BLESSED POPE JOHN PAUL II, PRAY FOR US!

 Pope John Paul II in 1981, at the Shrine of Merciful Love in Collevalenza, Italy, stated that from the very beginning of his ministry he has considered spreading the message of mercy as his "special task," assigned to him by God "in the present situation of man, the Church and the world." In four of his encyclicals, he stresses that we are now living in a special time of preparation for the new coming of the Lord. He urges us "to implore God's mercy for humanity in this hour of history...to beg for it at this difficult, critical phase of the history of the Church and of the world" (Rich in Mercy, 15).

When Pope John Paul II visited the tomb of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in Lagiewniki, Poland, on June 7, 1997, he said: "There is nothing that man needs more than Divine Mercy- that love which is benevolent, which is compassionate, which raises man above his weakness to the infinite heights of the holiness of God."

"Jesus Christ taught that man not only receives and experiences the mercy of God, but that he is also called 'to practice mercy' towards others. 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obatin mercy' (Mt 5:7). The Church sees in these words a call to action, and she tries to practice mercy. ... Man attains to the merciful love of God, His mercy, to the extent that he himself is interiorly transformed in the spirit of that love towards his neighbor." (John Paul II, Rich in Mercy, 14).

The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy (Diary, 723). "Jesus told Sr. Faustina: Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy (Diary, 300). I am Love and Mercy itself (1074). My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especially for poor sinners...it is for them that the Blood and Water flowed from My Heart as from a fount overflowing with mercy (367). Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet (699). My mercy is greater than your sins, and those of the entire world (1485). I let my Sacred Heart be pierced with a lance, thus opening wide the source of mercy for your.Come then with trust to draw graces from this fountain (1485)."

Sousl that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an apeal to My compassion (Diary, 1146). Beg for mercy for the whole world (570). No soul that has called upon My mercy has ever been disappointed (1541).

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. You  must not shrink from this or try to excuse yourself from it...Even the strongest faith is of no avail without works (Diary, 742). If a soul does not exercise mercy in some way, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment (1317).

I never reject a contrite heart (1485). Sooner would heaven and earth turn into nothingness than would My mercy not embrace a trusting soul (1777). Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace (Diary 1074). Proclaim to the whole world My unfathomable mercy (1142). Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hand are crowned with mercy (301).

Souls who spread the honor of My mercy I shield through their entire life as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior (1075). Do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack. (1074)

Tell my priests that hardened sinners will repent on hearing their words when they speak about My unfathomable mercy, about the compassion I have for them in My Heart. To priests who proclaim and extol My mercy, I will give wondrous power; I will anoint their words and touch the hearts of those to whom they will speak (1521).

St. Faustina on Holy Communion: "All the good that is in me is due to Holy Communion" (1392). "Herein lies the whole secret of my sanctity" (1489). "One thing alone sustains me and that is Holy Communion. From it I draw all my strength; it is is all my comfort...Jesus concealed in the Host is everything to me...I would not know how to give glory to God if I did not have the Eucharist in my heart" (1073).

Jesus on the Sacrament of Confession: When you go to confession, to this fountain of mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flow down upon your soul (Diary, 1602). In the Tribunal of Mercy (the Sacrament of Reconciliation)...the greatest miracles take place and are incessantly repeated (1448). Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy (1602). Come with faith to the feet of my representative (1448). I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest...I Myself act in your soul (1602). Make your confession before Me. The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen. Never analyze what sort of a priest it is that I am making use of; open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light (1725). Were a soul like a decaying corpse, so that from a human standpoint, there would be no hope of restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God's mercy! (1448).

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU!

 
3:00 PM HOUR OF MERCY!
 Saint Faustina received these words from Jesus: "At three o'clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners, and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to enter into My mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of me in virtue of My Passion" (Diary, 1320).

"I remind you, My daughter, that as often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners; for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every (145) soul. In this hour you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world- mercy triumphed over justice" (Diary, 1572).

My daughter, try your best to make the Sations of the Cross in this hour, provided that your duties permit it; and if you are not able to make the Stations of the Cross, then at least step inot the chapel for a moment and adore, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, My Heart, which is full of mercy; and should you be unable to step into chapel, immerse yourself in prayer there where you happen to be, if only for a very brief instant.(1572).

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. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse yourself from it. (Diary, 742)

When a soul approaches Me with trust, Jesus explains, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls (1074).

How do we "radiate" God''s mercy to others? By our actions, oiur words and our prayers. In these three degrees, Jesus tells St. Faustina, is contained the fullness of mercy (742).

MERCY FOR THE DYING
Pray as much as you can for the dying. By your entreaties, obtain for them trust in My mercy, because they have most need of trust, and have it the least. Be assured that the grace of eternal salvation for certain souls in thier final moments depends on your prayer (1777).

In particular, Jesuys recommended to St. Faustina to use the Chaplet of Divine Mercy to adi the dying: At the hour of their death, I defend as My own glory every soul that will say this Chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person, the indulgence (padron) is the same (811).

PREPARING FOR THE SECOND COMING
Speak to the world about My mercy... It is a sign for the end times; after it will come the Day of Justice (Diary, 848). You will prepare the world for My final coming (429). Tell souls about this great mercy of Mine, because the awful day, the day of My jusitce, is near (965).

Before the Day of Justice, I am sending the Day of Mercy (1588). I am prolonging the time of mercy for the sake of sinners. But woe to them if they do not recognize this time of My visitation (1160).

While there is still time, let them have recourse to the foung of My mercy (848). He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice (1146).

Our Lady, too, speaks to St. Faustina about the urgency of the message of mercy: You have to speak to the world about His grat mercy and prepare the world for the Second Coming of Him who will come, not as a merciful Savior, but as a just Judge. Oh how terrible is that day! Determined is the day of justice, the day of divine wrath. The angels tremble before it. Speak to souls about this great mercy while it it still the time for granting mercy (635).

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
O Jesus, eternal God, I thank You for Your countless graces and blessings. Let every beat of my heart be a new hymn of thanksgiving to You, O God. Let every drop of my blood circulate for You, Lord. My soul is one hymn in adoration of Your mercy. I love You, God, for Yourself alone (1794).

PRAYER TO THE MOTHER OF GOD
O Mary, my Mother and my Lady, I offer you my soul, my body, my life and my dearth, and all that will follow it. I place everything in your hands.  O my Mother, cover my soul with your virginal mantle and grant me the grace of purity of heart, soul and body. Defend me with your power against all enemies, and especially against those who hide their malice behind the mask of virtue (79). Fortify my soul that pain will not break it. Mother of grace, teach me to live by God's power (315).

O Mary...a terrible sword has pierced your holy soul. Except for God, no one knows of your suffering. Your soul does not break; it is brave, because it is with Jesus. Sweet Mother, unite my soul to Jesus, because it is only then that I will be able to endure all trials and tirublations, and only in union with Jesus will my little sacrifices be pleaseing to God. Sweetest Mother, continue to teach me about the interior life. May the sword of suffering never break me. O pure Virgin, pour courage into my heart and guard it (915).

PRAYER FOR THE GRACE TO BE MERCIFUL TO OTHERS
O Most Holy Trinity! As many times as I breathe, as many times as my heart beats, as many times as my blood pulsates through my body, so many thousands of times do I want to glorify Your mercy.

I want to be completely transformed into Your mercy and to be Your living reflection, O Lord. May the greatest of all diivne attributes, that of Your unfathomable mercy, pass thorugh my heart and soul to my neighbor.

Hel me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful, so that i may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbor's souls and come to their rescue.

Help me, that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbor's needs and not be indifferent to their pains and sufferings.

Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be merciful, so tha I should never speak negatively of  my neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.

Hele me, O Lord, that my hands may be mercivul and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbors and take upon myself the more difficult and toilsome tasks.

Help me, that my feet maya be merciful, so that i may hurry to assist my neighobr, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness. My true rest is in the service of my neighbor.

Help me, O Lord, that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor. I will refuse my heart to no one. I will be sincere even wth those who, I know, will abuse my kindness. And I will lcok myself up in the most merciful Heart of Jesus. I will bear my own surring in silence. May Your mercy, O Lord, rest upon me.

You Yourself commanded me to exercise the three degrees of mercy. The first: the act of mercy, of whatever kind. The second: the word of mercy - if I cannot carry out an act of mercy, I will assist by my words. The third: prayer- if I cannot show mercy by deeds or words, I can always do so by prayer. My prayer reaches out even there where I cannot reach our physically.

O my Jesus, transform me into Yourself, for You can do all things (163).

PRAYER FOR THE INTERCESSION OF ST. FAUSTINA- THE APOSTLE OF MERCY
Saint Faustina, you told us that your mission would continue after your death and that you would not forget us (Diary, 281, 1582).

Our Lord also granted you a great privilege, telling you to "distribute graces as you will, to whom you will, and when you will" (31).

Relying on this, I ask your intercession for the graces I need, especially (mention your special intention).

Help me, above all, to trust in Jesus as you did and thus to glorify His mercy every moment of my life. Amen.