Dies
Irae
Dies
iræ! dies illa
Solvet sæclum in favilla
Teste David cum Sibylla!
Quantus
tremor est futurus,
quando judex est venturus,
cuncta stricte discussurus!
Tuba
mirum spargens sonum
per sepulchra regionum,
coget omnes ante thronum.
Mors
stupebit et natura,
cum resurget creatura,
judicanti responsura.
Liber
scriptus proferetur,
in quo totum continetur,
unde mundus judicetur.
Judex
ergo cum sedebit,
quidquid latet apparebit:
nil inultum remanebit.
Quid
sum miser tunc dicturus?
Quem patronum rogaturus,
cum vix justus sit securus?
Rex
tremendæ majestatis,
qui salvandos salvas gratis,
salva me, fons pietatis.
Recordare,
Jesu pie,
quod sum causa tuæ viæ:
ne me perdas illa die.
Quærens
me, sedisti lassus:
redemisti Crucem passus:
tantus labor non sit cassus.
Juste
judex ultionis,
donum fac remissionis
ante diem rationis.
Ingemisco,
tamquam reus:
culpa rubet vultus meus:
supplicanti parce, Deus.
Qui
Mariam absolvisti,
et latronem exaudisti,
mihi quoque spem dedisti.
Preces
meæ non sunt dignæ:
sed tu bonus fac benigne,
ne perenni cremer igne.
Inter
oves locum præsta,
et ab hædis me sequestra,
statuens in parte dextra.
Confutatis
maledictis,
flammis acribus addictis:
voca me cum benedictis.
Oro
supplex et acclinis,
cor contritum quasi cinis:
gere curam mei finis.
Lacrimosa
dies illa,
Qua resurget ex favila
Judicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus
Pie Iesu Domine,
Dona eis requiem. Amen
-oOo-
Day
of wrath and terror looming!
Heaven and earth to ash consuming,
David's word and Sibyl's truth foredooming!
What
horror must invade the mind,
when the approaching judge shall find,
and sift the deeds of all mankind.
The
trumpet casts a wondrous sound,
through the tombs of all around,
making them the throne surround.
Death
is struck and nature quaking,
all creation is awaking,
to its judge an answer making.
The
written book shall be outspread,
And all that it contains be read,
To try the living and the dead.
Then
shall the judge his throne attain,
And every secret sin arraign,
Till nothing unavenged remain.
What
shall my guilty conscience plead,
And who for me will intercede,
When even saints forgiveness need
?
King
of tremendous majesty!
Who savest, whom thou sayest, free,
-
Thou fount of pity, save thou me.
Remember,
Jesus Lord, I pray,
For me thou walked'st on life's way,
Confound me not on that last day.
'Twas
me thy weary footsteps sought,
My ransom on thy cross was bought,
Let not such labour come to naught.
Just
judge of recompense, I pray
Cancel my debt, too great to pay,
Before the last accounting day.
My
groans a culprit's heart declare,
My cheeks shame's burning livery wear,
Spare me, O God, thy suppliant spare!
As
thou didst Mary's sin efface,
And take the thief to thine embrace,
So dlost thou give me hope of grace.
Though all unworthy be my cry,
Give grace, O gracious Lord, or I
Shall burn in fires that never die.
Grant
me among thy sheep to stand,
From outcast goats my soul disband,
And raise me to thine own right hand.
When
cursed foes are put to shame,
And given o'er to biting flame,
Ah! with thy blessed call my name!
Prostrate,
my contrite heart I rend,
My God, my Father, and my Friend,
Do not forsake me in the end.
O
day of weeping, day of woe,
When rising from his pyre below
The sinner to his judge shall cry,
Spare me, thou mighty God on high!
All,
gentle Jesu, Saviour blest,
Grant to them all eternal rest ! Amen.
Top
A
Letter from Jesus Christ
A
Letter from Jesus Christ, by John
of Landsberg. Gill's Spiritual
Classics, Gill & Macmillan, 1982.
JOHN OF LANDSBERG, a 16th-century
Prior of the Carthusian Charterhouse
of Hensberch, wrote this short book
in the form of a letter of information
and encouragement written directly
to a soul by Our Lord. He holds Himself
up as our constant model, in all His
commonplace trials and with all his
commonplace problems. The letters
are simple and direct, and benefit
from this modern 20th-century translation.
Here is an example of Our Lord writing
about the problem on not 'feeling'
religious.
'It
can happen that you just don't feel
any real devotion. Don't worry, carry
on with a stout and constant mind,
even though you feel dry and barren.
Do whatever you know honours my cause
and do just as much as you can on
my behalf. There are a lot of people,
after all, who even shed tears and
give many signs of always tasting
the sweetness of true devotion in
their soul, and whose life is not
a whit the holier for all that, and
can even be in mortal sin. Such people
have a certain natural tenderness
of heart - I speak not only of women
but of men who are by nature passionate
and full of compassion, and easily
`feel' devout. The only devotion that
counts is devotion which improves
your life.
You
know the kind of people who start
crying immediately they hear that
some famous person is dead, even though
they've never met him and know nothing
about him personally beyond what they've
read about him, and even though he
may be of some quite alien religion,
belief or nation. They will also weep
sometimes if they hear about two famous
lovers breaking up or one of them
dying a tragic death. If people will
do that, it's no wonder that they
are brought to religious tears at
some moving ceremony or just through
compassion at my sufferings, or natural
rejoicing at some honour they see
done to me. Yet all these tears arise
from a natural movement of the heart;
such people have no virtuous intention
in what they do and there is no real
profit to their souls, as long as
they do not do my will and keep my
commandments. So, if you find that
your heart is hardened and dried up
and you don't feel any emotion, try
to have another kind of devotion,
by which I mean a true, perfect and
ready will, and a determined resolution
to do everything that might honour
and please me.
In
addition, if you're lacking a physical
sensation of devotion, it is a good
idea to try to find out the real reason.
You could have lost that pleasing
feeling in your soul because of some
silly affection for something or other,
or because you've been too occupied
with worldly thoughts, or through
pride, or by pleasing yourself in
this way or that. If that is the case,
try being sorry not because you feel
empty but for the reason you feel
empty: that is, on account of the
fault you've committed.
Even
if sometimes some little bit of your
mind goes on boiling away, or you
can't get rid of an annoying scruple
of some kind, or something you can't
quite define interferes with your
devotion, and, of course, if you're
distressed, or oppressed by a heaviness
of soul, make sure at least that the
inward, rational part of you stays
peaceful in the assurance that you
love my commandments and will try
to carry them out'.
Top
The
Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Begin
with the Sign of the Cross
Opening
prayer (optional)
You
expired, Jesus, but the source of
life gushed forth for souls, and the
ocean of mercy opened up for the whole
world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable
Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world
and empty Yourself out upon us (Divine
Mercy Diary, 1319).
O
Blood and Water, which gushed forth
from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain
of mercy for us, I trust in You! (Diary,
84)
(Our
Father... Hail Mary... and Apostles
Creed).
On
the 'Our Father' Beads say:
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 'Hail Mary' Beads say:
For
the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
have mercy on us and on the whole
world.
Conclude
with:
Holy
God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal
One, have mercy on us and on the whole
world (three times)(476).
Closing
Prayer (optional):
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 (950).
*
* *
In
1933, God gave Sister Faustina a striking
vision of His Mercy. She 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...."
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
Saviour."
The Novena to The Divine Mercy (Diary,
1209-1229)
It
is greatly recommended that the following
novena intentions and prayers be prayed
together with the Chaplet of Divine
Mercy, since Our Lord specifically
asked for a novena of Chaplets, especially
before the Feast of Mercy.
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.
SECOND DAY
"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.
THIRD
DAY
"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 that 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.
FOURTH
DAY
"Today
bring to Me THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE
IN GOD* AND THOSE WHO DO NOT YET 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.
FIFTH DAY
"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. Only the humble soul is
capable of receiving My 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.
SEVENTH DAY
"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.
EIGHTH DAY
"Today
bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ARE DETAINED
IN 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 SOULS 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 theGarden
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.
NOTE: The information contained on
this page is from the booklet The
Divine Mercy Message and Devotion
© 1995 Marians of the Immaculate
Conception. All rights reserved.
Frequently Asked Questions About
Divine Mercy
Q. What was the name of the saint
who helped spread the Divine Mercy
message?
A.
Born as Helena Kowalska, she was given
the name Sister Maria Faustina when
she received her habit as a member
of the Congregation of the Sisters
of Our Lady of Mercy. She was allowed
to add "of the Most Blessed Sacrament"
to her name to make "Sister Maria
Faustina of the Most Blessed Sacrament".
Q.
What exactly is Divine Mercy?
A. Divine Mercy is Jesus' message
to us that His Love and Forgiveness
is greater than our sins. All He asks
is that we trust in Him, ask for and
accept His Mercy, and then let Mercy
work through us to help others. He
also wants us to be merciful, loving,
compassionate, and forgiving to others.
Like
the gospel command, "Be merciful,
just as your Father is merciful,"
this demand that we show mercy to
our neighbors "always and everywhere"
seems impossible to fulfill. But the
Lord assures us that it is possible.
"When a soul approaches Me with
trust," He explains, "I
fill it with such an abundance of
graces that it cannot contain them
within itself, but radiates them to
other souls" (St. Faustina's
Diary, 1074).
Q. How did Saint Faustina learn about
the Divine Mercy?
A. On February 22, 1931, Jesus appeared
to Saint Faustina for the first time.
For four years she recorded Jesus'
words, her visions, and her own thoughts
and prayers in a personal diary. She
writes:
"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.
"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."
In
visions that followed, Jesus asked
Saint Faustina to be His instrument
for spreading the message of His Mercy
to all the world.
Q.
What is the Divine Mercy Chaplet?
A.
The words of the Divine Mercy Chaplet
were given to Saint Faustina after
seeing visions of Jesus' crucifixion
and of God's blessing the earth because
of His sacrifice.
"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...."
Sept 13, 1935
Q. What is the Divine Mercy Novena
and Divine Mercy Sunday?
A.
According to Saint Faustina's diary,
Jesus asked that the first Sunday
after Easter be designated as the
"Feast of Divine Mercy".
He promised that on this day His Mercy
would be overflowing to those who
would ask for it. On Sunday, April
30, 2000, Pope John Paul II decreed
that the Sunday after Easter officially
be known as "Divine Mercy Sunday."
Jesus
also requested a Divine Mercy Novena
to begin on Good Friday in preparation
for the Feast of Divine Mercy. Jesus
asked that each day of the novena
focus on a special intention.
"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 intentions Jesus requested are
as follows:
Good
Friday - All mankind, especially sinners
Holy
Saturday - The souls of priests and
religious
Easter
Sunday - All devout and faithful souls
Easter
Monday - Those who do not believe
in Jesus and those who do not yet
know Him
Easter
Tuesday - The souls of separated brethren
Easter
Wednesday - The meek and humble souls
and the souls of children
Easter
Thursday - The souls who especially
venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy
Easter
Friday - The souls who are detained
in purgatory
Easter
Saturday - The souls who have become
lukewarm
Q.
Is it possible to get an Indulgence
for participating in the Divine Mercy
Novena?
A.
Both a plenary and partial indulgence
are available for people participating
in the Feast of Divine Mercy. The
Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy
See granted the indulgences on June
29, 2002. To obtain a plenary indulgence
the faithful must complete the following:
*
Sacramental Confession within 8 days
before or after Divine Mercy Sunday
*
Eucharistic Communion on Divine Mercy
Sunday (or the vigil Mass)
*
Participate in the prayers and devotions
at church or in a chapel celebrating
Divine Mercy or recite the Our Father,
the Apostles' Creed, and a prayer
such as "Jesus, I trust in You."
If
you are unable to complete the requirements
for a plenary indulgence (due to sickness
or other serious reason) you may obtain
a partial indulgence by completing
the following:
*
Pray with a contrite heart to the
Merciful heart of Jesus a prayer such
as "Jesus, I trust in You."
Q. What else is known about the life
of Saint Faustina?
A.
Helena Kowalska (Saint Faustina) was
born on August 25, 1905 in a village
named Glogowiec in Poland. She had
nine brothers and sisters and was
the third eldest child. On August
1, 1925 she journeyed to Krakow, Poland
to join the Congregation of the Sisters
of Our Lady of Mercy whose mission
was to educate and care for young
women in need. The next year she received
her habit and her name. She had a
special devotion to the Immaculate
Heart of Mary, to the Blessed Sacrament,
and to the sacrament of Reconciliation.
She contracted tuberculosis and died
at the age of 33 on October 5, 1938.
She was beatified by Pope John Paul
II on April 18, 1993 and canonized
on April 30, 2000 (Mercy Sunday) to
became this Millennium's first saint!
Q.
Is it true that devotion to the Divine
Mercy was banned at one time?
A.
Yes, it is true that devotions based
on the revelations of Divine Mercy
in Saint Faustina's diary were banned
for a time following her death. The
political turmoil of World War II
made it impossible for the Church
to study Saint Faustina's writings
and the ban was implemented until
the matter could be investigated and
authenticated. Once the papers were
studied, Saint Faustina's writings
were found to be "entirely theologically
correct".
Q.
Why is Pope John Paul II sometimes
called "The Mercy Pope"?
A.
While serving as Cardinal of Krakow,
Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II)
worked diligently and succeeded in
having the ban on Saint Faustina's
writings lifted. As a pope, John Paul
II focused his second encyclical on
the Divine Mercy in "Dives in
Misericordia" (The Mercy of God).
On June 7, 1997, the pope visited
Faustina's tomb while on a visit to
Poland and stated that the Divine
Mercy had "formed the image of
his pontificate."
Top
This
bulletin is published by the National
Association of Catholic Families,
UK Registered Charity No.298481. Our
main website is at http://www.catholic-family.org.uk
The reliability of the news herein
is dependent on that of the cited
sources, which are paraphrased rather
than quoted. Opinions expressed are
not necessarily those of the NACF.
Please forward this bulletin to other
interested parties. To unsubscribe,
send an appropriate email to editor.cfnews@catholic-family.org
No appended files accepted, unless
by prior arrangement.
Saint
Francis de Sales, patron saint of
journalists, pray for us
***********************************************
GRANT
US, Father a spirit of wisdom and
insight, so that we may know the great
hope to which we have been called.
Let
peace and harmony reign among all
the dwellers on the earth.
To
those who exercise the ministry of
authority in the service of their
brothers, send a spirit of wisdom
and humility.
May
all those consecrated to you together
devote themselves to constant prayer.
Grant
us, O God, to fill up in our own flesh
what is lacking in the sufferings
of Christ for his Church.
To
our families and benefactors grant
the blessing of everlasting life.
Be
ever mindful of your mercy, exalt
the lowly; fill the hungry with good
things.
Both
in life and death, let us be yours,
O Lord.
Free
the world from its slavery to corruption,
to share in the glorious freedom of
the children of God.
Top