Pope John Paul II's Coffin Exhumed

-Getty Images

Pope John Paul II's Body Exhumed Ahead Of Beatification

VATICAN CITY — Pope John Paul II's coffin was exhumed on Friday ahead of his beatification as tens of thousands of people began arriving in Rome for one of the biggest events since his funeral in 2005.

The Vatican said the coffin was removed from the crypts below St. Peter's Basilica while top Vatican officials and some of the late pope's closest aides looked on and prayed.

Those present at the ceremony included Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, his personal secretary and right-hand man for decades, and the Polish nuns who ran the papal household for 27 years.

The wooden coffin will be placed in front of the main altar of St. Peter's Basilica. After Sunday's beatification mass, it will remain in that spot and the basilica will remain open until all visitors who want to view it have done so.

It will then be moved to a new crypt under an altar in a side chapel near Michelangelo's statue of the Pieta. The marble slab that covered his first burial place will be sent to Poland.

The pope is being beatified on the day the church celebrates the movable Feast of Divine Mercy, which this year happens to fall on May 1, the most important feast in the communist world.

The coincidence is ironic, given that many believe the pope played a key role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe.

Msnbc News Services

Divine Mercy Sunday in Stockbridge

STOCKBRIDGE -- More than 18,000 people are expected to attend the annual Divine Mercy Sunday festivities this Saturday and Sunday at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, the home of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception on Eden Hill in Stockbridge.

This year will mark a double celebration for the Catholic Church. Not only will Divine Mercy Sunday be celebrated in Stockbridge and around the world, but Sunday is also the day of the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Square in Rome, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI, John Paul II's successor, will preside at the beatification.

The Marian Fathers' celebration will offer coverage of both events on the EWTN global television network during a pre-show from noon to 1 p.m. EST. The solemn Mass will follow and then the singing of the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m.

A large screen on site will enable pilgrims to watch a special tribute to John Paul II, including video clips from the beatification earlier that day. This, along with reports from the events in Rome, will be available at www.thedivinemercy.org/ewtn. Beatification is the next to last of the many difficult steps before the Church declares someone a saint.

The Marians will also provide a John Paul II exhibit, "John Paul II, the Holy Man: To the Ends of the Earth," in a tent on the grounds of Eden Hill. It will consist of 150 photographs of John Paul II taken by internationally renowned photographers and a selection of the Pope's memorable words as expressed in his homilies and speeches during his numerous pilgrimages and meetings. The tent will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Shrine's celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday is the largest such observance in the Northeast and one of the largest in the world.

Two outdoor Masses will be celebrated: the 4 p.m. Vigil Mass on Saturday and a solemn liturgy on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both will be at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine.

In addition to EWTN's global television network, EWTN Radio will carry the broadcast nationally on Sirius satellite radio.

For the most up-to-date information, call (413) 298-3931 or email mercysunday@marian.org.

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News source: The Marian Fathers.

Larger Than Life !!!

Nuns walk past a giant poster of Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

-Reuters Pictures

On The Streets Of Rome

A bus with a giant photo of late Pope John Paul II drives past St Peter's basilica. John Paul II will be honoured on May 1 at a solemn beatification ceremony in Saint Peter's basilica that will give the late pontiff 'Blessed' status for the world's 1.1 billion Catholics and put him on the path towards full sainthood.

-Getty Images

Striking A Pose !!!

A priest prays in front of a picture of Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. Rome is festooned with posters of the former pope on lamp posts and buses.

-Reuters Pictures

Have You Anything Here To Eat? (Luke 24:41)

"Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed." (Luke 24:39)

Today's first reading from the 'Acts of the Apostles' is more like a follow-up of Luke's Gospel, whereas the gospel passage highlights an 'apparition scene'. This is in continuation with yesterday's gospel, where the two disciples encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus. The experiences of Peter and his companions have become the foundation of Peter's preaching in today’s first reading.

However, this gospel passage has given theologians sleepless nights, trying to figure out what happened to the fish that Jesus ate! Was Jesus' resurrected body capable of digesting food? The resurrected Christ proves that he is flesh and blood. He says, "Touch and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have." He speaks and is even hungry that is why he asks them, "what's for supper?" None of us know what kind of a body we will have in Paradise. But, there is a hint in St. Paul's letter to Philemon 3:21, "the Lord will transform our lowly bodies into copies of his own body." That does sound like we are going to go first class, and besides so many are unhappy with their bodies.

Now, instead of inquiring into the 'What' happened to the fish, we should delve into the ‘Why’ did Jesus eat the fish? Three reasons seem probable:

*Jesus wanted the disciples to realize that the risen, resplendent Lord was that same crucified Jesus, and thus there was need for bodily identification.

*To be a true ‘witness’ one had to visibly and tangibly get first hand experience, and Jesus wanted his disciples to be bold witnesses.

*The act of ‘eating’ is Eucharistic and Sacramental, dealing with fellowship and forgiveness. Jesus wanted his friends to know that he had forgiven them and they would be instrumental in drawing future generations to him.

There is a sharp contrast in the risen Christ. He appears to us glorified, but marked with the wounds of his passion. He is found eating and cooking most of the time. He speaks no angry words, displays no anxiety and has no enemies. Jesus wants us to be his witnesses here and now! Witnessing does bring perils, persecutions and sometimes even death. The shadows of death may be long and dark, but the Easter gospel tells us that it will not last forever.

"Thank you Jesus, for redeeming me from sin and for blessing me with eternal life."

He Took Bread, Gave Thanks, Broke It (Luke 24:30)

In today's Gospel Luke narrates the experience of two disciples who encounter the Risen Jesus 'on the road to Emmaus'. Jesus himself came up and walked with them. It is not the two disciples who invite Jesus to co-travel, but Jesus himself who enters their darkness and walks with them. Yet, "something prevented them from recognizing him." They were blind with disbelief and doubt, his death destroying their dreams and fancies.

"What are you talking about?" Jesus asks. Cleopas one of the two disciples is surprised that the stranger hasn't heard about the things that have been going on in Jerusalem. Perhaps he is only a recent visitor to the city and is just passing through. "What things are these?" Jesus asks, prompting these disciples to explain. The disciples describe Jesus as a "prophet, powerful in word and deed" (v24:19). Jesus of course is much more than a prophet, but in those days, a prophet was high praise indeed. It would be on par with Moses, Elijah, Elisha and the like, who were Israel's greatest miracle-working men of God.

The disciples expected Jesus to be "the one who was going to redeem Israel" a mighty Messiah and not a 'suffering Saviour'. However, Christ suffered and died. Now their hopes are dashed. The risen Christ rightly calls them "foolish" they had seen the signs, the fulfilled prophecies, even the witness of women seeing angels and yet, they couldn’t grasp the events that took place. Their minds were dull. Then Jesus, breaks the word, he explains the Scriptures to his disciples who had heard but not understood, read but not believed, that the “Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory.” The words of Jesus enkindled in the disciples an ardent flame. Perhaps we too have had similar experiences where God spoke specifically to us, maybe through a sermon or through a verse in Scripture. This was one of those precious times.

Though their hearts were burning, their vision remained cloudy. Only at the breaking of bread “their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” First Jesus broke the word to them and then the bread. Luke clearly uses Eucharistic symbols to describe this table-fellowship.

The disciples “rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem.” Jesus’ ‘Mass’ (Latin=sending) moves them to Jerusalem to proclaim the news of the resurrection. Pope Benedict XVI tells us: “Word and Eucharist are so deeply bound together that we cannot understand one without the other. The Eucharist opens us up to an understanding of Scripture, just as Scripture for its part illumines and explains the mystery of the Eucharist” (Verbum Domini, 55).

At every Mass Jesus is present in Word [Readings; Gospel; Homily] and at the breaking of the Bread [Holy Communion]. Let us take advantage of it and partake of His fellowship more often than not. May he enlighten our minds and capture our hearts. Then, like the Emmaus disciples, we too will be bearers of the Good News.

"Lord Jesus, forgive me for failing to grasp your teaching and not reverencing you at the breaking of bread. Thank you Lord for being there whenever, I approach this beautiful banquet."

Parting Of The Red Sea

A newly converted hippie was very interestedly reading the Bible while waiting for transportation and every now and then would exclaim, “Alleluia, Praise the Lord, Amen” as he read on. A skeptic heard him and asked what he was reading. The hippie answered, “I am reading how God parted the Red Sea and allowed the Israelites to go through --- that is a miracle!”

The skeptic explained, “Do not believe everything the Bible tells you. The truth of the matter is that the body of water was only 6 inches deep--- so it was not a miracle.”

The hippie nodded in disappointment but kept on reading. The skeptic walked away feeling proud that he had set the hippie straight. Then all of a sudden, the skeptic heard the hippie let out a big “Alleluia, Praise the Lord.” At this, the skeptic ran back to him and asked, “What is it this time?” The hippie said excitedly in one breath, “This one is a real miracle, God drowned the whole Egyptian army in 6 inches of water!!!”

Mary Stayed Outside Near The Tomb, Weeping (John 20:11)

"I have seen the Lord and he has spoken to me." (John 20:18)

Today's Gospel passage speaks of Mary Magdalene, the first witness of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus. She holds a prominent place in Christian history because of her discipleship and witness. Jesus had become the centre of her life. Remarkably, she is the first person attending to the details of Jesus' Jewish burial on the morning of his resurrection. She reaches the tomb only to find it empty. She weeps over it! Jesus wept over Jerusalem, now Mary weeps over the empty tomb. Somewhere on this same mountain, God’s fidelity shone through their human despair.

As she bends over to look inside the empty tomb, she sees two angels, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. The ability to see angelic beings is a 'gift of discernment'. Turning around she sees the Risen Christ but does not recognize him. It was a mystical encounter. It is easy to imagine that in a shock of loss, one might not recognize a familiar person. Hence, it was natural for Mary to do the same. Thinking, that Jesus is the gardener she begins a conversation.

Jesus poses some basic questions, "Why are you weeping?" Of course, He knows the answer, but he always leads us to consider what we are doing and why. He did the same on the road to Emmaus when he asked the two disciples, "What are you talking about as you go?" and here he does it with Mary Magdalene. Jesus does the same with us too. He approaches us from within our daily-lived realities and makes us reflect on what we are doing, where we are going, and why. Reflecting on life's situations, circumstances and events, we discover the hidden Christ.

Then Jesus addressed her by name, "Mary!" he said, (John 20:16) and when she recognized his voice, all her sorrow and despair disappeared. Jesus was alive! She remembered his teachings, "I am the resurrection and the life." She was no longer a mourner joy filled her being. Jesus said to her, Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and find the brothers, and tell them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. So Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord. (John 20:11-18).

Clinging on to Jesus is a consolation to us but the experience of Christ is communicative. Mary had to let go of Jesus so that the process of resurrection could continue for the rest of us. The proclamation of Jesus' resurrection is not a "private" matter. When the light of the Lord's Resurrection falls on our lives, it ensures that we too become 'apostolic'. In fact, Christianity is a vocation to the 'apostolate' as the Second Vatican Council teaches in its decree on 'the apostolate of the laity' (no. 2). The apostolate is the fruit of this love, which is born in us through intimacy with the Cross of the Risen Christ. This also helps the hope of the future world in the Kingdom of God. We pursue this hope even through sufferings [John Paul II, Homily, May 1, 1983].

The Lord is by our side always, encouraging and strengthening us on life's journey. We need to recognize who Jesus is and live as Easter people. Like Mary Magdalene, we become his witnesses only when we affirm our belief in His Resurrection.

"Lord Jesus, I believe that you rose again and have gone to prepare a place for me in your Father’s house. I thank you Lord for the heavy price you paid for my ransom."

St.Mark - the Evangelist

THE EVANGELIST MARK (40-62)

The Evangelist Mark, son of Aristobulus and Maria, was born in Cyrene of Pentapolis. At a young age, he went to live in Jerusalem. St Mark was the nephew of the Apostle Barnabas, one of the 70 Apostles, whom he followed together with St. Paul, Apostle of the Nations on their first Missionary journey (Acts 13:4-5). In Asia Minor, he was confronted by the angry mob of citizens of Perges who were against the two Apostles, which forced him to return to Jerusalem. Because of this, Paul refused to allow Mark to participate in the work of the Gospel, and so the Apostle Barnabas, accompanied by Mark, went to Cyprus where he preached the Christian faith and established the island’s Church. Some ten years later, as mentioned in Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians (Col 4:10) Mark [a.k.a. John Mark] went to Rome with the Apostle Peter.

According to Church tradition the Apostle and Evangelist Mark arrived in Alexandria in AD 43, about 10 years after the ascension of Christ, and founded the Church of Alexandria, which today is claimed by the Coptic Orthodox Church. Aspects of the Coptic liturgy can be traced back to the saint himself. He became the first bishop of Alexandria and he is honored as the founder of Christianity in Africa.

St. Mark wrote the second Gospel, probably in Rome sometime before the year 60 A.D. He wrote it in Greek for the Gentile converts to Christianity. Tradition tells us that St. Mark was requested by the Romans to write down the teachings of St. Peter. This seems to be confirmed by the position that St. Peter has in this Gospel. The Gospel of St. Mark is a record of the life of Jesus as seen through the eyes of the Prince of the Apostles. The ancient writers say that it is a concise record of St Peter's preaching.

On the day of Pascha in 63 AD (3rd April / Pharmouthi, during which the pagans celebrated the Feast of Serapidos, St Mark was arrested while performing the Divine Liturgy and was imprisoned. The next day, 4th April, he was dragged through the streets of Alexandria by the crowd and died as a Martyr of the Church.

The pagans wanted to burn the saint's body, but when they lit the fire, everything grew dark, thunder crashed, and there was an earthquake. The pagans fled in terror, and Christians took up the body of St Mark and buried it in a stone crypt in the area of Bucolus. This was on April 4, 63 A.D. The Later Coptic tradition says that he was martyred in AD 68.

In the year 310, a church was built over the relics of St Mark. In 820, when the Moslem Arabs had established their rule in Egypt and oppressed the Christian Church, the Venetian traders took his holy relics to Venice and placed them in the Cathedral of St Mark, where they can be found to this day.

In the ancient iconographic tradition, which adopted symbols for the holy Evangelists borrowed from the vision of St John the Theologian (Rev. 4:7) and the prophecy of Ezekiel (Ez.1:10), the holy Evangelist Mark is represented by a lion, symbolizing the might and royal dignity of Christ (Rev. 5:5).

The Holy Church celebrates his feast on April 25. St. Mark is the patron saint of notaries

Published by Olivia
Copyright© 2011 All rights reserved

You Will Not Abandon My Soul (Psalm 16:10)

"I saw the Lord ever before me, [vision of the Father]
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. [embraces spiritual strength]
Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; [joyful in worship]
my flesh, too, will dwell in hope, [rest in hope]
because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, [commitment to the resurrection]
nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. [belief in the promise]
You have made known to me the paths of life; [direction / leadership]
you will fill me with joy in your presence." [satisfaction and acknowledgement of the Father]

(Psalm 16:8-11, Acts 2:25-28) Messianic Psalm

Easter Monday

Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise.
The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb;
and Christ, the undefiled,
hath sinners to his Father reconciled.
Death with life contended: combat strangely ended!
Life’s own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign.
Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way.
The tomb the Living did enclose;
I saw Christ’s glory as he rose!
The angels there attesting;
Shroud with grave-clothes resting.
Christ, my hope, has risen: he goes before you into Galilee.
That Christ is truly risen from the dead we know.
Victorious king, thy mercy show!

Easter -- Rejoice And Be Glad (Psalm 118:24)

Christ is risen! He has burst open the gates of hell and let the dead go free; he has renewed the earth through the members of his Church now born again in baptism, and has made it blossom afresh with men brought back to life. His Holy Spirit has unlocked the doors of heaven, which stand wide open to receive those who rise up from the earth. Because of Christ’s resurrection the thief ascends to paradise, the bodies of the blessed enter the holy city, and the dead are restored to the company of the living. There is an upward movement in the whole of creation, each element raising itself to something higher. We see hell restoring its victims to the upper regions, earth sending its buried dead to heaven, and heaven presenting the new arrivals to the Lord. In one and the same movement, our Savior’s passion raises men from the depths, lifts them up from the earth, and sets them in the heights.

Christ is risen. His rising brings life to the dead, forgiveness to sinners, and glory to the saints. And so David the prophet summons all creation to join in celebrating the Easter festival: Rejoice and be glad, he cries, on this day which the Lord has made.

The light of Christ is an endless day that knows no night. Christ is this day, says the Apostle; such is the meaning of his words: Night is almost over; day is at hand. He tells us that night is almost over, not that it is about to fall. By this we are meant to understand that the coming of Christ’s light puts Satan’s darkness to flight, leaving no place for any shadow of sin. His everlasting radiance dispels the dark clouds of the past and checks the hidden growth of vice. The Son is that day to whom the day, which is the Father, communicates the mystery of his divinity. He is the day who says through the mouth of Solomon: I have caused an unfailing light to rise in heaven. And as in heaven no night can follow day, so no sin can overshadow the justice of Christ. The celestial day is perpetually bright and shining with brilliant light; clouds can never darken its skies. In the same way, the light of Christ is eternally glowing with luminous radiance and can never be extinguished by the darkness of sin. This is why John the evangelist says: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never been able to overpower it.

And so, my brothers, each of us ought surely to rejoice on this holy day. Let no one, conscious of his sinfulness, withdraw from our common celebration, nor let anyone be kept away from our public prayer by the burden of his guilt. Sinner he may indeed be, but he must not despair of pardon on this day which is so highly privileged; for if a thief could receive the grace of paradise, how could a Christian be refused forgiveness?

~Saint Maximus of Turin

Easter ---> The Empty Tomb

The 'Empty Tomb' is the only tourist attraction on earth where people line up for blocks and blocks to see nothing!!!

It’s EMPTY !! He’s Gone !!

He is Risen !!!

The Empty Tomb Says It All

A stone can be found at a place in the ground where the body of Jesus was laid
It was never inscribed with the words to describe the power that grace still displays
For this monument where Jesus was sent wasn't carved with the story of death
It simply reveals a grave no longer seals, and the empty tomb says the rest

No clever inscription can ever explain what happened that wonderful day
And no epitaph could ever contain the words such compassion should say
No man-made description could ever describe what's spoken by empty walls
The stone rolled aside with nothing inside, but the empty tomb says it all

No black granite wall could hold nearly all the names of our Savior and Lord
And no mountain face would have enough space for one line of his love to record
And no one could relate to the numberless days, for it has no beginning or end
The story goes on his body is gone, and the tomb is empty of death

No clever inscription can ever explain what happened that wonderful day
And no epitaph could ever contain the words such compassion should say
No man-made description could ever describe what's spoken by empty walls
The stone rolled aside with nothing inside, but the empty tomb says it all

Water From The Well

Give me water from the well that never runs dry
Give me water from the well that gives me hope when I die.
Give me water from the well that never runs dry.
And I will thirst no more.

Living water flowing from above
Through the Spirit of never ending love.
And I'm the first to declare my longing thirst
For the water that comes from above.

Give me water from the well that never runs dry
Give me water from the well that gives me hope when I die.
Give me water from the well that never runs dry.
And I will thirst no more.

Living water leads me to my goal.
Now refreshing and cleansing to my soul.
Truly I'm alive, and I know I can't survive
Without it, the pure waters flow.

Give me water from the well that never runs dry
Give me water from the well that gives me hope when I die.
Give me water from the well that never runs dry.
And I will thirst no more.

Holy Saturday - The Lord's Descent

The Lord's descent into the underworld

Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.

He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden.

See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.

I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you.

Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.

Divine Mercy Novena

The Divine Mercy Novena

Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy, which would begin on Good Friday. He gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said:

"These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy."

In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:

"On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls."

*The Chaplet of Divine Mercy may also be offered each day for the day's intention, but is not strictly necessary to the Novena.

First Day (Good Friday)

"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 plunges Me."

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.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all humankind 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.

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Second Day (Holy Saturday)

"Today bring to Me the Souls of Priests and Religious, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me 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 men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

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.

* In the original text, Saint Faustina uses the pronoun "us" since she was offering this prayer as a consecrated religious sister. The wording adapted here is intended to make the prayer suitable for universal use.

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Third Day (Easter Sunday)

"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 a 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 grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

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.

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Fourth Day (Monday)

"Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not 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 those who do not believe in God and of those 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.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, 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.

*Our Lord's original words here were "the pagans." Since the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Church has seen fit to replace this term with clearer and more appropriate terminology.

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Fifth Day (Tuesday)

"Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church*, 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 those who have separated themselves from Your Church. 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.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, 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 His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

*Our Lord's original words here were "heretics and schismatics," since He spoke to Saint Faustina within the context of her times. As of the Second Vatican Council, Church authorities have seen fit not to use those designations in accordance with the explanation given in the Council's Decree on Ecumenism (n.3). Every pope since the Council has reaffirmed that usage. Saint Faustina herself, her heart always in harmony with the mind of the Church, most certainly would have agreed. When at one time, because of the decisions of her superiors and father confessor, she was not able to execute Our Lord's inspirations and orders, she declared: "I will follow Your will insofar as You will permit me to do so through Your representative. O my Jesus "I give priority to the voice of the Church over the voice with which You speak to me" (497). The Lord confirmed her action and praised her for it.

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Sixth Day (Wednesday)

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 will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of 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.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon 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.

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Seventh Day (Thursday)

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; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all humankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

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 hearts, overflowing with joy, sing 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 that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

*The text leads one to conclude that in the first prayer directed to Jesus, Who is the Redeemer, it is "victim" souls and contemplatives that are being prayed for; those persons, that is, that voluntarily offered themselves to God for the salvation of their neighbor (see Col 1:24; 2 Cor 4:12). This explains their close union with the Savior and the extraordinary efficacy that their invisible activity has for others. In the second prayer, directed to the Father from whom comes "every worthwhile gift and every genuine benefit, "we recommend the "active" souls, who promote devotion to The Divine Mercy and exercise with it all the other works that lend themselves to the spiritual and material uplifting of their brethren.

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Eighth Day (Friday)

"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 Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

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.

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Ninth Day (Saturday)

"Today bring to Me the 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 because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy."

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.

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.

O day of eternity, O day so long desired,
With thirst and longing, my eyes search you out.
Soon love will tear the veil asunder,
And you will be my salvation.

O day most beautiful, moment incomparable,
When for the first time I shall see my God,
The Bridegroom of my soul and Lord of lords,
and fear will not restrain my soul.

O day most solemn, O day of brightness,
When the soul will know God in His omnipotence
And drown totally in His love,
Knowing the miseries of exile are o'er.

O happy day, O blessed day,
When my heart will burn for You with fire eternal,
For even now I feel Your presence, though through the veil.
Through life and death, O Jesus, You are my rapture and delight.

O day, of which I dreamed through all my life,
Waiting long for You, O God,
For it is You alone whom I desire.
You are the one and only of my heart; all else is naught.

O day of delight, day of eternal bliss,
God of great majesty, my beloved Spouse,
You know that nothing will satisfy a virgin heart.
On Your tender Heart I rest my brow.