March 31, 2010

Parishes mark Lent with Divine Mercy prayer; feast coming up

By Julie Filby

Throughout history, visionaries such as Francis of Assisi, Joan of Arc and Bernadette of Lourdes have relayed divine messages.

In the 1930s Jesus appeared to a Polish peasant girl, Helena Kowalska, to share a message of love and mercy. Helena, who became known as Sister Faustina after entering the convent, recorded the revelations in a diary.

Though originally viewed with skepticism, ultimately her life and writings inspired the Divine Mercy message and devotion of the Church. Pope John Paul II, who was also Polish, took a personal interest in the visions of Sister Faustina. He promoted her sainthood cause and canonized her personally on April 30, 2000.

At the same time the pontiff officially designated the Second Sunday of Easter, the date revealed to St. Faustina, as the feast of Divine Mercy. The Holy Father declared, “It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter”—referring to the path of mercy with God and others indicated in the liturgy’s readings.

This year Divine Mercy Sunday is April 11. On the feast, a plenary indulgence may be granted under the usual conditions of confession, receiving Communion and praying for the intentions of the pontiff.

The Divine Mercy movement emphasizes a ministry of service to others—service exemplified in the Denver Archdiocese through a Divine Mercy Club formed by parishioners in Grand County.

Each day during Lent, club members pledged to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, a rosary-based devotion based on St. Faustina’s writings. Members picked a person or family to pray for each day then sent them a postcard with the Divine Mercy image on it, letting the recipient(s) know they were remembered in prayer.

Father Michael Freihofer, pastor of St. Anne in Grand Lake and mission parishes St. Bernard of Montjoux in Fraser and Our Lady of the Snow in Granby, headed the initiative.

“Thousands of postcards are being mailed around the country,” Father Freihofer said. “The beautiful image of Jesus on the postcard is a perfect way for recipients and postal workers to see God’s mercy.”

Each member was allotted up to 40 complimentary postcards, one for each day of Lent. Members supplied the cost of postage, a way of giving alms.

The parishes had more than 200 people sign up—an increase from last year’s membership of 180. Their intentions were remembered in Masses celebrated during Lent and each member received a gift such as a chaplet rosary, Divine Mercy image, spiritual book or holy water bottle.

Father Freihofer described Lent as a perfect time to ask for God’s mercy and to assist priests in converting souls.

“Our world is in great need of mercy—mercy is God’s greatest attribute,” he said. “We picked this devotion for Lent because of its power and simplicity. People can easily add this six-minute prayer to their busy lives.”

A similar program was started at St. John the Evangelist in Loveland. With support from the parishes in Grand County and an anonymous benefactor; 5,000 postcards, 6,000 prayers cards and more than 400 Divine Mercy images and posters were provided to St. John’s.

Pastor Father Frank J. Garcia said the program was well-received.

According to St. Faustina’s diary, Jesus said: “My daughter, know that my heart is mercy itself. From this sea of mercy graces flow out upon the whole world. No soul that has approached me has ever gone away unconsoled” (“The Diary of Sister M. Faustina Kowalska,” No. 1777).

“This is the message we want to send to our area and the whole world,” Father Freihofer said. “Hopefully this good habit will lead people to pray the chaplet after the 40 days.”

How to Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary and Apostles Creed.
2. Using a rosary, on the Our Father beads say: Eternal Father, I offer you the body and blood, soul and divinity of your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
3. On the 10 Hail Mary beads say: For the sake of his sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
4. Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades.
5. Conclude with: Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world (three times).