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| St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy, Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood Photo by New York Scugnizzo |
As proclaimed by St. Pope John Paul II during the Canonization of St. Mary Faustina Kowalska (1905—1938) in St. Peter’s Square on April 30, 2000, the Octave Day of Easter (Quasimodo Sunday) is the Feast of the Divine Mercy, or Divine Mercy Sunday. The proclamation was the fulfillment of Our Lord’s wishes, which He communicated through Sister Mary Faustina of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland. Faithfully recorded in Sr. Faustina's diaries, Our Lord attached great promises of mercy and the forgiveness of sins to the devotion. The plenitude of Our Lord's graces can be obtained by devout and penitent souls who make a good confession, publicly venerate the image of the Divine Mercy, and attend Mass and receive Holy Communion on the day.Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My mercy (Diary 699)
The devotion is practiced by praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet daily and the Novena (which begins on Good Friday), as well as by performing corporal and spiritual acts of mercy. The prayers can be said at anytime, but if possible they should be prayed at 3pm, the “Hour of Great Mercy” when Our Lord died.
In celebration, I’m posting the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The accompanying photo of St. Faustina and the image of the Divine Mercy was taken in the Our Lady of Lourdes chapel at the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood (113 Baxter St.) in Little Italy, New York. The red and blue rays streaming from the Sacred Heart of Jesus represent the blood and water Our Lord spilled when pierced by the spear of St. Longinus.
Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Make the sign of the Cross and say: In the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a font of mercy for us, I trust in You! (3x)
Our Father, Hail Mary, the Apostles’ Creed
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.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and the whole world. (10x)
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.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and the whole world. (10x)
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Amen.
