Join In Praying The Divine Mercy Novena

Join In Praying The Divine Mercy Novena Today join in praying the Divine Mercy Novena. The Catholic Church will pray each day this novena leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday which follows Easter. Let us pray daily that we may receive God’s mercy rather than judgment at the time of our death. (The following information has been copied from http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/ Background of the Divine Mercy Devotion From the diary of a young Polish nun, a special devotion began spreading throughout the world in the 1930s. The message is nothing new, but is a reminder of what the Church has always taught through scripture and tradition: that God is merciful and forgiving and that we, too, must show mercy and forgiveness. But in the Divine Mercy devotion, the message takes on a powerful new focus, calling people to a deeper understanding that God’s love is unlimited and available to everyone — especially the greatest sinners. Living the Message of Mercy The devotional practices revealed through Saint Faustina were given to us as "vessels of mercy" through which God's love can be poured out upon the world, but they are not sufficient unto themselves. It's not enough for us to hang The Divine Mercy image in our homes, pray the Chaplet every day at three o'clock, and receive Holy Communion on the first Sunday after Easter. We also have to show mercy to our neighbors. Putting mercy into action is not an option of the Divine Mercy Devotion; it's a requirement! To learn more visit: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/

being An Exemplary Model

Being An Exemplary Model “That is disgusting! I would never touch that, but you can clean it up for me.” “Do as I say, not as I do.” Jesus traveled to many places to teach people how to care for one another. He never asked anyone to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. You are the hands of the resurrected Christ. You are the eyes of the exalted Lord. You are the heart of God’s church. Live as Jesus lived so that you might be an exemplary model for your family and friends to pattern themselves after. “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example,,that you also should do as I have done to you.” John 13:1-8,12-15 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

You Are The Face Of Christ

You Are The Face Of Christ “It wasn’t me who took your money.” “Why would you lie to me? I saw you do it.” We are bold enough to lie to someone’s face. But are we really so shameless to lie to the face of Christ? Each of us has been created by God, and like His Son, are made in His likeness. We should not fool ourselves, what we do to each other we do blatantly to the face of Christ. Matthew 26:14-25 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I betray him to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'" So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?" He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born." Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so."

Graceful Moments of Resurrections

Graceful Moments of Resurrections “I can’t believe you stood by me, after the terrible way I’ve treated you.” “I’m so blessed to have you with me again. Given my past behavior I feel I don’t deserve you.” “I treated strangers better than you. And still you forgave me.” Our selfish human behavior gets us in trouble. But when we are people who live with the passion of Christ, we will always forgive and be forgiven, we will grant allotments and receive another opportunity, and we can believe we will never be left alone. This is the promise of Christ. Place Jesus first in your life, and your life will always have many graceful moments of holy resurrections. John 13:31-33, 36-38 Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterwards." Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

Love Should Not Be Put Off

Love Should Not Be Put Off “Why would you want to spend the last day of your trip with poor and desolate people you don’t even know?” “I know you must be tired of caring for him. Why don’t you leave that for someone else to finish?” “Leave her alone. She saved that money so she could give it to the poor.” We may not understand someone’s reason for giving just a little more. Someone’s emotional thought process may not make sense to the intellectual mind, but it does to the caring heart. Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it (perfume made of nard) so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” We may have years, months and even just days left with one another. Therefore the time we spend caring, consoling, uplifting, promoting and loving should not be put off. John 12:1-11 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 'Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?' (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, 'Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.' When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.

With The Eyes Of Christ

With The Eyes of Christ We may find that someone looks suspicious or another’s approach is different than ours. Although we do not on the face believe in each other because we are different, believe in good the works that you witness. Jesus proclaimed, “The Father is in me, and I am in the Father.” When you look at other people with the eyes of Christ then you’ll know how to treat them, how to think of them, and ultimately how to love them. John 10: 31-42 The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?" The Jews answered, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God." Jesus answered, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, you are gods'? If those to whom the word of God came were called 'gods' - and the scripture cannot be annulled - can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, 'I am God's Son'? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, "John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true." And many believed in him there.

Spiritual Maturity Provides Swift Answers To Fiery Emotions

Spiritual Maturity Provides Swift Answers To Fiery Emotions We can be angry at a circumstance and want to throw something or perhaps infuriated at a person’s ways and want to take them by the shoulders and shake some sense into them. If anger overwhelms you, quickly filter through the negative mental emotions if you must. Be careful not to stay there in your turmoil. Be even more vigilant not to be angry at your God who loves you. The strength and depth of your spiritual wisdom will determine and resolve how your human intelligence will proceed with its petty and vital qualms. Spiritual maturity provides swift answers to fiery emotions. John 8:51-59 Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.’ The Jews said to him, ‘Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, “Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.” Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, “He is our God”, though you do not know him. But I know him; if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.’ Then the Jews said to him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.’ So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.