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"Bring Me all devout and faithful souls and immerse them in the ocean of My Mercy."

      Today we continue with the third day of the Novena of Divine Mercy which will conclude with DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY next week. This Novena was imparted to Blessed Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun of the 1930's who is known as the "Apostle of Mercy". For this third day of the Novena and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, click on THIRD DAY OF DIVINE MERCY NOVENA

THIRD DAY OF THE NOVENA OF DIVINE MERCY: EASTER SUNDAY, April 4, 1999

"Today bring Me all devout and faithful souls and immerse them in the ocean of My Mercy. These souls brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness."

      Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your Mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous Love for the Heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

      Eternal Father, turn Your Merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless Mercy for endless ages. Amen.

It is greatly recommended the above novena intentions and prayers be said together with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

      Devotion to Divine Mercy is conveyed through the Chaplet of Divine Mercy as Jesus imparted to Blessed Sister Faustina Kowalska when He relayed, as recorded in her diary "Divine Mercy in my soul", "Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you (1541)...Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death (687)...When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the Merciful Savior (1541)...Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this Chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My Infinite Mercy (687)...Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will. (1731).

      Following is the formula for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, prayed on the regular beads of the Rosary. It is most appropriate to pray it at 3 o'clock in the afternoon which is the "Hour of Great Mercy" as Jesus said to Blessed Faustina: 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...In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion. (1320).

      The Chaplet begins with the OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, and the APOSTLES' CREED. Then on the large bead before each decade one recites:
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.

On each decade of the small beads, pray the following:
For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

At the end of the Chaplet recite three times the following prayer:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Then conclude with the following prayer said three times also:
O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as Font of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

      It is recommended to offer each decade to the wounds of Christ, such as the first decade in reparation for the wound in HIs Right Hand; the second decade in reparation for the wound in His Left Hand, the third decade in reparation for the wounds in His Sacred Feet; the fourth decade in reparation for the wounds in His Head in which the Crown of Thorns crushed His Sacred Skull; and the fifth decade in reparation for the wound in His side in which Blood and Water gushed forth as a Font of Mercy for all generations.

      The Novena to Divine Mercy, which Jesus asked Blessed Faustina to begin on Good Friday, 1937 is for nine days from Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter) which is the Feast of Divine Mercy. Jesus told her, By this Novena [of Chaplets and particular intention each day] I will grant every possible grace to souls. (796).

Events this weekend in Church History

      On this date in 1292 the Christian world mourned with the passing of the Church's first Franciscan Pontiff Pope Nicholas IV. In keeping with his Order's rules and spirit, he is best remembered for strengthening the missionary efforts of the Church. For other events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history this weekend, click on MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

Historical Events in Church Annals for April 4:

304 A.D.


Deaths of Saint Agape and her sisters Saint Chionia and Saint Irene who were burned alive by the evil Roman emperor Diocletian because they would not renounce their faith or break their virginity.

397 A.D.


Death of Saint Ambrose the pagan from Gaul who converted, became a great bishop, baptized Saint Augustine, and was named a Doctor of the Church in 1298 by Pope Boniface VIII.

636


Death of Saint Isidore of Seville, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

896 A.D.


Death of Pope Formosus, the Ostian-born pontiff and 111th successor of Peter who was largely responsible for converting Bulgaria.

1284 A.D.


Death of King Alfonso X, monarch of Castile-Leon.

1292 A.D.


Death of Pope Nicolas IV the first Franciscan pope who was the 191st successor of Peter who brought order to the Court of Portugal. Born in Ascoli, Italy, he was elected on February 22, 1288. During his four year papacy he also promoted the progress of study by instituting the University of Montpellier. He strengthened the missions and, in league with Genoa, fought the Saracens.

1297 A.D.


Pope Boniface VIII deeds Corsica and Sardinia to James II, King of Aragon.

1305 A.D.


Death of Queen Joan, wife of Philip "the Fair", King of France.

1406 A.D.


Death of Robert III, the King of Scotland.

1490 A.D.


Death of Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary

1581 A.D.


Death of Saint Benedict the Moor, a humble Franciscan servant and confessor who preferred the obscure chore of cooking over teaching. He was noted for many miracles and is considered one of the patron saints of African Americans.

"Have absolute trust in Me, and give unto Me, through full consecration, all your children and family."

     Those words above from Our Lord on the Feast of the Chair of Peter in 1994 in Message #462 to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart reassures all His children that the little, innocent ones are satan's target and only by praying and giving all to Him can we possibly hope to protect our children from the wiles of the evil one. He reaffirms His bountiful Mercy which is the focal point of His Blessed Mother's 461st Message two days earlier on the First Sunday of Lent where Our Lady stresses sacrifice and perseverance. For these two messages, click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

Messages 461 and 462

      Beloved Hidden Flower, I am with you. Yes, the trials of all my little ones increase, because so many of my children have chosen the path of darkness. I weep, dear children, over your country of which I, the Mother of God, am patroness. Weep with me, my children! Let all voices cry out as one, "Lord Jesus, come. Come quickly, for we are your children and evil is all about."

      Cling to my Divine Son's Cross. Let no person or material thing be more important to you than my Divine Son.

      Each day take up Sacred Scripture and ponder the Passion of my Divine Son. Take up your rosaries and use them. Pray, my little ones. Pray with and from your heart. Let your heart rule, not your mind, for I solemnly tell you satan controls your mind by the vehicles of television, radio, newspapers. You must put these things aside to allow your faith to be as strong as an anchor!

      Pray much, for time is very short. I love and bless you. Thank you for responding to my Call!

      Beloved Hidden Flower of My Mother's Immaculate Heart, I bless you.

      I come to tell My faithful ones that My enemy Lucifer strikes at the heart of that which is dearest to you - your family, particularly your children. You must be constantly on guard lest you fall prey to his snares which drag you down and pull you away from Me!

      Have absolute trust in Me, and give unto Me, through full consecration, all your children and family. Entrust them to the maternal care of My Mother. Above all, have faith which grows from heart-felt prayer, and do not be afraid.

      I solemnly tell you: "I come!" Yes, My children, it shall not be long now and I shall reclaim My kingdom as My Immaculate Mother crushes the head of the serpent.

      Awaken from your slumber. Make sanctity your goal. Always I am with you. Behold, I give you My Mother. Come, then, pick up your cross and walk with Me, that the era which is yet to come may come sooner than any mind can conceive.

      I, your Lord and God, bless you.

    Dear children! I call you to prayer with the heart. In a special way, little children, I call you to pray for conversion of sinners, for those who pierce my heart and the heart of my Son Jesus with the sword of hatred and daily blasphemies. Let us pray, little children, for all those who do not desire to come to know the love of God, even though they are in the Church. Let us pray that they convert, so that the Church may resurrect in love. Only with love and prayer, little children, can you live this time which is given to you for conversion. Place God in the first place, then the risen Jesus will become your friend. Thank you for having responded to my call.
For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE AND MORE

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran returned to Rome late on the evening of Holy Thursday, after an urgent diplomatic mission to Belgrade during which he met with Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic and Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle.

      The Vatican's top foreign-affairs official carried a personal message from Pope John Paul II, begging for an "Easter truce" to stop the warfare over Kosovo and allow time for negotiations. Milosevic has not formally responded to that appeal, but the NATO powers have rejected a similar plea from the Holy Father. US President Bill Clinton said that an Easter truce "would not serve to honor the occasion."

      Archbishop Tauran noted that the appeal for an Easter truce-- to extend at least through the Orthodox observance of Easter on April 11-- had the support of many religious leaders, including especially the Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle. He acknowledged that a truce would have to be enforced "on the ground," so that military forces could not "take advantage of the situation." But he added that the truce would give humanitarian agencies opportunities to begin providing help to the thousands of people who have already been left homeless by the fighting in and around Kosovo.

      In a related initiative, the eight cardinals of the United States wrote to both Clinton and Milosevic, asking both leaders to join in a truce agreement. "We have called upon President Slobodan Milosevic to order the immediate cessation of Serbian military and police operations against the population of Kosovo," the American prelates wrote to Clinton, "and in turn we call upon you, Mr. President, for a cessation of NATO bombing."

      After speaking for an hour with Milosevic, Archbishop Tauran told reporters that he had offered any permanent solution to the Kosovo crisis, but had conveyed "the profound concern of the Pope over this dramatic situation, which is causing enormous suffering for innumerable people." The talk took place at the residence of the papal nuncio in Belgrade.

      The archbishop said that Pope John Paul "is close to all those who are suffering, without distinctions of race, religion, or ideology." He added that the Pontiff maintains his desire "that all people be respected, with equal dignity," and that the "history and rights" of all groups be respected. The Holy See espouses no political cause, he elaborated; but every day the Pope receives an overwhelming number of appeals from people who are suffering from abuses.

      "The Pope is convinced that diplomacy is useful," Archbishop Tauran continued. He pointed to the cooperation between the Holy See and the Serbian Orthodox Church as an example of effective ecumenical work, and productive diplomacy by Church leaders.

      "I think that, right now, there are neither victors nor vanquished," Archbishop Tauran concluded; "I hope and pray that my visit might have helped in the appeal to the heart, and to the voice of conscience." During his day-long trip the Vatican diplomat also met with Yugoslavian Foreign Minister Jovanovic, and Serbian President Milan Milutinovic.

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April 4, 1999 volume 10, no. 65   DAILY CATHOLIC