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| The Image of Christ as described by St. Faustina Kowalska at the Shine of Divine Mercy in Cracow, Poland. |
In the 1930s, Our Lord appeared to St. Faustina
Kowalska (1905-1938), a nun of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of
Mercy in Poland, in order to demonstrate that He is not only a God of Justice,
but also a God of Mercy. In turn Jesus expects
us to show mercy to others as He did for the Good Thief and does for us. He asked St. Faustina to commission an artist
to paint an image of Himself as she saw Him.
The image, as shown above, can be seen in the Shrine of Divine Mercy in
Cracow, Poland. The Polish refrain
above, “Jezu ufam tobie” translates to “Jesus, I trust in you”.
Jesus promised great graces and favors to those who
say the Divine Chaplet for nine consecutive days along with a special prayer
for each day. The Chaplet can be said for
some personal or other intention at any time of the year, but it is very
special if said at 3 pm and as part of the Novena from Good Friday through the
day before Divine Mercy Sunday, the week after Easter. Furthermore, He promised special graces to
those who promote the doctrine of divine mercy.
Jesus
promised that if the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is said in the presence of a dying
person, He would come to him or her. Go
to my blog #80 (April 2012) and www.marian.org
for detailed explanations of the image and Christ’s message to St. Faustina. Free CD with the rosary and the Divine Chaplet
at www.catholicity.com/prayer.
The
Chaplet of Divine Mercy begins with the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the
Apostle's Creed:
Our
Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.
Hail
Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou
amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother
of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
The
Apostle's Creed
I believe in God, the Father
Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our
Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; died, and was buried. He descended into
Hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and
sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come
to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy
Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Then,
using a rosary, repeat the following on the large bead before each of the five decades:
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 ten small beads of each of the five decades, repeat:
For the sake of His sorrowful
Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. During this repetitive prayer, meditate on
different aspects of the Passion of Christ as the Biblical account, the
Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross. See Blog #78.
Conclusion. After the fifth decade, repeat the following
three times:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on
us and on the whole world.
Optional
Closing Prayer (at least
say “Jesus, I trust in you” at the very end).
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. AND/OR
O Blood and Water, which gushed
forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in you
(Diary, 84).
Our
Lord said to Saint Faustina: “Encourage souls to say the Chaplet
which I have given you ... Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at
the hour of death . 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 Savior ... Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope
of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite
this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from my infinite mercy. I desire
to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy ... Through
the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with
My will” (687, 1541, 1731).
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy as Part of a Novena
The Chaplet can be said anytime, but
the Lord specifically asked that it be recited as part of a novena. He
promised, "By this Novena (of
Chaplets), I will grant every possible grace to souls." Say the Chaplet and the specific prayer for
each day. For each of the nine days, our
Lord gave Saint Faustina and us a different special intention: all mankind,
especially sinners; the souls of priests and religious; all devout and faithful
souls; those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know Jesus; the
souls who have separated themselves from the Church; the meek and humble souls
and the souls of little children; the souls who especially venerate and glorify
His mercy; the souls detained in purgatory; and souls who have become lukewarm. In other words, Our Lord said:
"I desire that during these nine days
you bring souls to the fountain of My mercy, that they may draw therefrom
strength and refreshment and whatever grace they have need of in the hardships
of life, and especially at the hour of death." After saying the Chaplet, say the prayer for
each day.
First Day: Today bring to Me ALL MANKIND,
ESPECIALLY ALL SINNERS
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
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.
Third Day: Today bring to Me ALL DEVOUT AND
FAITHFUL SOULS
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 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
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.
Fifth Day: Today bring to Me THE SOULS
OF THOSE WHO HAVE SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM MY CHURCH
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.
Sixth Day: Today bring to Me THE MEEK AND
HUMBLE SOULS AND THE SOULS OF LITTLE CHILDREN
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
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.
Eighth Day: Today
bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ARE DETAINED IN PURGATORY
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
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.
