Saint Faustina wrote her mission, with perfect clarity, in her diary on Oct. 20, 1937, less than a year before her death. Let's make her mission also our mission. By loving God, obeying Him and keeping His commandments, we follow in Saint Faustina's footsteps. We, too, can tell souls of God's Goodness by the way we live our lives and loving God and others. Trust can be hard but don't be deterred by a lack of faith. TRUST. Let's do it in 2017.
Here's what Faustina wrote: Oh my God, let everything that is in me praise You, my Lord and Creator; and with every beat of my heart I want to praise Your unfathomable Mercy. I want to tell souls of Your Goodness and encourage them to trust in Your Mercy. That is my mission, which You Yourself has entrusted to me, O Lord, in this life and in the life to come. (Diary entry 1325)
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Litany of the Most Sacred Heart
A very easy and beautiful way to get closer to Jesus is by honoring his Most Sacred Heart. Mercy flows from His Most Sacred Heart. This simple prayer is a great way to celebrate the jubilee year of Mercy. Pray this litany every day. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is waiting for you to share your sufferings, pains, tiredness, worries, and joys and thankfulness. A partial indulgence is attached to this litany.
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.
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 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.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Gospel of God's Love and Mercy
Today's Gospel reading at Sunday Mass is the parable of the prodigal son. We are that son. Each time we run away from our duties and devotions, squandering our time on frivolous things, then move slowly to come back to God, we live in fear and complacency. We are, at times, the other son -- jealous and unforgiving. What today's reading from Luke shows us -- we are sinners and when we repent, go to Confession and return to God, there is no limit to His welcoming us to His Most Sacred Heart. You are LOVED.
Gospel from Luke 15:1-32
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them he addressed this parable.
“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?
And when he does find it,
he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
and, upon his arrival home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’
I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance.
“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one
would not light a lamp and sweep the house,
searching carefully until she finds it?
And when she does find it,
she calls together her friends and neighbors
and says to them,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”
Then he said,
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him,
and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns,
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.’”
Gospel from Luke 15:1-32
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them he addressed this parable.
“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?
And when he does find it,
he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
and, upon his arrival home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’
I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance.
“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one
would not light a lamp and sweep the house,
searching carefully until she finds it?
And when she does find it,
she calls together her friends and neighbors
and says to them,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”
Then he said,
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him,
and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns,
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.’”
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Get Out of Your Own Way
The words of Jesus are clear in these passages of Saint Faustina's diary. We often here people say to us, "You are standing in your own way." Here, Jesus is explaining to us our problem. We create obstacles to receiving Jesus's aid in our lives, His Mercy, His Graces. Open your heart immediately to His Divine Love.
Tell souls not to place within their own hearts obstacles to My mercy, which so greatly wants to act within them. My mercy works in all those hearts which open their doors to it. Both the sinner and the righteous person have need of My mercy. Conversion, as well as perseverance, is a grace of My mercy.
Let souls who are striving for perfection particularly adore My mercy, because the abundance of graces which I grant them flows from My mercy. I desire that these souls distinguish themselves by boundless trust in My mercy. I myself will attend to the sanctification of such souls. I will provide them with everything they will need to attain sanctity. The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is – trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to Me, because I pour all the treasures of My graces into them. I rejoice that they ask for much, because it is My desire to give much, very much. On the other hand, I am sad when souls ask for little, when they narrow their hearts. (Diary entries 1577 and 1578)
Tell souls not to place within their own hearts obstacles to My mercy, which so greatly wants to act within them. My mercy works in all those hearts which open their doors to it. Both the sinner and the righteous person have need of My mercy. Conversion, as well as perseverance, is a grace of My mercy.
Let souls who are striving for perfection particularly adore My mercy, because the abundance of graces which I grant them flows from My mercy. I desire that these souls distinguish themselves by boundless trust in My mercy. I myself will attend to the sanctification of such souls. I will provide them with everything they will need to attain sanctity. The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is – trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to Me, because I pour all the treasures of My graces into them. I rejoice that they ask for much, because it is My desire to give much, very much. On the other hand, I am sad when souls ask for little, when they narrow their hearts. (Diary entries 1577 and 1578)
Friday, June 3, 2016
A Prayer to the Sacred Heart
Saint Faustina wrote in her diary in early 1938 a simple prayer that you and I can say every day:
Accept, most merciful Jesus, this, my inadequate sacrifice, which I offer to You today before heaven and earth. May Your Most Sacred Heart, so full of mercy, complete what is lacking in my offering, and offer it to Your Father for the conversion of sinners. I thirst after souls, O Christ.
Accept, most merciful Jesus, this, my inadequate sacrifice, which I offer to You today before heaven and earth. May Your Most Sacred Heart, so full of mercy, complete what is lacking in my offering, and offer it to Your Father for the conversion of sinners. I thirst after souls, O Christ.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Hurry to Jesus
May 1, 1938.
This evening, Jesus said to me, My daughter, do you need anything? I answered, “O my Love, when I have You I have everything.” And the Lord answered, If souls would put themselves completely in My care, I myself would undertake the task of sanctifying them, and I would lavish even greater graces on them. There are souls who thwart My efforts, but I have not given up on them; as often as they turn to Me, I hurry to their aid, shielding them with My Mercy, and I give them the first place in My compassionate Heart. (Diary entry 1682)
This evening, Jesus said to me, My daughter, do you need anything? I answered, “O my Love, when I have You I have everything.” And the Lord answered, If souls would put themselves completely in My care, I myself would undertake the task of sanctifying them, and I would lavish even greater graces on them. There are souls who thwart My efforts, but I have not given up on them; as often as they turn to Me, I hurry to their aid, shielding them with My Mercy, and I give them the first place in My compassionate Heart. (Diary entry 1682)
Monday, May 30, 2016
Don't Be Afraid of Confession
If you are scared to approach Jesus by going to Confession, He assures us via the writing of Saint Faustina. If you are concerned about opening your heart, there's is no need to be afraid. Repeat and believe the words: Jesus, I Trust in You.
Today, the Lord has been teaching me, once again, how I am to approach the Sacrament of Penance: My daughter, just as you prepare in My presence, so also you make your confession before Me. The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen. Never analyze what sort of a priest it is that I am making use of; open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light. (Diary entry 1725)
Today, the Lord has been teaching me, once again, how I am to approach the Sacrament of Penance: My daughter, just as you prepare in My presence, so also you make your confession before Me. The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen. Never analyze what sort of a priest it is that I am making use of; open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light. (Diary entry 1725)
Friday, May 27, 2016
When We Stand Before God
As faithful souls, we receive enlightenment about Our Lord Jesus and His graces by reading the diary of Saint Faustina. In this passage, we see into a moment which we won't fully understand until we experience it. It is to stand before the Merciful and Just Lord at our judgement. Here, we will know our true selves, nothing is hidden or can be hidden -- and everything is revealed. What we learn from Saint Faustina is invaluable. The Lord asks "Who are you?" Will you be ready to answer? Pray now about this moment you will inevitably experience. Pray to prepare yourself for it. Pray that your soul will be pure as fresh snow. Pray that you won't suffer long in Purgatory, if at all. Pray for Jesus to help you at this very moment, and to have Mercy on you and allow you to pass easily to your eternal rest. The nearer you come to Jesus now, the more graces you will receive. How can you get nearer to Him? It's easy. Go to confession often and pray. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus is ready to forgive you right now. Don't wait until you will stand before God.
Saint Faustina wrote:
Once I was summoned to the judgment [seat] of God. I stood alone before the Lord. Jesus appeared such as we know Him during His Passion. After a moment, His wounds disappeared except for five, those in His hands, His feet and His side. Suddenly I saw the complete condition of my soul as God sees it. I could clearly see all that is displeasing to God. I did not know that even the smallest transgressions will have to be accounted for. What a moment! Who can describe it? To stand before the Thrice-Holy God! Jesus asked me, Who are you? I answered, “I am Your servant, Lord.” You are guilty of one day of fire in purgatory. I wanted to throw myself immediately into the flames of purgatory, but Jesus stopped me and said, Which do you prefer, suffer now for one day in purgatory or for a short while on earth? I replied, “Jesus, I want to suffer in purgatory, and I want to suffer also the greatest pains on earth, even if it were until the end of the world.” Jesus said, One [of the two] is enough; you will go back to earth, and there you will suffer much, but not for long; you will accomplish My will and My desires, and a faithful servant of Mine will help you to do this. Now, rest your head on My bosom, on My heart, and draw from its strength and power for these sufferings because you will find neither relief nor help nor comfort anywhere else. Know that you will have much, much to suffer, but don‟t let this frighten you; I am with you. (Diary entry 36)
Saint Faustina wrote:
Once I was summoned to the judgment [seat] of God. I stood alone before the Lord. Jesus appeared such as we know Him during His Passion. After a moment, His wounds disappeared except for five, those in His hands, His feet and His side. Suddenly I saw the complete condition of my soul as God sees it. I could clearly see all that is displeasing to God. I did not know that even the smallest transgressions will have to be accounted for. What a moment! Who can describe it? To stand before the Thrice-Holy God! Jesus asked me, Who are you? I answered, “I am Your servant, Lord.” You are guilty of one day of fire in purgatory. I wanted to throw myself immediately into the flames of purgatory, but Jesus stopped me and said, Which do you prefer, suffer now for one day in purgatory or for a short while on earth? I replied, “Jesus, I want to suffer in purgatory, and I want to suffer also the greatest pains on earth, even if it were until the end of the world.” Jesus said, One [of the two] is enough; you will go back to earth, and there you will suffer much, but not for long; you will accomplish My will and My desires, and a faithful servant of Mine will help you to do this. Now, rest your head on My bosom, on My heart, and draw from its strength and power for these sufferings because you will find neither relief nor help nor comfort anywhere else. Know that you will have much, much to suffer, but don‟t let this frighten you; I am with you. (Diary entry 36)
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Open the Door of Your Heart to God's Boundless Mercy
Jesus said to Saint Faustina in 1938:
Tell souls not to place within their own hearts obstacles to My mercy, which so greatly wants to act within them. My mercy works in all those hearts which open their doors to it. Both the sinner and the righteous person have need of My mercy. Conversion, as well as perseverance, is a grace of My mercy. (Diary entry 1577)
Tell souls not to place within their own hearts obstacles to My mercy, which so greatly wants to act within them. My mercy works in all those hearts which open their doors to it. Both the sinner and the righteous person have need of My mercy. Conversion, as well as perseverance, is a grace of My mercy. (Diary entry 1577)
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Prayer to Say After Reciting the Divine Mercy Chaplet
O Great Merciful God, Infinite Goodness, today all mankind calls out from the abyss of its misery to Your mercy – to Your compassion, O God; and it is with its mighty voice of misery that it cries out. Gracious God, do not reject the prayer of this earth's exiles! O Lord, Goodness beyond our understanding, Who are acquainted with our misery through and through, and know that by our own power we cannot ascend to You, we implore You: anticipate us with Your grace and keep on increasing Your mercy in us, that we may faithfully do Your holy will all through our life and at death's hour. Let the omnipotence of Your mercy shield us from the darts of our salvation's enemies, that we may with confidence, as Your children, await Your final coming – that day known to You alone. And we expect to obtain everything promised us by Jesus in spite of all our wretchedness. For Jesus is our Hope: Through His merciful Heart, as through an open gate, we pass through to heaven. (Diary entry 1570)
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