This message and the devotion to Jesus as The Divine
Mercy is based on the writings of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, a
Polish nun who, in obedience to her spiritual director, wrote
a diary of about 600 pages recording the revelations she received from Jesus about
God's mercy. Even before her death in 1938, the devotion to The Divine
Mercy had begun to spread.
The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us — all of us. And, he wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins,
so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it
flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.
The Divine Mercy message:
Ask for His Mercy. God
wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins
and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.
Be merciful. God
wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He
wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.
Completely trust in Jesus. God
wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our
trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.
In her diary, St. 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."
Jesus gave St. Faustina 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."
Read more:
http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#ixzz2AEmyJEqD
First Day
"Today bring to Me
all mankind, especially all sinners,
and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.
In
this way you will console Me in the bitter grief
into which the loss of souls
plunges Me."
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.
"Today bring to Me
the Souls of Priests and
Religious,
and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy.
It
was they who gave me strength
to endure My bitter Passion.
Through them as
through channels
My mercy flows out upon mankind."
Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good,
increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may
perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father
of Mercy who is in heaven.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon
the company of chosen ones 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.
* In the original text, Saint Faustina uses the pronoun
"us" since she was offering this prayer as a consecrated religious sister. The
wording adapted here is intended to make the prayer suitable for universal
use.
"Today bring to Me
all Devout
and Faithful Souls,
and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.
These souls brought me consolation
on the Way of the Cross.
They were a drop of
consolation
in the midst of an ocean of bitterness."
Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You
impart Your graces in 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
grace 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 lose 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.
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| Atheists 'probable' answer--Pray for them. |
Today bring to Me
those who do not believe in God
and those who
do
not know Me,
I was thinking also of them
during My
bitter Passion,
and their future zeal comforted My Heart.
Immerse them in the
ocean of My mercy."
Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole
world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of
those who do not believe in God and of those 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 gaze upon
the souls of those who do not believe in You, 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.
*Our Lord's original words here were "the pagans." Since
the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Church has seen fit to replace this term
with clearer and more appropriate terminology.
"Today bring to Me the Souls of those
who have separated
themselves
from My Church*,
and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.
During My bitter Passion
they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church.
As
they return to unity with the Church
My wounds heal and in this way they
alleviate My Passion."
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 those who have separated themselves from Your
Church. 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 those who have separated
themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and
misused Your graces by 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 His Most
Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy
for endless ages. Amen.
*Our Lord's original words here were "heretics and
schismatics," since He spoke to Saint Faustina within the context of her times.
As of the Second Vatican Council, Church authorities have seen fit not to use
those designations in accordance with the explanation given in the Council's
Decree on Ecumenism (n.3). Every pope since the Council has reaffirmed that
usage. Saint Faustina herself, her heart always in harmony with the mind of the
Church, most certainly would have agreed. When at one time, because of the
decisions of her superiors and father confessor, she was not able to execute Our
Lord's inspirations and orders, she declared: "I will follow Your will insofar
as You will permit me to do so through Your representative. O my Jesus " I give
priority to the voice of the Church over the voice with which You speak to me"
(497). The Lord confirmed her action and praised her for
it.
Sixth Day
"Today bring to Me
the Meek and Humble Souls
and
the Souls of Little
Children,
and immerse them in My mercy.
These souls most
closely resemble My Heart.
They strengthened Me during My bitter agony.
I saw
them as earthly Angels,
who will keep vigil at My altars.
I pour out upon them
whole torrents of grace.
I favor humble souls with My confidence."
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 souls,
upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which
is 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.
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.
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; and united to You, O
Jesus, they 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 hearts, overflowing
with joy, sing 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 that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls
who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His
glory. Amen.
*The text leads one to conclude that in the first prayer
directed to Jesus, Who is the Redeemer, it is "victim" souls and contemplatives
that are being prayed for; those persons, that is, that voluntarily offered
themselves to God for the salvation of their neighbor (see Col 1:24; 2 Cor
4:12). This explains their close union with the Savior and the extraordinary
efficacy that their invisible activity has for others. In the second prayer,
directed to the Father from whom comes "every worthwhile gift and every genuine
benefit,"we recommend the "active" souls, who promote devotion to The Divine
Mercy and exercise with it all the other works that lend themselves to the
spiritual and material uplifting of their brethren.
"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."
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 Purgatory, that there, too, the
power of Your mercy may be celebrated.
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 but only 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 to Me
those 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 run to My mercy."
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.
Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine
Mercy be
preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good
Friday.
This
Novena can be said anytime, I myself, and many others, say the Novena
constantly with the Chaplet--nine days, then nine days...etc. With so
many souls are in need of Christ's Mercy--He asked us to pray for these
souls--should we leave it only for once a year???
Joined
with the Divine Mercy chaplet it is a powerful tool for the salvation
of souls... Jesus I Trust In YOU. *(The Chaplet is found on separate
post)
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| Blessed Pope John Paul II with Divine mercy Image |
Divine Mercy Sunday, celebrated on the Sunday following Easter Sunday, was established as a universal feast of the Church by Pope John Paul II (2001).
On August 7, 2002, in his homily at the dedication of the Divine Mercy
Shrine in Lagniewniki (Krakow), Poland, Pope John Paul II said (in part):
"...Today, therefore, in this Shrine, I wish solemnly to entrust the world to
Divine Mercy. I do so with the burning desire that the message of God's merciful
love, proclaimed here through Saint Faustina, may be made known to all the
peoples of the earth and fill their hearts with hope. May this message radiate
from this place to our beloved homeland and throughout the world. May the
binding promise of the Lord Jesus be fulfilled: from here there must go forth
"the spark which will prepare the world for His final coming" (cf.
Diary, 1732).
On the evening of April 2, 2005 John Paul was near death. The next day was
Divine Mercy Sunday. The usual vespers for the preparations of the "Divine
Mercy" had started when John Paul passed away at 9:37, Rome time. There is no
question that one of the greatest missions of John Paul was to bring back this
awesome devotion. It is therefore fitting that he should pass away during the
vespers in preparation of Divine Mercy Sunday. I believe without the Mercy of
God there is no hope for this world. I personally remain convinced that John
Paul's greatest mission was to place the Mercy of God, in the hands of much
needed sinners.
Excerpts taken from: http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/faustinajohnpaul.htm
