God's Gift of Divine Mercy
Truly our God is an awesome God! He sent his only Son, Our Lord, to live among us, teach us, begin the Church on earth, to give of the most perfect gift of his Sacred Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist and then to die for us and rise again. The gift of Jesus' offering his life in atonement for our sins is impossible to comprehend at times. While he was dying on the cross for each one of us individually, he saw us right now, back then when he was there, dying. Actions we do now can console him there on the cross back then. When we spend time in Eucharistic Adoration we offer solace for him there on the cross. When we offer a kindness to a stranger, food to the needy, shelter to the homeless we console the heart of Jesus and respond to his words from the cross: "I thirst". We can quench his thirst then with our actions now and with our loving words to others and our prayers now.
A wonderful prayer that Jesus gave us was told by him to Sister Faustina. Jesus taught her many things during his visits with her and he gave to her the Divine Mercy Novena and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. He also explained how he wanted the Divine Mercy image of him drawn and the words: 'Jesus I Trust in You' inscribed across the bottom of the image.
Jesus wanted the whole world to know his infinite mercy. He asks us all to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, below, as often as possible. This chaplet is prayed on a rosary.
1. Make the Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. Optional Opening Prayers
You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
(Repeat three times)
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!
3. Our Father
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.
4. Hail Mary
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.
5. 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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will 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.
6. The Eternal Father (on the Our Father 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.
7. On the Ten Small Beads of Each Decade
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
8. Repeat for the remaining decades
Saying the "Eternal Father" (6) on the "Our Father" bead and then 10 "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion" (7) on the following "Hail Mary" beads.
9. Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times)
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
10. Optional Closing Prayer
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.
May the tender mercy of God and the mercy of his Precious Son be with you always.
Laurie