Saturday, April 14, 2012

Feast of Divine Mercy

Sts. Peter and Paul Church Honolulu - Divine Mercy Sunday

...The soul that will go to confession and receive Holy Communion shall obrtain COMPLETE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND PUNISHMENT. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. LET NO SOUL FEAR TO DRAW NEAR TO ME, EVEN THOUGH ITS SINS BE AS SCARLET...
Diary of St. Faustina

Thursday, April 12, 2012

The Vital Importance of Divine Mercy Sunday


Not too long ago I remember reading something written by a Catholic blogger that he didn't understand all (and I'm paraphrasing here) the hullabaloo concerning Divine Mercy Sunday. That is what I remember reading.

Read the following excerpt from Saint Faustina's Diary regarding the Feast of Divine Mercy (699)[Emphasis added is mine]:

"...tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Divine 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 found of My Mercy. The soul that will go to confession and receive Holy Communion shall obrtain COMPLETE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND PUNISHMENT. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace 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 man or angel, will be able to fathom it through all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My Most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout 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 Found of My Mercy."

Our God, our creator sacrificed His only begotten and most beloved Son so that we could be saved and not suffer the fires of eternal perdition. Miserable sinners that we are, we need to make reparation for even the slightest sins we have committed. On this great Feast of Divine Mercy, He is going to forgive ALL our sins! Not only that but we be not be punished for these offenses!

Keep in mind that God's unfathomable Mercy is not only reserved for Catholics but to all of mankind!

How can we not put all our trust in such a loving and merciful God? How can we continue to sin and cause Him constant much pain when He loves us so much?

"O, how sorely Jesus is hurt by the ingratitude of a chosen soul!...imagine, a miserable particle of dust scorns that love!..." (698)

Jesus enjoined Sister Faustina the important task of spreading the devotion of Divine Mercy. He warned her that she would be help accountable for souls in this regard. (Unfortunately, I did not note the citation in the diary.) Shouldn't we too take this direction to heart? We must start spreading this devotion to everyone...not just to those we feel comfortable talking about spiritual matters but everyone...Catholics and non-Catholics alike...before it is too late.

EWTN Live Fr. William Petrie: Sacred Hearts Father: Work with Hansen's Disease Patients



Father Petrie is a Sacred Hearts father just like Saint Damien and Father Mateo Crawley-Boevey, SSCC.  He is also the new pastor of St. Damien Church on Molokai.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

A Prisoner's Story of Conversion - Divine Mercy

Pornchai Maximilian Moontri

Father Gordon MacRae of These Stone Walls has a guest blogger this week. Please read the amazing conversion story of Pornchai. I would also ask that you pray for Pornchai's special intentions and pass along his story and prayer request to as many people as you can.

God bless!

Pornchai Moontri: The Duty of a Knight – To Dream the Impossible Dream

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

St. Faustina's Advice on Praying for Our Confessors

Photo source: Divine Mercy Center of Hawaii


The following is from St. Faustina's Diary (647):
"...I came to understand one thing: I must pray much for each of my confessors, that he might obtain the light of the Holy Spirit, for when I approach the confessional without first praying fervently, the confessor does not understand me very well..."

This is a powerful reminder that we should not only pray daily for our priests but especially to remember to pray for our own dear confessors so we are assured of not only making a good confession but will also be given the spiritual guidance and direction that our own soul needs.

Saturday, April 07, 2012

Reminder: Divine Mercy Novena


In preparation of Divine Mercy Sunday next week, the Divine Mercy novena began yesterday on Good Friday. If you missed the first day prayers, you can do both prayers today (the first and second day)


The entire novena can be found here.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Priest Ordained Early to Fulfill Father's Wish

In the past several months, new priest Father Richard Dyer has experienced deeply the highs and lows of the Christian life.
In late December, he was ordained a priest six months early for the Diocese of Arlington, Va., by Bishop Paul Loverde to fulfill his dying father’s wish to be present at his ordination.
After seeing his son become a priest, Father Dyer’s father, Richard Dyer Sr., passed away the following day — at almost the same time his son finished celebrating his first Mass.


Read more: of the National Catholic Register article here

Novena OL Sorrows 3/22-3/30

Shared by Louise:

In Honor of the Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Start Thursday before the 5th Sunday in Lent

Most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, you stood
beneath the cross, witnessing the agony of your dying Son.
Look with a mother's tenderness and pity on me, who kneel
before you. I venerate your sorrows and I place my requests
with filial confidence in the sanctuary of your wounded heart.

Present them, I beseech you, on my behalf to Jesus Christ,
through the merits of His own most sacred passion and death,
together with your sufferings at the foot of the cross. Through
the united efficacy of both, obtain the granting of my petition.
To whom shall I have recourse in my wants and miseries if not
to you, Mother of Mercy? You have drunk so deeply of the
chalice of your Son, you can compassionate our sorrows.

Holy Mother, your soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow at
the sight of the passion of your divine Son. Intercede for me
and obtain for me from our Lord {mention your petition}, if
it be for His honor and glory, and for my good. Amen.

LET US PRAY
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our
hearts; that, we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy
Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may by
His Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His
Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.


Litany of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows

Lord, have mercy on us
Christ have mercy on us
Lord have mercy on us
Christ hear us
Christ graciously hear us

God, the Father of heaven
Have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world
Have mercy on us
God the Holy Ghost
Have mercy on us

Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us
Holy Virgin of virgins pray for us
Mother of the Crucified pray for us
Sorrowful Mother pray for us
Mournful Mother pray for us

Sighing Mother pray for us
Afflicted Mother pray for us
Forsaken Mother pray for us
Desolate Mother pray for us
Mother most sad pray for us

Mother set around with anguish pray for us
Mother overwhelmed by grief pray for us
Mother transfixed by a sword pray for us
Mother crucified in thy heart pray for us
Mother bereaved of thy Son pray for us

Sighing Dove pray for us
Mother of Dolors pray for us
Fount of tears pray for us
Sea of bitterness pray for us
Field of tribulation pray for us

Mass of suffering pray for us
Mirror of patience pray for us
Rock of constancy pray for us
Remedy in perplexity pray for us
Joy of the afflicted pray for us

Ark of the desolate pray for us
Refuge of the abandoned pray for us
Shield of the oppressed pray for us
Conqueror of the incredulous pray for us
Solace of the wretched pray for us

Medicine of the sick pray for us
Help of the faint pray for us
Strength of the weak pray for us
Protectress of those who fight pray for us
Haven of the shipwrecked pray for us

Calmer of tempests pray for us
Companion of the sorrowful pray for us
Retreat of those who groan pray for us
Terror of the treacherous pray for us
Standard-bearer of the Martyrs pray for us

Treasure of the Faithful pray for us
Light of Confessors pray for us
Pearl of Virgins pray for us
Comfort of Widows pray for us
Joy of all Saints pray for us

Queen of thy Servants pray for us
Holy Mary, who alone art unexampled pray for us.

Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ

O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of
Simeon, a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet
soul of Thy glorious Blessed Virgin Mother Mary, grant
that we, who celebrate the memory of her Seven Sorrows,
may obtain the happy effect of Thy Passion, Who lives
and reigns world without end. Amen