DIVINE MERCY DEVOTION MISSION STATEMENT
The Divine Mercy devotion is a modern devotion to the attributes of God’s infinite Mercy that was promulgated by St. Faustina Kowalska in Poland and later to the Universal Church by Pope St. John Paul II (“The Mercy Pope”).
The Divine Mercy Devotion is multifaceted and has many different components: it involves a divinely inspired painting of Jesus’ Image, with attached promises for its veneration; A Diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul; the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Divine Mercy Novena; the Hour of Great Mercy at 3 o’clock; and Divine Mercy Sunday, the solemn feast day is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter Sunday with attached promises and indulgences: “Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary,300).
The devotion is multifaceted and does indeed have many different components:
- The Image: The earliest element of the devotion to the Divine Mercy was revealed to Faustina by Jesus himself. It is a painted image of Jesus with attached promises for its veneration and the signature, Jesus, I trust in you.
- Faustina’s Diary: Jesus appeared to St. Faustina and asked her to be His instrument for spreading the message of His Mercy to all the world. She faithfully recorded His great message in a diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska.
- The Divine Mercy Chaplet: Jesus also taught St. Faustina prayers to implore His Divine Mercy. These prayers can be said daily on regular rosary beads. In His revelations to St. Faustina, Our Lord told her to especially implore His Mercy at the three o’clock hour, the Hour of Great Mercy.
- Hour of Great Mercy: Jesus expired on the cross in this hour on Good Friday, this is the Hour of Great Mercy. He told St. Faustina to especially implore the attribute of His Divine Mercy at this time. “I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion.” (Diary, 341)
- Divine Mercy Sunday: Jesus requested that a special feast be devoted to His Divine Mercy, “It is my desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. It is a day in which He would pour special graces out on the whole world. From the Diary: “My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable Mercy. 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 upon those souls who approach the fount of My Mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.” (Diary, 699)
The Hour of Great Mercy Prayer Group meets in the Chapel, Fridays at 3 o’clock for the recitation of the Chaplet followed by Reflection and Discussion. Please come and learn more about God’s merciful love and how this devotion can enrich your life and the lives of those you love.
For more information please contact Norma McIntyre at 912-571-9312 or at tkintyre@comcast.net.