Divine Mercy One
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Jesus requested St. Faustina to begin a Novena to the Divine Mercy on Good Friday and concluding on the 1st Sunday after Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday.
But first, it is important to get to know St Faustyna – for she is a close friend of mine. She was born August 25, 1905, in Poland. From the age of 7 Faustina heard the definite call of God to become a religious sister, however, she writes “But I was not always obedient to the call of grace.” And sadly she relates: “I came across no one who would have explained these things to me.” At 17 she begged her parents for permission to enter the convent. She got a flat refusal. So she turned herself over to the vain things of life, paying no attention to the call of grace…Even though she found no satisfaction in things of the world.
When she was 18 - she was at a dance (probably in Lodz) with one of her sisters. About what happened next she writes:
While everybody was having a good time, my soul was experiencing deep torments. As I began to dance, I suddenly saw Jesus at my side, Jesus racked with pain, stripped of His clothing, all covered with wounds, who spoke these words to me: "How long shall I put up with you and how long will you keep putting Me off?" At that moment the charming music stopped, (and) the company I was with vanished from my sight; there remained Jesus and I. I took a seat by my dear sister, pretending to have a headache to cover up what took place in my soul.
Jesus could say the same thing to me, “Michael, how long shall I put up with you and how long will you keep putting me off?” Lent is over and yet not much in me has changed or grown. The mistake is to think we should redouble our efforts to become good enough, more religious, morally and spiritually better. Jesus will teach Faustyna that Christianity is not something achieved by our heroic effort. It is a work of Mercy. Mercy means that Jesus’ action becomes ours because He is acting in us.
Christianity is not the call to supreme achievement; rather letting God do in us what He wants, purifying us over and over that He may live and act through us!
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Soon after Jesus appeared to her at the dance, Faustyna “I slipped out unnoticed, leaving my sister and all my companions behind and made my way to the Cathedral of Saint Stanislaus Kostka.”
Falling prostrate before the Blessed Sacrament, she begged God to tell her what to do next. Then she heard these words:
· Go at once to Warsaw; you will enter a convent there
She went home, confided to her sister what took place within her soul
· Asked her sister to say good-bye to her parents
· In her one and only dress, with no other belongings
· She hopped a train for Warsaw
When she got off the train she was overcome with fear – not knowing what to do next so she prayer: Mary, lead me, guide me
Ultimately, Jesus and Mary led her to the convent of Our Lady of Mercy (Warsaw)
From 1925 until her death in 1938
· Vilnius, Plock, Kracov
· Cook, gardener and door-keeper
Faustyna led a very Ordinary Life except for this…
· Jesus, Mary, her Guardian Angel, Many saints and souls in purgatory as well as demons…visited and spoke with Faustyna on a continual basis
· September 29, 1936. On the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, I saw by my side that great Leader, who spoke these words to me: “The Lord has ordered me to take special care of you. Know that you are hated by evil; but do not fear – “”Who is like God!‟ “ And he disappeared. But I feel his presence and assistance. Diary 706
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The Diary Jesus ordered her to keep a diary of all their conversations so that:
1. The world would come to know His Goodness and Mercy
2. Trust in Him
She writes: “Today I heard the words: In the Old Covenant I sent prophets wielding thunderbolts to My People. Today I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart. I use punishment when they themselves force Me to do so; My hand is reluctant to take hold of the sword of justice. Before the Day of Justice, I am sending the Day of Mercy. 1588
In 1934 Jesus came to this young nun and told her that His desire was that the first Sunday after Easter would become the Feast of Mercy. He said to her: tell the whole world of My great mercy; that whoever approaches the Font of Life on this day (whoever will go to confession) will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment. Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy. (300)
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The whole point of Divine Mercy Sunday is to give us the grace before the day of Justice:
Tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day are open all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My Mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity…The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy. 699
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Day Four of the Novena to Divine Mercy
1216 Today bring to Me the pagans 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.
1217 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.
May the light of Your love Enlighten the souls in darkness; Grant that these souls will know You And, together with us, praise Your mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze 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.