Introduction to Divine Mercy Devotion

Introduction to the Devotion to the Mercy of God

Introduction

The Devotion to the Mercy of God is the fastest growing devotion in the world today.

The reason for this fact is that the experience of the sweetness of God's goodness that devotees experience when they practice this devotion, has the power to give hope and meaning.

No one has ever been converted but through the tender loving heart of God, and that is indeed the focus of this devotion.

Saint Faustina was born in Poland in 1905. She died at the

age of 33 in 1938. At the age of 19 she entered the convent

of Mary Mother of Mercy and became a religious sister.

She was canonised in the year 2000 by Saint John Paul II

as the First Saint of the New Millennium.

Jesus told St Faustina that this devotion was given in order

to prepare the world for His Final coming.

In His urgent Message Jesus calls all of us to turn away

from sin and to enjoy the fullness of His Mercy:

“Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust

to My Mercy.”

Jesus explained that no one should ever despair of

receiving God's Mercy. "The greater the sinner, the greater

the right to My Mercy", said Jesus to Saint Faustina.

To experience God's mercy does require sincerity

on our part. We have to feel the need within us to welcome

God's gift into our hearts. Jesus indicates that the key to

welcoming Him into our hearts is to have an attitude of confidence in His goodness and His plans

for us.

People hesitate because they feel unworthy of God, or they are not convinced of His plans of love for us. If this is how you feel then do make the effort to put asside those feelings and ask Jesus to reveal His love and mercy to You. He will not disappoint you.

And what are God's plans for you. He desired for you, for each one of us to be with Him forever in heaven, and to experience joy and peace far beyond any earthly joy, and for all eternity. Jesus said to St Faustina, "even the greatest sinner could become a great Saint, if only they would trust in my mercy."

Jesus does also add a note of urgency to his invitation:

"This is the time of My Mercy, but after this will come the time of My Justice." Tell the sinner he must either come to My Merciful Heart, or else fall into My Just hands." He warns us, out of His love and Mercy, that hell exists and that many souls go there, because that is what they decide they want: through obstinately rejecting God's invitation to love throughout their lives and at the time of death, they chose their eternal destiny. Jesus does not want this. He says that the loss of souls plunges Him into a second passion.

That, my friends is a key feature of this devotion- He has given it out of His desire to save souls, and for no other reason. It is Jesus free gift, and He has given five new prayer forms to help keep us close to His merciful Heart and to enable us to be instruments in bringing souls to His saving presence.

However, before presenting these 5 new gifts or prayer forms, let us consider a more fundamental aspect of this devotion. Jesus has come to remind us of two essential aspects of the Christian life:

Trust in God, and Mercy towards others.

Trust

Jesus told St Faustina that trust is the key to obtaining everything from God and it is the hallmark feature of the true devotee of the Divine Mercy.

Jesus said: “The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is—trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to Me, because I pour all the treasures of My graces into them.” (Diary 1578)

Let us consider this famous quote from Jesus: “The greatest sinners would achieve great sanctity, if only they would trust in My mercy.” (1784) It stands to reason then, that if we have not yet attained sanctity in our lives then it is because we have not yet come to a deep and complete trust in Jesus.

Jesus also indicates His pleasure when we talk to Him in simple language and when we ask Him in prayer. In the Gospels Jesus says, “Ask and you will receive...” To St Faustina Jesus says:

“I rejoice that they ask for much, because it is My desire to give much, very much.” (Diary 1578)

Mercy

Jesus said to Saint Faustina: “I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy towards your neighbour: the first by deed, the second by word, and the third by prayer.” (Diary 742)

Write this for the many souls who are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of Mercy. Yet spiritual mercy.... is much more meritorious.

.....If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment.” (Diary 1317)

Jesus told St Faustina: “I demand deeds of Mercy which are to arise out of love for Me.”

Five New Wonderful Gifts From Jesus Himself

1. The Image of Divine Mercy

The image resulted from a visitation from Jesus Christ to St Faustina on 22nd February, 1931, in which He appeared as depicted on the front cover.

Jesus said, “Paint an image according to the pattern you see with the signature: “Jesus I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated first in your chapel and then throughout the world.”

“I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over its enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory.” (Diary 48)

Jesus explained the meaning of the rays: “The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls.....Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter.” (Diary 299)

“[The image] is to be a reminder of the demands of My Mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works.” (Diary 742)

“I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces....That vessel is this image with the signature: “Jesus I Trust in You.” (Diary 327)

2. Divine Mercy Sunday

This Feast of Mercy was made a universal Feast for the whole Church by Pope John Paul II on 30th April 2000, the day of the Canonisation of Saint Faustina.

I desire that the first Sunday after Easter be the Feast of Mercy. (Diary 299) I desire that the Feast of 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 on those souls who approach the font of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain a complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened.” (Diary 699) Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation; that is the Feast of My Mercy.”

Jesus asks that the Image be blessed on that day and publicly venerated. Jesus also asks that the priest proclaim God’s Mercy in the homily on that day. We are to make a good confession, receive Holy Communion, and ask Jesus for this special grace of complete cleansing of sin and punishment. Jesus also gave a nine day novena in preparation that commences Good Friday.

3. The Chaplet of Mercy

The Chaplet of Mercy is recited on the Rosary Beads. The prayers of the chaplet can be found at the bottom of this page.

Jesus said to Sister Faustina:

“Say unceasingly the chaplet that I have taught you. Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death.....

Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation.....

The souls that will say this chaplet will be embraced by My mercy during their lifetime and especially at the hour of their death.” (Diary 754)

“At the hour of their death, I defend as My own glory every soul that will say this chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person, the indulgence is the same.” (Diary 811)

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 Saviour.” (Diary 1541)

“Through the chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My Will.”( 1731)

4. The Hour of Great Mercy

Jesus said,

“At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners, and if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world...

…In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion….(Diary 1320)

“You can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world – mercy triumphed over justice. (Diary 1572)

Jesus said to Saint Faustina, “Try your best to make the Stations of the Cross in this hour, provided that your duties permit it; and if you are not able…then at least step into the chapel for a moment and adore, in the Blessed Sacrament, My Heart, which is full of mercy; should you be unable to step into the chapel, immerse yourself in prayer there where you happen to be, if only for a very brief instant. (Diary 1572)

5. Spreading This Devotion

“Do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack.” (Diary 1074)

If you do your utmost to spread this devotion then this is the promise of Jesus:

“Souls who spread the honour of My mercy I shield through their entire lives as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Saviour.” (1075)

All those souls who will glorify My mercy and spread its worship, encouraging others to trust in My mercy, will not experience terror at the hour of death. My mercy will shield them in that final battle...

Jesus told St Faustina that He rewards us according to our efforts. In trying to spread the devotion the first and foremost thing to do is to try to live it by totally trusting in God and by being merciful to others and encouraging others to do the same. Then God will really bless our efforts to spread these gifts.

How to Recite The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

(Use ordinary Rosary Beads)

Recite one Our Father:

Our Father Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom Come, They 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 (Recite Once)

Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with You. Blessed are you among 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 Creed (Recite Once)

I believe in God, the Father Almighty

Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord; who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, 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 is seated 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 life everlasting. Amen.

On the 5 Large beads:

“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 50 small beads pray

“For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion,

Have Mercy on us and on the whole world.”

After the five decades we recite three (3) times “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, Have Mercy on us and on the whole world”

These Chaplet prayers and the method above are exactly as given by Jesus to Saint Faustina (Diary 476)

Concluding Prayer (Optional)

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. Amen (Diary 950)