Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday

By Alma Pater (Self-photographed) 
[GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], 
via Wikimedia Commons 

Divine Mercy Novena - EWTN

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 different souls prayed for on each day of the novena are:

DAY 1 (Good Friday) - All mankind, especially sinners

DAY 2 (Holy Saturday) - The souls of priests and religious

DAY 3 (Easter Sunday) - All devout and faithful souls

DAY 4 (Easter Monday) - Those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do not yet know Him

DAY 5 (Easter Tuesday) - The souls of separated brethren

DAY 6 (Easter Wednesday) - The meek and humble souls and the souls of children

DAY 7 (Easter Thursday) - The souls who especially venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy

DAY 8 (Easter Friday) - The souls who are detained in purgatory;

DAY 9 (Easter Saturday) - The souls who have become lukewarm.

During the Solemn Novena leading to Divine Mercy Sunday, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy should be offered each day for the day's intentions.

Divine Mercy Sunday (Feast of the Divine Mercy) is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter.

Heart of Divine Mercy

Heart of Divine Mercy by Stephen B. Whatley | Flickr.com

A new tribute drawing by expressionist artist Stephen B. Whatley, created 2017 on Divine Mercy Sunday after the Divine Mercy commemoration and Mass at Saint James's RC Church, Spanish Place, London, UK.

Pastel on paper - 16.5 x 11.5in / 42 x 30cm

Stephen B Whatley is an expressionist painter, published in TIME magazine, whose major commissions include architectural paintings for public institutions including The Royal Collection of HM Queen Elizabeth II, London Underground and the BBC; and 30 paintings commissioned by the Tower of London permanently showcased throughout Tower Hill Underpass at Tower Hill. He has been presented to HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in recognition of his work.

The artist’s vibrant oil paintings are in private collections worldwide and public collections
including BBC Heritage, Historic Royal Palaces, the London Transport Museum, the Royal Collection, Westminster Cathedral and The Carrollton School of The Sacred Heart, Miami, USA.

See more of Mr. Whatley's religious artwork: Christian Tributes

www.stephenbwhatley.com

Divine Mercy Sunday at Saint Mary's Church

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Saint Mary's Catholic Church

St. Mary's Council of Catholic Women invites all parishioners and visitors to join them on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, 2014, at 3:00 PM.

Pope John Paul II said that the Divine Mercy portrays the Risen Jesus Christ bringing Mercy to the whole world. Our Lord said to Saint Faustina, "I want the image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know." St. Mary's will say the Divine Mercy prayers and there will be exposition of the most Blessed Sacrament and close with Benediction.

St. Mary's Catholic Church is located on the corner of Myers Avenue and Route 46, Denville, New Jersey.

Directions: http://www.stmarys-denville.org/directions.htm

Divine Mercy Sunday

DIVINE MERCY by Stephen B Whatley | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

By Stephen B. Whatley

Today, Sunday, April 7, 2013, is the Feast Day of Divine Mercy, which always falls on the first Sunday after Easter.

In one of His many miraculous visitations with the Polish nun Sister Faustina (1905-1938) - now Saint Faustina - Jesus asked her to tell the world that, "the very depths of my Mercy will be opened on that day. I will pour out a sea of graces upon those souls that will approach the fount of My Mercy on this day....let no soul fear to come to Me, even if its sins be scarlet..."

In February 1931, Jesus had appeared to Faustina and asked her to have an image painted as He appeared before her - with his hand held up in blessing; the other hand on his breast, from which flowed two rays: the pale symbolising the water, which cleanses and purifies the soul. The red representing the blood which gives new life to the soul. Jesus said " These rays will shield the soul before the justice of my Father..."

He asked that the painting be inscribed with the words, Jezu Ufam Tobie (Polish) - meaning Jesus I Trust in You.

Since February 2002 I have felt compelled to paint and draw my own interpretation of this Divine Mercy image, according to the instructions given by Jesus - each time hoping to reveal this message ever more powerfully - often on Divine Mercy Sunday. Yesterday , in prayer, I felt a 'divine push' to create in order to show today - keeping all those most suffering in my heart and with hope for world peace.

Love Christ and your life will change: Jesus I Trust in You.

Peace and Healings on this day.

Divine Mercy 2013 by Stephen B Whatley
Charcoal, chalk Pastel & Oil pastel on paper.
23.4 x 16.5in/59 x 42cm
www.stephenbwhatley.com

Feast of Divine Mercy is Celebrated on Sunday, April 15



Jezu Ufam Tobie by Stephen B Whatley

Divine Mercy Sunday - Saint Micheal Center

The following excerpt regarding the Feast of Divine Mercy is from the Saint Michael Center:

The Importance of the Feast of Mercy

The first revelation of Jesus in His message of Divine Mercy to St. Faustina on 22nd February 1931 was to say how much He desired mankind to avail of the infinite mercy of God on earth and this was why He was establishing the Feast of His Mercy. So, the Feast of Mercy was the first revelation in the message of Divine Mercy and is considered the first and most important element of the whole devotion.

Jesus devoted fourteen revelations in all, more than He devoted to any other element of this devotion because of the importance of the extraordinary graces He desired to give to all souls on this holy day.
In fact, He attached such importance to the Feast of Mercy that in the 43rd revelation, He stated, “I desire that My mercy be worshiped, and I am giving mankind the last hope of salvation; that is, recourse to My mercy. My Heart rejoices in this Feast”. (Diary 998)

First Sunday After Easter

Jesus said it was to be celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. The selection of this day was to indicate that Jesus shows a special close connection between the paschal mystery of our redemption, and the Feast of Mercy and it is partly designed so that we contemplate, on this day, the mystery of our Redemption as the greatest act of Divine Mercy toward mankind.

Saint Faustina also noted this, when in 1935 she wrote: "I see now that the work of Redemption is bound up with this work of Divine Mercy that the Lord desires". (Diary 89)

A Second Baptism

Jesus said, "The soul that will go to confession in preparation for this day and receive Holy Communion on the day, shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment" (Diary 699) What exactly does this mean? Canon Rozycki, who was appointed by the Pope John Paul II to analyse the promises of Our Lord in the revelations of Divine Mercy states, “The extraordinary grace promised by Jesus in connection with the Feast of Mercy is something greater by far than a plenary indulgence. A plenary indulgence consists only in the forgiveness of temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven; it is never the forgiveness of sins themselves”.

He also went on to say, “The remarkable grace promised by our Lord on the Feast of Mercy is the same as a second Baptism. Now the Sacramental grace of Baptism if received by an adult, is not only the removal of original sin from their soul, but also the removal of all personal sins committed since birth, and any punishment due to them”.

So the soul who receives this special grace on the Feast of Mercy is the same as an adult who is baptised for the first time and receives the grace of having their soul cleansed through the sacrament of Baptism.

Read more: Feast of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy for the World by Stephen B. Whatley

Divine Mercy for the World (2010) by Stephen B. Whatley

Oil on Canvas - 30" x 24" / 76 cm x 61cm

Divine Mercy for The World (2010) by Stephen B Whatley on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

By Stephen B. Whatley

Divine Mercy Sunday was celebrated in 2010 on April 11, the first week after Easter in the Catholic calender.

The message of the overflowing Mercy that Jesus offers to those who have trust; and to all of us with the greatest of sins to our name, was vividly given, through visitations to a Polish nun Sister Faustina (1905-1938) relatively recently; during the 20th Century. This humble woman of faith was canonized as St Faustina in 2000, by Pope John Paul II.

Sister Faustina kept a detailed journal (A Diary: "Divine Mercy in My Soul") first published in 1981; and on February 22, 1931 she recorded in her diary: 'I saw Jesus dressed in a white garment. He held one hand raised in blessing and the other hand was touching his garment at the breast. From under the garment came two rays of light, one red, one pale.'

Feast Day of Divine Mercy (2009)

by Stephen B. Whatley

She goes on to record that Jesus said 'paint a picture according to the vision you see and with the signature, Jesus I Trust in You...'  She went on to find an artist to help create a portrait to these instructions; as have subsequent artists, including myself - through three interpretations in 2002, 2007 and in 2009; that can all be seen on the site of Flickr.com in the Christian Set.

Sister Faustina asked Jesus what the rays signified.  He said: 'The rays represent the Blood and Water which gushed forth from the depths of my Mercy when My agonising Heart was pierced on the cross. The pale rays signify the water, which cleanses and purifies the soul; the red rays represent the blood which gives new life to the soul - rays shielding the soul before the justice of My Father...'

The message of Jesus through St Faustina is clear: devotion to the Divine Mercy is universal and open to all; in His words, 'Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins may be scarlet'.

This year I felt compelled to paint a new interpretation in celebration of this Divine Mercy; and through deep prayer felt a conception growing; a realisation that I must include the world within the painting.

In a way my painting reflects an important prayer given to St Faustina by Jesus; that can be said at the Hour of Mercy, 3 PM - for the needs of oneself or others:

'You expired Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls and an ocean of Mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I Trust in You, Jesus I trust in You.'

I have personally experienced mercy - even miracles - through prayer and trusting in Jesus for help no matter what this life might deliver; and never feel alone.

"Jesus I Trust in Thee"

 Peace.

**********

The following background information can be read on the website of Stephen B. Whatley:

His work is in numerous private collections in Denmark, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Scotland, South Africa, Spain and the U.S.A.; and in public collections, including the BBC, Historic Royal Palaces, the London Transport Museum, the Royal Collection of Queen Elizabeth II and Taylor Woodrow Property Company Ltd.

The work of Stephen B. Whatley has been the subject of features in The Guardian, Guardian Weekend magazine, HELLO! magazine, MAJESTY magazine, Metro London Newspaper, The Sunday Express, The Daily Telegraph, The London Times newspaper, TIME magazine and USA TODAY; and the 2006 book, Marilyn In Art.

In February 2010 one of Stephen’s paintings of Jesus Christ will be published on the cover of the book, The Historical Jesus: Five Views (SPCK Publishing).

Copyright 2010 Stephen B. Whatley

***

Visit the following link to recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.