Holy Family Catholic Church

In 1935, Blessed Faustina received a vision of an angel sent by God to chastise a certain city. She began to pray for mercy, but her prayers were powerless. Suddenly she saw the Holy Trinity and felt the power of Jesus’ grace within her. At the same time she found herself pleading with God for mercy wiht words she heard interiorly:

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; for the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy okn us and on the whole world.

As she continued saying this inspired prayer, the angel became helpless and could not carry out the deserved punishment. The next day, as she was entering the chapel, she again heard this interior voice, instructing her how to recit eht prayer that our Lord later called “the Chaplet”. From then on, she recited this form of prayer almost constantly, offering it especially for the dying.
In subsequent revelations, the Lord made it clear that the Chaplet was not just for her, but for the whole world. He also attached extraordinary promises to its recitation.

Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you … Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death … When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not ass the just Judge but as the Merciful Saviour … Priests will recomment 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 … I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy … Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will.

Prayed on ordinary rosary beads, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is an intercessory prayer that extend the offering of the Eucharist, so it is especially appropriate to use it after having received Holy Communion at Holy Mass. It may be said at any time, but our Lord specifically told Blessed Faustina to recite it during the nine days before the Feast of Mercy (the first Sunday after Easter). He then added:

By this Novena, (of Chaplets) I will grant every possible grace to souls.

It is likewise appropriate to pray the chaplet during the “Hour of Great Mercy” - three o’clock each afternoon (recalling the time of Christ’s death on the cross). In His revelations to Blessed Faustina, Our Lord asked for a special remembrance of His Passion at that hour.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trepasses as we forgive those who trespass agains us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with You. Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

• • • • • • 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.

• • • • • • For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
            have mercy on us
            and on the whole world.

• • • • • • Holy God,
            Holy Mighty One,
            Holy Immortal One,
            have mercy on us
            and on the whole world.
            (three times)

Come experience a day of prayer facilitated by one of the
members of the Diocesan RCIA Commission centered around
our personal experience of the Easter Vigil and learn more about
the experience of Mystagogy. April 5, 2008- 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
in the Undercroft. Cost: $10.00 per person, covers breakfast,
snacks and lunch. Please contact Rodney Bruce (473-7359) by
March 25 to register. You will receive confirmation via e-mail or
telephone of registration by April 1st from the Diocese.

Why Catholic? “Journey Through the Catechism” is a

faith-sharing series of small group discussions designed to

help us develop a deeper understanding of our faith.

Small groups meet for 6 weeks in Lent and for another 6

weeks in the Fall to read, pray over and treasure the rich

resources of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Everyone is invited to a mature faith by nourishing and

strengthening their calling and identity as people of faith

and as evangelizers in the model of Jesus. No matter the

length of our formal education, we need to continue to

unfold the mysteries of our Catholic faith. Since we are

called to be evangelizers as a natural part of our Catholic

life, a deeper understanding of our faith can help us in this

mission.

Group members use a four-book series based on the four

sections of the Catechism as a tool for adult faith

formation: The Profession of Faith: What We Believe;

The Celebration of the Christian Mystery: Sacraments;

Life in Christ: Walking With God; and Christian Prayer:

Deepening My Experience of God.

For those interested in facilitating discussions, the small

group leader workshop is scheduled for Saturday, January

12 from Noon – 3 pm in the Undercroft. Our small groups

will begin meeting the week of February 3.

For more information about Why Catholic? and how you

can participate as either a small group leader or a

member, contact Margie Strother at 325-4727.