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Stormy
Administrator
USA
736 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 30 2008 : 8:08:36 PM
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Divine Mercy...message for the world!
By Hugh McNichol
Pewsitter.com
March 30, 2008 - Today the Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday. This observance of Divine Mercy Sunday initiated in the papacy of John-Paul II is a great opportunity for Catholic to celebrate the mystic visionary apparitions of Jesus revealed to Saint Faustina. The feast is also a unique opportunity for all of the worlds Catholics to recognize the intense power of faith and Eucharistic conversion God offers to the entire world as we ponder this revelational image illustrated by Saint Faustina.
Pope Benedict said, "Mercy is in reality the core of the Gospel message; it is the name of God himself, the face with which he reveals himself in the Old Testament and fully in Jesus Christ, the incarnation of creative and redemptive Love.”
Pope Benedict clearly wants the collective Church to recognize the important devotional and spiritual dimensions associated with this celebration for modern Catholics. In his message to the faithful gathered at Castle Gandolfo, the papal summer residence the message of Divine Mercy indicated as a critical component to the revelational nature of God in both the Old and the New Testaments.
Catholics should especially recognize the special significance of Divine Mercy in the Incarnation, and how that activity still affects the world today as a continued indication of God’s presence among us.
In speaking about today’s feast, Benedict also mentions the ministry of John Paul II as one that recognized and proclaimed the Incarnation message of God’s love to the entire world. John Paul II was an Apostle of Divine Mercy and the Church called to spread the same message. The continuation of the message of Saint Faustina by Pope Benedict clearly felt by the Church in his evolving message of global love and universal harmony, which is also a result of the continued message of Divine Mercy Sunday.
Catholics throughout the world today are praying in their parish communities the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which proclaims the Catholic desire for peace and global unity through the recognition of the power of universal prayer and acknowledgement of God’s continued mercy on the global community. Today as the Church continues to spread the message of Christ’s love and His message, as believers we need to develop and understand the unfolding messages of God’s plan as revealed through Saint Faustina. John-Paul’s apostolic ministry and Pope Benedict’s both offer the world a message of mercy and peace as the Divine plan envisioned by God through Jesus Christ and His Church.
Let’s hope and pray together as a faithfully developing and emerging Catholic Church that the message of Divine Mercy takes root in not only the Catholic world, but with all of the world’s peoples that seek to know and understand God’s mysterious plan of salvation for us all.
Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author that writes freelance works on topics that involve Catholicism. He writes a daily column, verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com
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Going to Communion every day for so many years! Anybody else would be a saint by now, you told me, and I ... I'm always the same! Son, I replied, keep up your daily Communion, and think: what would I be if I had not gone?
-- St. Josemaria Escriva: The Way
Come Holy Spirit ...Come by the means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved Spouse.
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959 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2008 : 9:13:56 PM
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John Paul II Praised as Apostle of Mercy
Benedict XVI Points to a Legacy of Polish Pope
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, MARCH 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Pope John Paul II was an apostle of divine mercy, and his pontificate can be summarized with the idea that God's mercy is mankind's only hope, affirms Benedict XVI.
The German Pope said this as he addressed crowds today gathered to pray the midday Regina Caeli in the plaza of the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo. Benedict XVI spoke of the previous Pope's legacy in promoting the contemplation of divine mercy.
"All that the Church says and does shows the mercy that God feels for man," the Holy Father said. "When the Church has to remind about a neglected truth, or a betrayed good, it does it always motivated by a merciful love, so that men may have life and have it in abundance. From divine mercy, which puts hearts at peace, also arises the authentic peace of the world, peace among peoples, cultures and religions."
"Like Sister Faustina, John Paul II became in turn an apostle of divine mercy," Benedict XVI affirmed. Sister Mary Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who died in 1938, was an apostle of the Divine Mercy. John Paul II canonized her in April 2000.
Benedict XVI recalled the night John Paul II died, April 2, 2005, "precisely the vigil of the Second Sunday of Easter," saying that many "observed the unique coincidence, which brought together [that day] a Marian dimension -- the first Saturday of the month -- and that of divine mercy."
He continued: "In fact, [John Paul II's] long and multifaceted pontificate finds here its central nucleus; all of his mission at the service of the truth about God, about man and peace in the world is summarized in this proclamation, [...] 'Apart from the mercy of God there is no other source of hope for mankind.
"His message, like that of St. Faustina, presents the face of Christ, supreme revelation of the mercy of God. To contemplate constantly this face: This is the inheritance that he has left us, which we welcome with joy and make our own."
The German Pontiff concluded his address entrusting to Mary, Mother of Mercy, "the great cause of peace in the world so that the mercy of God achieves what is impossible with human strength alone, and instills the courage for dialogue and reconciliation."
Grace Mizzi
www.mmponline.org
Send Oh Lord Holy Apostles into your church“Christ has no body but yours, no hands butyours, no feet but yours.Yours are the eyes through which Christ’scompassion must look upon the world.Yours are the feet with which He is to go about
doing good.Yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.”St. Theresa of Avila |
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959 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2008 : 9:14:40 PM
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On John Paul II and Divine Mercy
"All the Church Does Shows the Mercy God Feels for Man"
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, MARCH 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the greeting Benedict XVI gave today before praying the Regina Caeli with thousands of people gathered in the patio of the pontifical residence at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.
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Dear brothers and sisters:
During the Jubilee Year 2000, the dear Servant of God John Paul II established that in the whole Church the Sunday after Easter, besides being the Sunday "in albis" would be designated Divine Mercy Sunday. He did this together with the canonization of Faustina Kowalska, a humble Polish woman religious, who was born in 1905 and died in 1938, a zealous messenger of merciful Jesus.
Mercy is in reality the central nucleus of the Gospel message; it is the very name of God, the face with which he has revealed himself in the old covenant and fully in Jesus Christ, the incarnation of creative and redeeming love. This merciful love also illumines the face of the Church, and is manifested, both by way of the sacraments, in particular that of reconciliation, and with works of communitarian and individual charity.
All that the Church says and does shows the mercy that God feels for man. When the Church has to remind about a neglected truth, or a betrayed good, it does it always motivated by a merciful love, so that men may have life and have it in abundance (cf. John 10:10). From divine mercy, which puts hearts at peace, also arises the authentic peace of the world, peace among peoples, cultures and religions.
Like Sister Faustina, John Paul II became in turn an apostle of divine mercy. On the night of that unforgettable Saturday, April 2, 2005, when he closed his eyes to this world, precisely the vigil of the Second Sunday of Easter was celebrated, and many observed the unique coincidence, which brought together a Marian dimension -- the first Saturday of the month -- and that of divine mercy.
In fact, his long and multifaceted pontificate finds here its central nucleus; all of his mission at the service of the truth about God, about man and peace in the world is summarized in this proclamation, as he himself said in Krakow-Lagiewniki in 2002, in inaugurating the great Shrine of Divine Mercy, "Apart from the mercy of God there is no other source of hope for mankind." His message, like that of St. Faustina, presents the face of Christ, supreme revelation of the mercy of God. To contemplate constantly this face: This is the inheritance that he has left us, which we welcome with joy and make our own.
There will be special reflection about divine mercy in the coming days, due to the World Apostolic Congress on Divine Mercy, which will take place in Rome and will be inaugurated with the holy Mass, which, God willing, I will preside over in the morning of Wednesday, April 2, on the third anniversary of the death of the Servant of God John Paul II. Let us place the congress under the heavenly protection of most holy Mary, Mother of Mercy. We entrust to her the great cause of peace in the world so that the mercy of God achieves what is impossible with human strength alone, and instills the courage for dialogue and reconciliation.
[Translation by ZENIT]
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[After the Angelus, the Holy Father greeted the people in various languages. In English, he said:]
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors here today. This Sunday's Gospel reminds us that through faith we recognize the presence of the Risen Lord in the Church, and that we receive from him the gift of the Holy Spirit. During this Easter season may we strengthen our desire to bear witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ calling us to a life of peace and joy. Upon each of you present and your families, I invoke God's blessings of happiness and wisdom.
Grace Mizzi
www.mmponline.org
Send Oh Lord Holy Apostles into your church“Christ has no body but yours, no hands butyours, no feet but yours.Yours are the eyes through which Christ’scompassion must look upon the world.Yours are the feet with which He is to go about
doing good.Yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.”St. Theresa of Avila |
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JohnF
Mary's Servant
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2008 : 11:30:34 PM
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Have you read Saint Faustina's Diary? It is a life changing experience.
John
We must not doubt for even a moment,
But have trust in the power of God's mercy.
-Saint Faustina |
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959 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2008 : 01:00:50 AM
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I sure have, plus I was honoured to have a first class relic of St. Faustina in my home for a week, she will always be a very special Nun, reminds me of when she was at a party and the Lord asked her when was she going to listen to him.....it something we all should learn.
Grace Mizzi
www.mmponline.org
Send Oh Lord Holy Apostles into your church“Christ has no body but yours, no hands butyours, no feet but yours.Yours are the eyes through which Christ’scompassion must look upon the world.Yours are the feet with which He is to go about
doing good.Yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.”St. Theresa of Avila |
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JohnF
Mary's Servant
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2008 : 02:06:07 AM
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A first class relic of Saint Faustina...
You are fortunate, indeed.
The Diary is a first class relic in its own way. While reading it, I felt Sister's presence. And the Lord's presence, too.
John
We must not doubt for even a moment,
But have trust in the power of God's mercy.
-Saint Faustina |
Edited by - JohnF on Mar 31 2008 02:06:44 AM |
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Doc
Formation
USA
35 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2008 : 08:05:40 AM
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Good morning family,
Just wanted to share about my Divine Mercy Sunday...it was wonderful. It all began on Saturday with Confession followed by a 4 PM vigil Mass. The Deacon preached and he is awesome...one of the best I have ever seen and heard. I am actually registered in two parishes...this one, Holy Spirit, where the beautiful statue of Our Lady, Queen of Peace is located (you can read all about her at this link: http://ourlady-de.org/index.htm) and also at Saint John the Beloved where the Pastor and I go back into the teen years together. Each parish offers me what collectively is a well-balanced spiritual life. Yes, I get two sets of envelopes too !
Yesterday, I spent Divine Mercy Sunday at Saint John's. It consisted of a Holy Hour, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 PM followed by a special Mass of Divine Mercy. The young Priest who had the Mass is excellent and I have come to grow quite fond of him for his openness and what I perceive is a continual journey through his own faith which he shares from time-to-time. He is very popular with the people there. He shared in his homily how, like many Priests, he did not believe in the Divine Mercy and devotions...that is until he did his own 'investigation' to include a pilgrimage to the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy in Poland and the Chapel where the original painting of the Divine Mercy Jesus is located. It was upon touching that painting that he came to realize the authenticity of the Divine Mercy.
Every year, like an expectant father, I agonize over the numbers of people, Priests especially, who know little or nothing about this devotion and the rich opportunity Our Lord is offering to those who practice it. It is frightening actually especially since it comes only once a year and through ignorance, misunderstanding, or just plain carelessness, it is ignored. It is a case of another 'missed opportunity' and we never know when there will be no more opportunities. How many chances, or better put, how long will Our Merciful Savior keep open these grace-filled opportunities? Like the Israelites, a stubborn people for sure as the Bible attests to, we who have been so blessed with many opportunities, appear generally apathetic that things which do not produce a visibly tangible result. We concern ourselves with food, clothing, employment, savings, and especially entertainment; however, those things which really matter seem to go the way of the discarded umbrella or raincoat - we only look for it when we need it.
Anyway, I took a dear friend who needed to talk to dinner after Mass. I usually take her to breakfast on Sundays but due to the Divine Mercy Mass, we went to dinner. She was quite down and I could tell she needed someone just to listen. Her family abandoned her some time ago (children and siblings - except for one Brother who is a retired Priest). She got scallops and I got crab cakes. At the table next to us, as we discovered in the course of dinner, were two women who had just come from the Divine Mercy celebration at the Polish Church. We all chimed in and talked about the Divine Mercy and had a great time. Small world. If anyone was eavesdropping, they were receiving some catechesis for sure.
Well all-in-all it was a wonderful day with the weather cooperating. I came home to watch the encore presentations of Divine Mercy activities on EWTN, said a Rosary and fell asleep. What a day - thank you Jesus; I Trust in You.
Blessings and Peace,
Doc
Jesus, I Trust in You. |
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