Crossed The Tiber

An Evangelical Converts to Catholicism

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Location: Pennsylvania, United States

I was born into the Catholic faith. At 14, I was "born again" and found Jesus personally but lost His Church. After thirty years as an evangelical protestant, I have come full circle to find that He has been there all the time, in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I wish others to find the beauty and truth of the Catholic faith as I have found.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Divine Mercy Sunday


Today the Church focuses on the mercy of God. St. Faustina, a mystic, had a vision of Jesus with rays streaming from his side. The two rays, according to what Jesus Himself told her, denote blood and water. The blood recalls the sacrifice of Golgotha and the mystery of the Eucharist: the water makes us think of Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Most Catholic Churches throughout the world will have the divine mercy image above placed in the sanctuary today and opportunities for prayer and the sacrament of confession will be made available. (No the image will not be worshiped! But we can honor and adore Christ Jesus by way of venerating His image.) The Church emphasizes the grace and mercy of God offered for sinners and Divine Mercy Sunday carries forth the celebration of Easter to apply it to the lives of all those within and without the Church. It is a day that the Mass readings focus on God's love and forgiveness and mercy. It is also a day in which we are encouraged to practice spiritual and corporal works of mercy to those around us.

The Divine Mercy Prayer:
Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world. For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I found this wonderful quote from the homily of Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz during the main Mass today at the Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Krakow-Lagiewniki:

"God loved us so much that he came down as low as a man can fall. He came down to lift us up, to confess His love to us, to teach us the mercy towards our brothers, towards every person who needs help and forgiveness."

If you ever get a chance, I suggest reading the Diary of St. Faustina. Amazing spiritual writing.

April 15, 2007 11:49 AM  
Blogger Russ Rentler, M.D. said...

We have it but I haven't gotten to it yet. I have a booklet of her prayers that are from the diary and I have posted them a few times. They are so beautiful.
We just got back from Eucharistic Adoration and the divine mercy chaplet was prayed. It was great!
We also venerated a relic from the body of Therese of Lisiuex. God gives so much grace! A very fulfilling and Catholic Sunday!
God bless!

April 15, 2007 4:42 PM  

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