POPE FRANCIS DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY MASS AND REGINA COELI - VIDEO - TEXT
WHAT IS DIVINE MERCY - FREE RESOURCES - PLENARY INDULGENCE
2013
POPE FRANCIS DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY MASS AND REGINA COELI - VIDEO - TEXT
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday urged the faithful to be courageous in proclaiming their faith. Speaking to crowds of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Regina Coeli prayer, the Pope highlighted the fact that the eighth Sunday of Easter is also Divine Mercy Sunday, and he renewed his Easter greetings with the words of the Risen Christ: Peace be with you.
These words – he said – are not a simple greeting: they are a gift – the precious gift that Christ offered to his disciples after he rose from the dead.
“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you…” And the Pope said "this peace is the fruit of the victory of God’s love over evil, it’s the fruit of forgiveness". And he said this is the true peace that comes from having experienced God’s mercy.
And speaking of the peace Jesus gave to the Apostles so that they could spread it in the world the Pope said we too must have the courage to be witnesses of the faith in the Risen Christ. We must not be afraid – he said – to be Christians and to live as Christians.Pope Francis urged those listening to have the courage to go forth and to announce the Risen Christ because He is our peace, He made peace possible with his love and his forgiveness, with his blood and with his mercy.
And Pope Francis concluded his address announcing he would be celebrating Mass in the afternoon in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, and he invited those present to pray for the bishop and for the people of Rome in their journey of faith and charity.
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WHAT IS DIVINE MERCY - FREE RESOURCES - PLENARY INDULGENCE
Divine Mercy is a Feast celebrated the Sunday afer Easter. It comes from the visions of a Polish Nun, Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, that began on February 21, 1931. In 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faustina and, during the ceremony, he declared:
It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church will be called “Divine Mercy Sunday”.She saw a vision of Jesus standing and was told to have the image made with the prayer : JESUS I TRUST IN YOU. The visions that speak of Jesus' great mercy for sinners if they come to him lasted from 1931-1938.
PLENARY INDULGENCE
Pope John Paul II established that this Sunday have a plenary indulgence,
In this way, they can foster a growing love for God and for their neighbour, and after they have obtained God’s pardon, they in turn might be persuaded to show a prompt pardon to their brothers and sisters. . . .
a plenary indulgence, granted under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of Supreme Pontiff) to the faithful who, on the Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday, in any church or chapel, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honour of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!”).
Sister Faustina was declared a Saint by Pope John Paul II on in 2000. Divine Mercy Sunday was instituted at the same time.
It is a universal Feast for the entire Church. The promise of Jesus to St. Faustina was: "I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion... on the Feast of My mercy. Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment."
Our Lord also asked…"I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere.
Here are the DIRECTIONS for fulfillment of Divine Mercy promise for the Sunday:
The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion
1. Celebrate the Feast of the Divine Mercy Sunday
2. Sincerely repent of all our sins
3. Place our complete trust in Jesus
4. Go to Confession, preferably before that Sunday
5. Receive Holy Communion on the day of the Feast
6. Venerate the Image of The Divine Mercy
7. Be merciful to others, through our actions, words, and prayers on their behalf.
8. Say the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy
1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.
2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:
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.
3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).
4. Conclude with (three times):
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Then say: (optional)
O Blood and Water that gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us, I trust in You.
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.
Sister Faustina who gave us the Chaplet from God acknowledges the following:
"I saw an Angel, the executor of God's wrath... about to strike
the earth...I began to beg God earnestly for the world with words
which I heard interiorly. As I prayed in this way, I saw the
Angel's helplessness, and he could not carry out the just
punishment...."
"Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who
says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death. Priests
will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most
hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will
receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to
know My Infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to
those who trust in My Mercy...."
"....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".
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.thedivinemercy.org/
http://www.divinemercycentre.com/
http://www.divinemercyapostolate.co.uk/9 things you need to know about Divine Mercy Sunday
ASIA : MONGOLIA : DOZENS OF BAPTISMS - VIBRANT CHURCH
ASIA NEWS REPORT
A capital without traffic and blanketed in snow, for a religious festival still not recognized by the government. The faithful packed the churches and welcomed the new members into the community. The rites, including the lighting of the fire, have attracted the curiosity of passers-by. The Mongolian Church is "warm, alive and dynamic."
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Ulaanbaatar (AsiaNews / EDA) - With the baptism of dozens of catechumens, who have made their entry into the Church on the eve of Sunday celebrations, the small Catholic community of Mongolia celebrated Easter. This year's anniversary coincided with "ecological Sunday" that bans cars and motorcycles to combat pollution. Events were organized to promote the use of bicycles, which resulted in many cyclists invading the streets of the capital Ulaanbaatar - carpeted by "an exceptional" snowfall, as confirmed by priests present for years in the territory. For the faithful, it was a "confirmation" of the "continuous growth" of the Catholic faith in a nation where state atheism dominated for decades, and which has witnessed a "religious revival" in the last 20 years.
Easter is not considered a national holiday in Mongolia and there are no days off. The celebrations were held in a "discreet way", say the Catholic Eglise d'Asie (EDA), but with great participation and places of worship were packed. Each parish lit the traditional fire in the Church atrium, attracting the gaze of curious passers-by with the rites and traditions of the small Christian community.
As in 2012, when about fifty faithful became Catholics, this year dozens of baptisms were celebrated a testimony to the quality of the work done by priests and the apostolic prefect of the capital, Msgr. Wenceslao Padilla. "The emergence of new parishes - a faithful notes - is the result of the prudent and cautious policy" carried out by the prelate, as government permits for the opening of a place of worship "are increasingly difficult to obtain." It has given rise to a native Christian reality "warm, alive and dynamic" capable also, as was the case for Palm Sunday, of staging a real animated representation of the Passion of Christ.
According to the latest estimates, tChristians - of all faiths - in Mongolia represent slightly more than 2% of the population; an overwhelming majority are Buddhists, or follow shamanistic beliefs of the local tradition. There is also high proportion of atheists, almost 40% of the total. Catholics are a few hundred (835 in 2012, although the number of baptized persons has now passed 900), but over time centers for orphans, the destitute and elderly, medical clinics have sprouted and grown - in a country where the health infrastructure is scarce - as well as several schools and technical institutes. In 1992, with the arrival of the first foreign missionaries (especially Filipinos), including the future Msgr. Wenceslao Padilla of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, there were no parishes. And only a few months ago there were still only four compared to the now six in the capital today, confirming the path of development. In the pastoral letter publishedfor the 20 years of the Church in Mongolia, the Apostolic Prefect recalled that today there are 81 missionaries in the country of 22 different nationalities, while the first two indigenous seminarians are preparing for the priesthood in Daejeon, South Korea (SC)
SHARED FROM ASIA NEWS IT
A capital without traffic and blanketed in snow, for a religious festival still not recognized by the government. The faithful packed the churches and welcomed the new members into the community. The rites, including the lighting of the fire, have attracted the curiosity of passers-by. The Mongolian Church is "warm, alive and dynamic."
.jpg)
Ulaanbaatar (AsiaNews / EDA) - With the baptism of dozens of catechumens, who have made their entry into the Church on the eve of Sunday celebrations, the small Catholic community of Mongolia celebrated Easter. This year's anniversary coincided with "ecological Sunday" that bans cars and motorcycles to combat pollution. Events were organized to promote the use of bicycles, which resulted in many cyclists invading the streets of the capital Ulaanbaatar - carpeted by "an exceptional" snowfall, as confirmed by priests present for years in the territory. For the faithful, it was a "confirmation" of the "continuous growth" of the Catholic faith in a nation where state atheism dominated for decades, and which has witnessed a "religious revival" in the last 20 years.
Easter is not considered a national holiday in Mongolia and there are no days off. The celebrations were held in a "discreet way", say the Catholic Eglise d'Asie (EDA), but with great participation and places of worship were packed. Each parish lit the traditional fire in the Church atrium, attracting the gaze of curious passers-by with the rites and traditions of the small Christian community.
As in 2012, when about fifty faithful became Catholics, this year dozens of baptisms were celebrated a testimony to the quality of the work done by priests and the apostolic prefect of the capital, Msgr. Wenceslao Padilla. "The emergence of new parishes - a faithful notes - is the result of the prudent and cautious policy" carried out by the prelate, as government permits for the opening of a place of worship "are increasingly difficult to obtain." It has given rise to a native Christian reality "warm, alive and dynamic" capable also, as was the case for Palm Sunday, of staging a real animated representation of the Passion of Christ.
According to the latest estimates, tChristians - of all faiths - in Mongolia represent slightly more than 2% of the population; an overwhelming majority are Buddhists, or follow shamanistic beliefs of the local tradition. There is also high proportion of atheists, almost 40% of the total. Catholics are a few hundred (835 in 2012, although the number of baptized persons has now passed 900), but over time centers for orphans, the destitute and elderly, medical clinics have sprouted and grown - in a country where the health infrastructure is scarce - as well as several schools and technical institutes. In 1992, with the arrival of the first foreign missionaries (especially Filipinos), including the future Msgr. Wenceslao Padilla of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, there were no parishes. And only a few months ago there were still only four compared to the now six in the capital today, confirming the path of development. In the pastoral letter publishedfor the 20 years of the Church in Mongolia, the Apostolic Prefect recalled that today there are 81 missionaries in the country of 22 different nationalities, while the first two indigenous seminarians are preparing for the priesthood in Daejeon, South Korea (SC)
SHARED FROM ASIA NEWS IT
RICK WARREN 'S SON MATTHEW DIES TRAGICALLY
RICK WARREN, author of the best-selling book "Purpose Driven Life" has suffered tragedy in his family. His youngest son, Matthew Warren, age 27, committed suicide on April 5, 2013.This was due to a life-long battle with mental illness. Rick and his wife Kay, married for 34 years, had 3 children Amy, Josh, and Matthew (deceased). They belong to the Southern Baptist Evangelical denomination. He also founded the "Saddleback" Church in Lake Forest, California where his is a Minister.
2013
DIVINE MERCY NOVENA PRAYER - SHARE
SHARE – LIKE – PRAY – DIVINE MERCY NOVENA
JESUS said: I will deny nothing to any soul whom you will bring to the fount of My mercy. On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My bitter Passion, for graces for these souls".
-Day 1. Today, bring to Me all mankind,especially all sinners, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plungesMe.
Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from it. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Oh omnipotence of Divine Mercy,
Salvation of sinful people,
You are a sea of mercy and compassion;
You aid those who entreat You with humility.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.
Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from it. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Oh omnipotence of Divine Mercy,
Salvation of sinful people,
You are a sea of mercy and compassion;
You aid those who entreat You with humility.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.
Day 2. Today bring to me the souls of priests and religious, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave Me the strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them, as through channels, My mercy flows out upon mankind.
Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in us, that we may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.
The fountain of God’s love
Dwells in pure hearts,
Bathed in theSea of Mercy Radiant
bright as the dawn.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company [of chosen ones] in Your vineyard — upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.
Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in us, that we may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.
The fountain of God’s love
Dwells in pure hearts,
Bathed in the
bright as the dawn.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company [of chosen ones] in Your vineyard — upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.
Day 3.Today bring to Me all devout and faithful souls, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness.
Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from it. We beg this of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.
The miracles of mercy are impenetrable.
Neither the sinner nor just one will fathom them.
When You cast upon us an eye of pity,
You draw us all closer to Your love.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Day 4. Today bring to Me the unbelievers and those who do not yet know me. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.
Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of pagans who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.
May the light of Your love
Enlighten the souls in darkness;
Grant that these souls will know You
And, together with us, praise Your mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of pagans and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from it. We beg this of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.
The miracles of mercy are impenetrable.
Neither the sinner nor just one will fathom them.
When You cast upon us an eye of pity,
You draw us all closer to Your love.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Day 4. Today bring to Me the unbelievers and those who do not yet know me. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.
Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of pagans who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.
May the light of Your love
Enlighten the souls in darkness;
Grant that these souls will know You
And, together with us, praise Your mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of pagans and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Day 5. Today bring to Me the souls of heretics and schismatics, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart; that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal, and in this way they alleviate My Passion.
Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of heretics and schismatics. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.
Even for those who have torn the garment of your unity,
A fount of mercy flows from Your Heart.
The omnipotence of Your mercy, Oh God.
Can lead these souls also out of error.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of heretics and schismatics, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of heretics and schismatics. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.
Even for those who have torn the garment of your unity,
A fount of mercy flows from Your Heart.
The omnipotence of Your mercy, Oh God.
Can lead these souls also out of error.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of heretics and schismatics, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Day 6. Today bring to me the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who would keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble soul is able to receive My grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.
Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, “Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart.” Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father’s favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.
A truly gentle and humble soul
Already here on earth the air of paradise breathes,
And in the fragrance of her humble heart
The Creator Himself delights.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon the souls of little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, “Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart.” Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father’s favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.
A truly gentle and humble soul
Already here on earth the air of paradise breathes,
And in the fragrance of her humble heart
The Creator Himself delights.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon the souls of little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Day 7. Today bring to me the souls who especially venerate and glorify My mercy, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over My Passion and entered most deeply into My Spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.
Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy. These souls are united to Jesus and carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.
A soul who praises the goodness of her Lord
Is especially loved by Him.
She is always close to the living fountain
And draws graces from Mercy Divine.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their spirit, overflowing with joy, sings a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them, I Myself will defend as My own glory, during their lifetime, and especially at the hour of their death, those souls who will venerate My fathomless mercy.
Amen.
Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy. These souls are united to Jesus and carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.
A soul who praises the goodness of her Lord
Is especially loved by Him.
She is always close to the living fountain
And draws graces from Mercy Divine.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their spirit, overflowing with joy, sings a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them, I Myself will defend as My own glory, during their lifetime, and especially at the hour of their death, those souls who will venerate My fathomless mercy.
Amen.
Day 8. Today bring to Me the souls who are in the prison of Purgatory, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice.
Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of the purifying fire, that in that place, too, the power of Your mercy may be praised.
From that terrible heat of the cleansing fire
Rises a plaint to Your mercy,
And they receive comfort, refreshment, relief
In the stream of mingled Blood and Water.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen
Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of the purifying fire, that in that place, too, the power of Your mercy may be praised.
From that terrible heat of the cleansing fire
Rises a plaint to Your mercy,
And they receive comfort, refreshment, relief
In the stream of mingled Blood and Water.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen
Day 9. Today bring to Me souls who have become lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives
Most Compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love let these tepid souls, who like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.
Fire and ice cannot be joined,
Either the fire dies, or the ice melts.
But by Your mercy, O God,
You can make up for all that is lacking.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls, who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.
Most Compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love let these tepid souls, who like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.
Fire and ice cannot be joined,
Either the fire dies, or the ice melts.
But by Your mercy, O God,
You can make up for all that is lacking.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls, who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.
AMERICA : CANADA : BISHOP JENSEN INSTALLED IN PRINCE GEORGE , BC
CCCB RELEASE: On January 3, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Msgr. Stephen Jensen, Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Vancouver, as Bishop of the Diocese of Prince George. On Tuesday, April 2, the Roman Catholic Diocese, together with parishioners and lay faithful in Prince George, came together to celebrate Msgr. Jensen's ordination to the episcopate with a special Mass of Installation. This happened at 7:00 pm Pacific time inside Sacred Heart Cathedral in Prince George, B.C.
The episcopal ordination of the Most Reverend Stephen Jensen as Bishop of Prince George took place on April 2, 2013, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral,Prince George , BC
AUSTRALIA : SEWING FOR THE LORD - ELLEN BOISETTE'S STORY
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
3 Apr 2013
3 Apr 2013
As a schoolgirl
Ellen Boisette preparing vestments
hated the feel of the coarse head-cloth fabric beneath her fingers as she stitched samplers in her weekly sewing class. But her complaints fell on deaf ears.
"Sister Clover would have none of it. Telling me it was up to me to do better. She warned if I didn't learn to sew well on rough fabrics I'd never be able to sew fine fabrics," she recalls laughing and insists when she left school she was considered no more than a "very mediocre sewer."
Perhaps Sr Clover inspired Ellen because almost seven decades later Ellen is one of the finest seamstresses in the Sydney Archdiocese.
For the past 30 years has meticulously repaired many of St Mary's Cathedral's liturgical vestments some of which date to the earliest years of the Australian Catholic Church.
Working with the some of the finest and often fragile liturgical silks, satins and brocades, she also oversees the tailoring and detail of contemporary liturgical vestments for many of Australia's bishops, priests and deacons.
"When I'm working on a cloth of gold and using the finest gold thread I think of Sr Clover and hope she is up there watching me," she says.
Full of humour and easy laughter, over the years Ellen has accumulated a vast knowledge of liturgical vestments as well as the history of the Cathedral and the Catholic Church in Australia.
Responsible with Sacristan, Chris Backhouse for two recent popular exhibitions of liturgical vestments held in the Crypt in 2010 and 2011, Ellen is also the person who designed and made the angel costumes the children wear each year at the First Sunday in Advent Mass and the blessing of the outdoor Nativity that follows.
Ellen has worked with St Mary's Cathedral as a volunteer for the past 30 years
"It was Ellen's idea for the children to carry baskets filled with rose petals to sprinkle as they lead the procession from the Cathedral and into the Square at the end of Mass," says Helen Hofman, House and Events Manager for St Mary's Cathedral.
Helen is filled with admiration and praise for Ellen and her remarkable and ongoing contribution to the Cathedral.
"She is a tireless and faithful worker and a great 'ideas' person as well as a beautiful seamstress," she says, adding that Ellen was not only a vital member of the St Mary's Flower Festival Committee but is a faithful committee member of the Friends of St Mary's Cathedral.
A mother and devoted grandmother of three, Ellen was still in her 40s when she was first approached to help repair Cardinal Norman Gilroy's galero - the traditional pre-Vatican II wide-brimmed Cardinal's hat - as well as the Cardinal's cappa magna, both of which had been planned to be used as an historic exhibit at the Cathedral's triennial Flower Festival of 1983.
"A priest I knew was a former couturier and tailor. He was the one who triggered my interest in liturgical vestments and although I have no idea why he thought I might have some ability, he vowed to teach me everything he knew as long as I promised to do exactly what he said. He was a perfectionist, and I'll never forget the time he sent out a set of vestments for repair and restoration. The repairers didn't keep the sacred braid trim but instead threw that away and replaced it with cheap gold lame. He was furious and told me what they had done was rubbish and made me promise I would never make such a mistake."
The priest also lent Ellen books on liturgical vestments and after she began repairing altar cloths for the Cathedral as well as frontals, which used to be used on the Cathedral's former wooden altar, word of her ability quickly spread.
Among the early vestments she was asked to repair was the rich brocade chasuble embroidered with silk thread dipped in gold bullion, Napoleon's uncle, Cardinal Joseph Fesch had donated to the Australian people in the early 1800s.
"I was amazed the chasuble hadn't been destroyed in the Cathedral fire of 1865. But somehow the vestment had survived," she says.
By 1983, Ellen's dexterity with a needle together with her knowledge of different vestments and their history was well known throughout the Archdiocese and she was the obvious person to not only repair Cardinal Gilroy's tasselled galero and his cappa magna for the Cathedral's Flower Festival, but to mount an historic exhibition about the Cardinal in the Cathedral's Sacred Heart Chapel.
Ellen is widely known for her detailed needlework
"The galero was the hat that in pre Vatican II times was traditionally given to cardinals on their elevation and which on their death would be hung above their tomb and left to disintegrate and become dust, symbolising the cardinal's passage from the earthly life," she explains.
The cappa magna was also a pre Vatican II tradition and was the long flowing cape worn by cardinals so that when on horseback the "unsightly rump" of the animal was covered.
Ellen's knowledge and detail about pre-Vatican II times as well as the post Vatican II significance of various liturgical vestments is remarkable, as is her knowledge of history of each of the Cathedral's Archbishop Cardinals. This includes the tale of Cardinal Gilroy's youthful period as a telegraphist before the outbreak of World War I when he was fined one shilling - "a considerable amount at the time" - for not folding the telegrams properly and not putting them straight in the envelopes.
"The year I did the exhibition about Cardinal Gilroy was the 100th anniversary of telegraphy in Australia so I tracked down the original fine and we had that on display. We also had the GPO's telegraphy men wire up the Cathedral so that throughout the Festival people could buy a telegram at the front door and then collect the telegram they'd sent from behind the main Altar," she says.
It seems hard to believe that more than 30 years ago when Ellen was first asked to join the Flower Festival Committee she was unsure if she would have the energy or even if she might live long enough to be "of any use."
"I had a heart attack in 1983 and was given about 10 years to live. But with the advances in medicine I'm still here," she says and is convinced that along with prayer and faith in the Lord, triple bypass surgery in 1995 saved her life.
Faith and prayer were also important to her last year when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent several months of gruelling chemotherapy. Her cancer is now in remission and her energy, ideas and commitment to the Cathedral continue unabated.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY MASS ONLINE - APRIL 7, 2013
Apr 07, 2013 - 2nd Sun Easter | |
| 12 | Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. |
| 13 | None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. |
| 14 | And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, |
| 15 | so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. |
| 16 | The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Psalms 118: 2 - 4, 13 - 15, 22 - 24 2Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."3Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."4Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."13I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.14The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.15Hark, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,22The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.23This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.24This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Revelation 1: 9 - 13, 17 - 19 9I John, your brother, who share with you in Jesus the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet11saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Per'gamum and to Thyati'ra and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to La-odice'a."12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden girdle round his breast;17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand upon me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last,18and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.19Now write what you see, what is and what is to take place hereafter. John 20: 19 - 31 19On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."20When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.21Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."24Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."26Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you."27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing."28Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"29Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;31but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. |
TODAY'S SAINT : APRIL 7 : ST. JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE
St. John Baptist de la Salle
EDUCATOR, FOUNDER, CONFESSOR
Feast: April 7
 Information:
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This saint is the patron of teachers, his great achievement having been to provide a system of education for the common people at a time when the poor were grossly neglected; not mercy by founding charity schools, a cling which had been attempted countless times before only to end in repeated failure, but by creating a body of trained teachers, and thus setting them on the only possible basis which guaranteed success.
It was not by inclination, but solely by chance chat he was led to take up this work. Indeed his family background and early training seemed hardly to have prepared him for it. Born in Rheims on April 30th, 1651, the eldest son of an aristocratic family, he inherited the rank and fortune of his parents, which set a gulf between him and the teeming masses of the poor. At sixteen, while he was pursuing a course of classical studies at the College des Bons Enfants, he became a canon of Rheims, and seemed to be marked out for a successful career in the church. He subsequently studied at Saint Sulpice and the Sorbonne for the priesthood, and was ordained at the age of twenty-seven. Up to this point nothing denoted what his mission was to be, and he himself had no inkling of it. But it was shortly after this that he was asked to co-operate in establishing some charity schools in his native town, and this led him to take charge of the teachers, to bring them into his own home and to train them. Little by little he became further involved in the work until he began to realize that everything pointed to his being the chosen instrument of Providence for the creation of a system of Christian education for the poor, whose ignorance and depravity were the disgrace of this 'splendid century', so remarkable for its achievements in every other sphere.
As he had made the will of God the guiding principle of his life, he decided to give himself up completely to this task, resigning his canonry and giving away his fortune in order to be on the same footing as the teachers with whom he lived. In so doing he aroused the anger of his relatives and incurred the derision of his class-minded compatriots, but this in no way made him alter his resolution. In 1684 he transformed his group of schoolmasters into a religious community, under the name of Brothers of the Christian Schools, and this was the origin of the order which continues to this day and is spread all over the world. So chat his order might confine itself solely to the work of teaching, he laid down that no brother might become a priest and that no priest might join the order. This rule is still observed. The first years were marked by poverty and hardship, but these were cheerfully endured, thanks to the example of self-abnegation and extraordinary power of leadership shown by de la Salle, who vowed chat he would live on bread alone, if necessary, rather than abandon the work he had begun.
The religious and professional training of his brothers became his chief care, but he saw that he would never be able to satisfy all the requests he received for teachers unless he undertook the formation of secular schoolmasters as well, so he organized a training college for some forty youths in Rheims in 1687; the first instance of such an institution in the history of education.
After opening schools in a number of neighboring towns, in addition to chose in Rheims itself, he went to Paris in 1683 to take over a school in the parish of St. Sulpice, and there he established his headquarters. In the capital his work spread rapidly, and before long the brothers were teaching over 1,100 pupils. In Paris, too, he founded another training college, with a charity school attached, and organized a Sunday academy, or continuation school for youths already employed. When the exiled monarch, James II, entrusted fifty Irish youths to his care, he arranged for special courses to be given them to suit their needs.
The scope of his work was now such that it aroused the bitter antagonism of the writing masters and the teachers of the Little Schools, who saw their fee-paying pupils drifting into his free schools, and they brought law-suits against him. His schools were pillaged, and he found himself condemned and forbidden to open training colleges or charity schools anywhere in the Paris area. As a result he was excluded for a time from the capital, but by now his brothers were established in other localities, notably in Rouen, Avignon and Chartres, so that the decrees against him failed to ruin his work. Indeed from this time on, his communities multiplied all over France: in Marseilles, Calais, Boulogne, Mende, Grenoble, Troyes and other places. In Rouen he founded two important institutions: a fee-paying boarding school for the sons of bourgeois, who desired an education superior to that of the primary school but more practical than that of the 'classical' colleges; and a reformatory school for youthful delinquents and young men detained under
In 1709 he established a third training college, at St. Den, but this lasted only a couple of years, after which it had to be closed as a result of an unfortunate law-suit.
De la Salle spent the last years of his life in Rouen, completing the organization of his institute, writing the Rule of the brothers in its definitive form, and composing
His brothers, already established in twenty-two towns of France and in Rome, now expanded their work rapidly. In 1725 they received a bull of approbation of their institute from the pope and letters patent from the king granting them legal recognition. The Revolution ruined their work in France, but they were by now established in Switzerland and Italy, so that they were able to survive this catastrophe and returned to France when more favorable conditions prevailed under Napoleon. Today they number over 15,000 and conduct educational institutions of every kind all over the world. In the United States alone there are some 2,000 brothers in five different Provinces.
De la Salle's pedagogical system is outlined in
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SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/J/stjohnbaptistdelasalle.asp#ixzz1rMwjUkuK
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