What is Divine Mercy? Mercy is God’s love poured out in creating us, in redeeming us, and in sanctifying us. It is fully realized in the pierced Heart of His Son, who died on the Cross for our sins.
The Divine Mercy is depicted in the Image of the Merciful Savior as He appeared to St Faustina in His Risen Glory. (A different, more modern image in hanging in our chapel). It is our mission to make this mercy present to all. The final goal is the union of our hearts with the Heart of Jesus in total, humble, and obedient surrender to the will of the Father.
St Faustina was a nun whom Jesus told to write a diary of the things He said or told her. She was born Aug 25, 1905, and died Oct 5, 1938 in Poland. She was Canonized April 30, 2000 by Pope John Paul II. Her Feast is Oct 5.
There is a Divine Mercy Chaplet which is said on Rosary beads. It is meant to grant mercy to the sick and the dying. These are promises from Jesus when saying the Chaplet, as is noted in St Faustina’s Diary:
“"It pleases me to grant everything souls ask of me by saying the chaplet. When hardened sinners say it, I will fill their souls with peace, and the hour of their death will be a happy one. Write this for the benefit of distressed souls; when a soul sees and realizes the gravity of its sins, when the whole abyss of the misery into which it immersed itself is displayed before its eyes, let it not despair, but with trust, let it throw itself into the arms of My mercy, as a child into the arms of its beloved mother. Tell them no soul that has called upon My mercy has been disappointed or brought to shame. I delight particularly in a soul that has placed its trust in My goodness. Write that 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." (Diary, 1541) “Whoever will recite it, they will receive great mercy at the hour of death. At the hour of their death, I defend every soul that will say this Chaplet as I do my own glory. When this Chaplet is said by the bedside of a dying person, God's anger is placated and His unfathomable mercy envelops the soul." (Diary, 811). (You can also say it for someone at a distance.)
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." (Diary, 687) Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation.
Christ the King recites the Divine Mercy Chaplet every Friday at 3:00 pm in the chapel.
The Sunday after Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday We begin the Divine Mercy Novena on Good Friday until Easter Sunday. If you want to learn more, go to www.divinemercy.org There are booklets at the entrance to the church and chapel which will explain how to say the Chaplet.
There is also a prayer group. We receive information from people who have a loved one who is dying, or about to undergo surgery. Look in Bulletin for the phone number of the head of Divine Mercy. You can get on the call list, or provide a name for someone who needs our prayers.