from St. Faustina's Diary
On October 5, 1938, a young religious by the name Sister Faustina (Helen Kowalska) died in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Cracow, Poland. She came from a very poor family that had struggled hard on their little farm during the terrible years of WWI. Sister Faustina had had only three years of very simple education. Hers were the humblest of tasks in the convent, usually in the kitchen or the vegetable garden, or as a porter.
On February 22, 1931, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ appeared to this simple nun, bringing with Him a wonderful message of Mercy for all mankind.
In the evening, when I was in my cell, I became aware of the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand was raised in blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From the opening of the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one red and the other pale. In silence I gazed intently at the Lord; my soul was overwhelmed with fear, but also with great joy. After a while Jesus said to me, 'paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You.” (Diary 47)* Some time later, Our Lord again spoke to her:
"The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous; the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls...These two rays issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at that time when My agonizing Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross....” (Diary 299)
An Introduction to the Divine Mercy Message
In this video, Fr Michael Gaitly gives an introduction to the modern message of Divine Mercy and its connection to the message of the Gospel.
How Can I Live The Message of Mercy?
Living the message of Divine Mercy means loving and serving those nearest to you, especially those who are weakest and most forgotten. We invite you to prayerfully consider how you can offer your love to the forgotten and unloved in your life.
Click the image and view this brochure to see one of the ways that we have discovered the gift of living the Divine Mercy Message in our lives.
Remember...
If you did it unto the least of these, my brethren, you did it to Me.
The Corporal Works of Mercy
Feed the hungry
Give Drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Comfort the imprisoned
Visit the Sick
Bury the dead
The Spiritual Works of Mercy
Admonish sinners
Instruct the uninformed
Counsel the doubtful
Comfort the sorrowful
Be patient with those in error
Forgive offenses
Pray for the living and the dead
Divine Mercy at The Holy Family Ministry Center
The Holy Family Ministry Center has a large Image of Divine Mercy and Loreto on the Plains Personal Care Home is located near this beautiful Image. The Mass, Rosary, Scripture, and Prayer with the patients/residents is the rock of the spirituality of The Center and Loreto.
In 1995, the Shrine of Divine Mercy was dedicated and blessed by Fr. Francis Bagan, OMI. Fr. Bagan is often called the Divine Mercy Priest by those who know and love him. He is one of a team of priests that translated the Diary from a very poor English translation to the one we have today.
At the core of our Franciscan walk is the devotion to Jesus, The Divine Mercy and the belief that Jesus stands in the gap for us and as we turn to Him for Mercy he washes us in His Ocean of Mercy.
There is a private Chapel in Loreto available at all times. The Mercy Bell in the Tower is rung every day at the three o'clock hour. (The hour at which Jesus died for us on the Cross). The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is prayed at that time. (The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is prayed on the regular Rosary with the prayers given to St. Faustina by Jesus to be prayed every day at 3 o'clock, "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, Have Mercy on us and on the Whole World").
Praying the Chaplet at the bedside of a dying person is another element of the Spiritual Care offered to the loved one and their family. To find the promises of Jesus to St. Faustina when praying the Chaplet for the sick and dying, read #'s 810, 811, 1035, 1565, 1798 out of St. Faustina's Diary entitled "Divine Mercy in My Soul".
The Diary and other materials and prayers of the Divine Mercy can be found by contacting the Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy at the information listed below. In order to understand more about the message of Divine Mercy and living it, Bryan S. Thatcher founder, of the Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy has written the booklet "Living the Message of Divine Mercy". which may be purchased from the EADM as DW12. Email them at [email protected] or call 1-877-380-0727. To see the website www.thedivinemercy.org then click on Eucharistic Apostles to receive more information.
Spiritual Council is available from the Chaplain, Spiritual Directors, local Pastors and prayer teams upon request.