father's intention. It should consist of thirty-three acts; that is, repetition that many times of the short prayer  -- which I have taught you -- to The Divine Mercy. (Diary entry 341)

Trust in God in Times of Temptation: "Jesus, I love you, I trust in You"

As we attempt to increase our trust in God's Mercy, we likely will encounter temptations to fall into despair when life sends us difficulties, lose hope in the future and also pull away from Our Lord. In these times repeat, "Jesus, I love you, I trust in You." Say a Hail Mary prayer and ask the saints in heaven for their prayers.

In February 1938, Saint Faustina wrote this passage in her diary and gives us the words of Jesus that we may not be afraid in darkness, but hurry to Him in prayer with great openness, admitting our struggle and asking for peace of mind.

February 3, [1938]. Today after Holy Communion, Jesus again gave me a few directives: First, do not fight against a temptation by yourself, but disclose it to the confessor at once, and then the temptation will lose all its force. Second, during these ordeals do not lose your peace; live in My presence; ask My Mother and the Saints for help. Third, have the certitude that I am looking at you and supporting you. Fourth, do not fear either struggles of the soul or any temptations, because I am supporting you; if only you are willing to fight, know that the victory is always on your side. Fifth, know that by fighting bravely you give Me great glory and amass merits for yourself. Temptation gives you a chance to show Me your fidelity.

And now I am going to tell you something that is most important for you: Boundless sincerity with your spiritual director. If you do not take advantage of this great grace according to My instructions, I will take him away from you, and then you will be left to yourself; and all the torments, which you know very well, will return to you. It displeases Me that you do not take advantage of the opportunity when you are able to see him and talk with him. Know that it is a great grace on My part when I give a spiritual director to a soul. Many souls ask Me for this, but it is not to all that I grant this grace. From the moment when I gave you this priest as spiritual director, I endowed him with new light so that he might easily know and understand your soul…..

O my Jesus, my only mercy, allow me to see contentment in Your face as a sign of reconciliation with me, because my heart cannot bear Your seriousness; if this continues a moment longer my heart will burst with grief. You see that I am even now crushed to dust.

And at that very moment I saw myself in some kind of a palace; and Jesus gave me His hand, sat me at His side, and said with kindness, My bride, you always please Me by your humility. The greatest misery does not stop Me from uniting Myself to a soul, but where there is pride, I am not there. 

When I came to myself, I reflected on what had happened in my heart, thanking God for His love and for the mercy that He had shown me. (Diary entries 1560 to 1563)

Divine Mercy During Coronavirus

How to prepare and celebrate the 2020 Feast of the Divine Mercy
during the coronavirus pandemic.

This year's feast is unlike any other before it for the faithful who are suffering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Many in the United States, South America, Western and Eastern Europe and across Asia are unable to observe the Feast of the Divine Mercy in the traditional way, namely, to attend confession and receive Holy Communion at Mass due to closed churches and canceled services.

Yet, because of our tremendous faith in God, we won't be deterred in our special prayers for the feast. Please celebrate Divine Mercy in your own homes. By faithful prayer, open your heart to receive God's Grace, Mercy, Goodness and Kindness.

To prepare for this wonderful feast, do the following on Good Friday:

• Start a Novena to the Divine Mercy during the pandemic, using the Chaplet, in preparation for the feast on Sunday, April 19.
  
  
• Ask Jesus to help you place all your trust in the Divine Mercy of His Most Sacred Heart.
  

On Sunday, April 19:

• If the Sacrament of Reconciliation with a priest is unavailable, say an Act of Contrition, with the desire never to sin again. Be contrite and humble as you pray. If you can attend church for a traditional confession, then do so seven days before or after the feast.
  
  
• Go to Mass. If you are unable to attend Mass in person, watch the Vatican's video stream of the Mass or via EWTN.
  
• Make a Spiritual Communion with this prayer.
  
  
• Venerate the image of Divine Mercy.

Then...

• Practice works of selfless love and mercy by helping others in trouble and offering prayers to save souls during the pandemic.
  
  
• Watch the live stream of the chapel in Poland housing the image of Divine Mercy and Saint Faustina's shrine.

* * *

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)

* * *

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)

Happy Feast Day Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska lived her life in Poland at the start of the 20th century. Saint Faustina loved Jesus greatly and suffered greatly to serve Him. Her life and writings had a profound effect on Pope John Paul II, who canonized her on April 30, 2000 -- the first saint of the new millennium. The pope, now a saint himself, called her "The great apostle of Divine Mercy in our time."

If you need her assistance, simply ask her.


For the Intercession of Saint Faustina
O Jesus, You inspired Saint Faustina with profound veneration for Your boundless Mercy. Grant me through her intercession, if it be Your Holy Will, the grace for which I fervently pray. My sins render me unworthy of Your Mercy, but be mindful of Saint Faustina's spirit of sacrifice and self-denial, and reward her virtue by granting the petition which, with childlike confidence, I present to You through her intercession. Amen.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...


Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven - have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world - have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit - have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God - have mercy on us.
Holy Mary - pray for us.

Saint Faustina, living witness of the heavenly Father's mercy - pray for us.
Saint Faustina, humble servant of Jesus - Mercy Incarnate
Saint Faustina, obedient instrument of the Spirit, the Comforter
Saint Faustina, trustful daughter of the Mother of Mercy
Saint Faustina, confidante of the Divine Mercy message
Saint Faustina, faithful secretary of the words of the Merciful Jesus
Saint Faustina, great apostle of God's mercy
Saint Faustina, dispenser of God rich in mercy
Saint Faustina, gift of God for the whole world
Saint Faustina, perceiving the goodness of the Creator in every creature
Saint Faustina, glorifying God in the mystery of the Incarnation
Saint Faustina, partaker in the Lord's passion and resurrection
Saint Faustina, guide on the way of Jesus' cross
Saint Faustina, meeting with Jesus in the holy sacraments
Saint Faustina, united with the Spouse in your soul
Saint Faustina, enraptured by the mercy of God in Mary's life
Saint Faustina, loving the Church - the Mystical Body of Christ
Saint Faustina, powerful with genuine faith
Saint Faustina, persevering in unwavering hope
Saint Faustina, enkindled with ardent love
Saint Faustina, beautiful with true humility
Saint Faustina, simple with childlike trust
Saint Faustina, model of fulfilling God's will
Saint Faustina, example of generous service
Saint Faustina, caring protector of the souls of priests and religious
Saint Faustina, defender of young people and children against evil
Saint Faustina, hope of the fallen and the despairing
Saint Faustina, strength of the sick and the suffering
Saint Faustina, safeguarding trust in the hearts of the dying
Saint Faustina, offering yourself for sinners
Saint Faustina, solicitous for the salvation of all people
Saint Faustina, advocate of the suffering souls in purgatory
Saint Faustina, imploring God's mercy for the whole world.

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.

V: Pray for us, Saint Faustina.
R: That we may proclaim the message of Mercy to the world with our life and
words.

Let us pray:
Merciful God, receive our thanksgiving for the gift of Saint Faustina's life and
mission. Grant, we beseech You, that by her intercession we may grow in the
attitude of trust in You and mercy toward our neighbor, through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Why Do I Encounter Troubles?

Let God show you His Holy Will. Allow Him to do what he must do. Above all, TRUST.

Here are passages from Saint Faustina's diary that explain why too much introspection isn't helpful.

As I was conversing with the hidden God, He gave me to see and understand that I should not be reflecting and building up fear of the difficulties which I might encounter. Know that I am with you; I bring about the difficulties, and I overcome them; in one instant, I can change a hostile disposition to one which is favorable to this cause. The Lord explained many things to me in today's dialogue, although I am not putting everything down in writing.

Always and in all circumstances, yield the first place to others; especially during recreation listen quietly, without interrupting, even if someone tells me the same thing ten times. I will never ask questions about something that interests me very much. (Diary entries 788 ad 789)

Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel

Please say this prayer every day to protect yourself, your family and your community from the deceit of others and wicked acts of evil. Saint Faustina experienced Saint Michael's great protection.

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

O glorious prince Saint Michael, 
chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, 
guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, 
servant in the house of the Divine King
and our admirable conductor, 
you who shine with excellence
and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil,
who turn to you with confidence
and enable us by your gracious protection
to serve God more and more faithfully every day.

Courtesy of EWTN

Suffering and God's Protection

It is very often that we complain about tribulations and suffering. It comes from sheer disappointment of not being as much as we'd want to be or preventing us from doing something we'd want to do.

The complaint to God is heard, but does it change His Will? Probably not.

Read a few passages on suffering from Saint Faustina's diary. She is one who suffered immeasurably. Her goal was to do God's Will, even if it meant intense suffering. Saint Faustina saw promise in suffering and took others' suffering upon herself.

She also knew that offering her suffering was a gift back to God and would include His Divine Protection.

Pray to Saint Faustina to intercede for us in the midst of great suffering in our lives. She certainly understands the cross and helps carry it for us.

She writes in March 1937:

I suffer great pain at the sight of the sufferings of others. All these sufferings are reflected in my heart. I carry their torments in my heart so that it even wears me out physically. I would like all pains to fall upon me so as to bring relief to my neighbor.

Amid terrible torments, I fix my eyes on You, my God, and though a storm is gathering over my head, I know that the sun is not extinguished. Nor do I wonder at the deceitfulness of creatures, but I accept in advance whatever may happen. My lips are silent, while my ears are satiated with derision. I strive for silence in my heart amidst the greatest sufferings, and I protect myself against all attacks with the shield of Your Name. (Diary entries 1039 and 1040)

Divine Mercy Feast Day Is Today. Jesus Lives; Jesus Saves Souls

Today is a most blessed day in the Roman Catholic Church. It is the solemn feast of Divine Mercy.

It is the day when God's unfathomable Mercy and Goodness enter our hearts if we TRUST in Him. The more we trust, the more graces we receive.

Be sure to go to make a good confession. When you do, you leave those sins in the past. You are freed. Attend Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion. Pray for God's Mercy on you, your family and for the world.

Watch live the events at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Cracow-Lagiewniki, where the image of The Divine Mercy and Saint Faustina's tomb reside.

https://livestream.com/accounts/11477776/events/3773195

From Saint Faustina's Diary:

November 5, 1934. One morning, when it was my duty to open the gate to let out our people who deliver baked goods, I entered the little chapel to visit Jesus for a minute and to renew the intentions of the day. Today, Jesus, I offer You all my sufferings, mortifications and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, so that he may approve the Feast of mercy. But, Jesus, I have one more word to say to You; I am very surprised that You bid me to talk about this Feast of mercy, for they tell me that there is already such a feast and so why should I talk about it? And Jesus said to me, And who knows anything about this feast? No one! Even those who should be proclaiming My mercy and teaching people about it often do not know about it themselves. That is why I want the image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it.

Make a novena for the Holy Father's intention. It should consist of thirty-three acts; that is, repetition that many times of the short prayer  -- which I have taught you -- to The Divine Mercy. (Diary entry 341)

Spread the message of Mercy and pray daily the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy.

Divine Mercy Day Is Almost Here

How to prepare and celebrate 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 Sunday, April 28, 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 in preparation for the feast.
• Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance on Sunday, April 28, 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 Sunday, April 28.
• 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)

The Holy Litany of Divine Mercy

This prayer brings great peace. Pray for yourself, the world and especially for poor sinners and those on their deathbeds.

From Saint Faustina's Diary, entries 295-297.

J.M.J. February 12, 1937

+ The Love of God is the flower – Mercy is the fruit.
Let the doubting soul read these considerations on Divine Mercy and become trusting.
Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the bosom of the Father, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, fount gushing forth from the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed by any intellect, human or angelic, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, from which wells forth all life and happiness, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, better than the heavens, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, source of miracles and wonders, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, descending to earth in the Person of the Incarnate Word, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, which flowed out from the open wound of the Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, enclosed in the Heart of Jesus for us, and especially for sinners, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in the institution of the Sacred Host, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the founding of Holy Church, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in our justification through Jesus Christ, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, accompanying us through our whole life, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, embracing us especially at the hour of death, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, accompanying us every moment of our life, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, shielding us from the fire of hell, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy in the conversion of hardened sinners, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy astonishment for Angels, incomprehensible to Saints, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in all the mysteries of God, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, lifting us out of every misery, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, source of our happiness and joy, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingness to existence, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, embracing all the works of His hands, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, crown of all of God?s handiwork, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in which we are all immersed, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, only hope of despairing souls, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, repose of hearts, peace amidst fear, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, delight and ecstasy of holy souls, I trust in You.
Divine Mercy, inspiring hope against all hope, I trust in You.

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.