THE DIVINE MERCY MESSAGE AND DEVOTION
THE HUMBLE INSTRUMENT
On October 5, 1938, a young religious by the name Sister Faustina
(Helen Kowalska) died in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters
of Our Lady of Mercy in Cracow, Poland. She came from a very poor
family that had struggled hard on their little farm during the
terrible years of WWI. Sister had had only three years of very
simple education. Hers were the humblest of tasks in the convent,
usually in the kitchen or the vegetable garden, or as a porter.
On February 22, 1931, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ appeared to
this simple nun, bringing with Him a wonderful message of Mercy
for all mankind. Sister Faustina tells us in her diary under this
date:
"In the evening, when I was in my cell, I became aware of the Lord
Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand was raised in blessing,
the other was touching the garment at the breast. From the opening
of the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one
red and the other pale. In silence I gazed intently at the Lord;
my soul was overwhelmed with fear, but also with great joy. After
a while Jesus said to me, 'paint an image according to the pattern
you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You.'"
Some time later, Our Lord again spoke to her:
"The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous;
the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These
two rays issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at
that time when My agonizing Heart was opened by a lance on the
Cross....Fortunate is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for
the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him."
THE FEAST
As a further sign of His forgiving love, Jesus called for a Feast
of the Divine Mercy to be celebrated in the whole Church. He said
to Sister Faustina:
"I want this image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday
after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy. On that
day, the depths of My Mercy will be open to all. Whoever will go
to confession and Holy Communion on that day will receive complete
forgiveness of sin and punishment. Mankind will not enjoy peace
until it returns to My Mercy."
THE CHAPLET
In 1933, God gave Sister Faustina a striking vision of His Mercy,
Sister tells us:
"I saw a great light, with God the Father in the midst of it.
Between this light and the earth I saw Jesus nailed to the Cross
and in such a way that God, wanting to look upon the earth, had to
look through Our Lord's wounds. And I understood that God blessed
the earth for the sake of Jesus."
Of another vision on Sept. 13, 1935, she writes:
"I saw an Angel, the executor of God's wrath... about to strike
the earth...I began to beg God earnestly for the world with words
which I heard interiorly. As I prayed in this way, I saw the
Angel's helplessness, and he could not carry out the just
punishment...."
The following day an inner voice taught her to say this prayer on
ordinary rosary beads:
"First say one 'Our Father', 'Hail Mary', and 'I believe'. Then on
the large beads 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 smaller beads you are to say the following words:
'For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the
whole world.'
In conclusion you are to say these words three times:
'Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us
and on the whole world'.
Jesus said later to Sister Faustina:
"Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who
says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death. Priests
will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most
hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will
receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to
know My Infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to
those who trust in My Mercy...."
"....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 Savior".
THE NOVENA OF DIVINE MERCY
Jesus further asked that this Feast of the Divine Mercy be
preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good
Friday. He gave her an intention to pray for on each day of the
Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of
all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said:
"These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from
such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of
Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is
possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for
them is to flee to My Mercy."
In her diary, Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:
"On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different
group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy
... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My
passion, for the graces for these souls."
The different souls prayed for on each day of the novena are:
DAY 1 - All mankind, especially sinners
DAY 2 - The souls of priests and religious
DAY 3 - All devout and faithful souls
DAY 4 - Those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do not yet
know Him
DAY 5 - The souls of separated brethren
DAY 6 - The meek and humble souls and the souls of children
DAY 7 - The souls who especially venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy
DAY 8 - The souls who are detained in purgatory; and
DAY 9 - The souls who have become lukewarm.
This is prayed along with the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
First Day Today bring Me all mankind, especially all sinners.
Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on
us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins, but upon our
trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all
into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us
escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You
to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Eternal Father, turn Your
merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners,
all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the
sake of His Sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may
praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.
Second Day Today Bring Me the Souls of Priests and Religious.
Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase
Your grace in us, that we may perform worthy works of mercy, and
that all who see us may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in
heaven. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company
[of chosen souls] in Your vineyard - upon the souls of priests and
religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For
the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded,
impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to
guide others in the way of salvation, and with one voice sing
praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.
Third Day Today Bring Me All Devout and Faithful Souls.
Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart
Your graces in the great abundance to each and all. Receive us
into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us
escape from It. We beg this of You by that most wondrous love for
the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.
Eternal Father, turn Your Merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as
upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His Sorrowful
Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your
constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lost the
treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of
Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for
endless ages. Amen.
Fourth Day Today Bring Me The Pagans and Those Who Do Not Know Me
Most Compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world.
Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls
of pagans who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace
enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your
wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which
is Your Most Compassionate Heart. Eternal Father, turn Your
merciful gave upon the souls of pagans and of those who as yet do
not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart
of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not
know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too,
may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Fifth Day Today Bring to Me the Souls of Heretics and Schismatics
Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to
those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most
Compassionate Heart the souls of heretics and schismatics. Draw
them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let
them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but
bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of
Your mercy. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls
of heretics, and schismatics, who have squandered Your blessings
and misused Your graces obstinately persisting in their errors. Do
not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your Own Son and
upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since
they, too, are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus.
Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for
endless ages. Amen.
Sixth Today Bring Me The Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of
Little Children
Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I
am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most
Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of
little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy, and
they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-
smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes
delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in
Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing
out a hymn of love and mercy. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful
gaze upon meek and humble souls, and upon the souls of little
children, who are enfolded in the abode of the Most Compassionate
Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your
Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very
throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love
You bear these souls and by the delight you take in them: bless
the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises
of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Seventh Day Today Bring Me The Souls Who Especially Venerate and
Glorify My Mercy
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 in
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.
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 promise 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."
Eighth Day Today Bring Me The Souls Who Are In the Prison Of
Purgatory
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
purifying fire, that in that place, too, the power of Your mercy
may be praised. Eternal Father, turn Your most 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.
Ninth Day Today Bring Me The Souls Who Have Become Lukewarm
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. 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
SUBSEQUENT HISTORY
One day that same year, 1935, Sr. Faustina wrote for her spiritual
director:
"The time will come when this work, which God so commends, [will
be] as though in complete ruin, and suddenly the action of God
will come upon the scene with great power which will bear witness
to the truth. It will be as a new splendor for the church, though
it has been dormant in it from long ago."
This indeed came to pass. On the 6th of March, 1959, the Holy See,
acting on information that was inaccurately presented, prohibited
"the spreading of images and writings advocating devotion to the
Divine Mercy in the form proposed by Sister Faustina." As a
result, there followed almost twenty years of total silence.
Then, on the 15th of April, 1978, the Holy See, after a thorough
examination of original documents previously unavailable to it,
completely reversed its decision and again permitted the devotion.
The one man primarily responsible for this reversal of decision
was Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, the Archbishop of Sr. Faustina's home
diocese of Cracow. On October 16, 1978, he was elevated to the See
of Peter as Pope John Paul II. God is indeed mysterious and
wondrous in His ways!
Sr. Faustina was beatified on April 18, 1993, Mercy Sunday. She is
now Blessed Faustina, and will hopefully one day become St.
Faustina.
"Act in such a way that all those who come in contact with you
will go away joyful. Sow happiness about you because you have
received much from God; give, then generously to others. They
should take leave of you with their hearts filled with joy, even
if they have no more than touched the hem of your garment. Keep
well in mind the words I am telling you right now."
-Excerpt from "Divine Mercy in my Soul"(#55), the Diary of Blessed
Faustina)
THE DIVINE MERCY MESSAGE AND DEVOTION
This booklet presents the message of The Divine Mercy and the
special forms of devotion to The Divine Mercy that are outlined in
the Diary of Blessed Faustina Kowalska. Marian Helpers
Stockbridge, MA 01263 1-800-462-7426
The Diary of Blessed Faustina Marian Helpers
Stockbridge, MA 01263
1-800-462-7426
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