Jesus, Have Mercy On Us

Dearest Ones,

Did you ever wonder what it would be like if Jesus had not risen from the dead? If His body had decayed and He was buried in a grave somewhere clear across the world, which hardly anybody even knows about? We wouldn't have our faith as we know it. We would be worshipping a dead person. Furthermore, it would have made a liar out of Jesus. We couldn't believe in the Bible because Jesus foretold that He would rise from the dead after three days. But He did rise from the dead and He's alive and that's why we celebrate Easter with such great joy and enthusiasm. He is alive and I'm so glad but not only that, He lives right inside of you and me! How ridiculous to think that men could actually kill God!

There is a story about a teacher who gave each of her little students an empty plastic Easter egg and asked each to fill it with something about Easter. As each child opened their egg to show it to the others - one had a flower inside to signify new life, another had a nail because they nailed Jesus to a tree, another had a small stone because of the stone put in front of the tomb. But the last egg was opened by a little mentally challenged boy, whose egg had nothing inside. The teacher asked what this meant and he replied that the tomb was empty on Easter morning, which means that Jesus is God and He did raise Himself from the dead! A little child had grasped the meaning of the empty tomb! The riches of our faith depend on that empty tomb.

Less than a hundred years ago, a young Polish nun, Sister Faustina, had a vision of Jesus. He was clothed in a white robe, while red and white rays streamed from His heart. He said He feels so very sad because many people's hearts had grown cold toward Him. They received Holy Communion out of habit and didn't bother to thank Him or ask for protection for their families and other needs. It seemed to Him that they didn't really believe it was God they were receiving. So, He asked Sr. Faustina to have a picture painted of Himself just as He appeared to her. He wanted the red and white rays streaming from His heart, signifying the blood and water which flowed from His heart when the soldier pierced it with a lance (the red rays represent the blood and the white signifies the water.) Across the bottom of the picture He asked that she write the words, "JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU." There is an attachment of the picture enclosed. (Click on Divine Mercy above for a picture.)

Jesus spoke to Sr. Faustina 14 different times asking that the Divine Mercy Sunday be on a specific day, the first Sunday after Easter. Sr. Faustina, along with her spiritual director, asked the Pope to proclaim this day of Mercy. Pope Paul 11 did proclaim the Sunday after Easter as the Feast of Mercy for the entire world.

Why did Our Lord see such a great need for a Feast of Mercy? What is mercy? Mercy is showing love and forgiveness to someone who does not deserve it. It is showing compassion and kindness to complete strangers. In order to receive the great graces of the Feast of Mercy, it is absolutely necessary that we do acts of mercy, Jesus said. Everyone around us needs mercy from us - family, friends, strangers, co-workers, even enemies. Take a look around you. There are people in desperate need of our kindness. I find that once I begin doing acts of mercy and kindness, my whole day becomes an act of mercy - there are so many in need.

We are all in need of God's mercy, but some people act like they don't need it. They don't even consider themselves as sinners. In fact, they don't even recognize sin - they call it a mistake of judgment instead. They no longer go to confession. Our Lord told Sr. Faustina, "It is only through my mercy that the world will find peace and happiness. I promise that each person who receives the Sacrament of confession and receives Holy Communion during the Easter Season will be completely freed from all consequences of their sin. I demand that you show mercy and kindness to others. It is necessary if you wish to receive My mercy." Jesus told Sr. Faustina of the importance of having the painting in every Church and in every home.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which Jesus taught to Sr. Faustina, takes about 5 minutes and may be prayed on ordinary rosary beads. This is a most powerful prayer to be said for any intention. (See Chaplet of Divine Mercy on the internet for directions on how to say it.) It only takes a few minutes to memorize the two prayers in the Chaplet. These are the words of Our Lord concerning the Chaplet: "When you say this chaplet for a dying person, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as a judge but as the Merciful Savior. Through the chaplet, you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will." I often pray the chaplet throughout the day, while driving or waiting in line.

Before Sr. Faustina died at age 33, in 1941, she said these words: "Although I expect to soon be enclosed in the ocean of God's love, I will not forget the people on earth. I will not rest but I will return to earth to encourage souls and help them to trust in God's mercy." How many of you have ever asked a friend to pray for you? That's what we do when we ask the saints, our friends in heaven, to intercede for us. I'm so glad we have them to pray for us.

God loves you,
Sister Francelle