Prayer Guide To The Divine Mercy Chaplet

What is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy?

Saint Faustina was born Helena Kowalska in the village of Glogowiec west of Lodz, Poland, on August 25, 1905. She was the third of ten children. When she was almost twenty, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, whose members devote themselves to the care and education of troubled young women.

The following year she received her religious habit and was given the name Sister Maria Faustina, to which she added "of the Most Blessed Sacrament," as was permitted by her Congregation's custom.

In the 1930s, Sister Faustina received from the Lord a message of mercy that she was told to spread throughout the world. She was asked to become the apostle and secretary of God's mercy, a model of how to be merciful to others, and an instrument for reemphasizing God's plan of mercy for the world.

The message of mercy that Sister Faustina received is now being spread throughout the world; she has been recognized by the Church as a "Saint"; and her diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul, has become the handbook for devotion to The Divine Mercy. She would not have been surprised, for she had been told that the message of God's mercy would spread through her writings for the great benefit of souls.

Through Saint Faustina, Jesus also revealed special ways to live out the response to His mercy–one of which is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, as both a novena and a prayer for the three o'clock hour–the hour of His death.

 The 3 O'clock Prayer

You died Jesus, but the source of life flowed out for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fountain of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, cover the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which flowed out from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world (3x)

Jesus, King of Mercy.. 
We Trust In You!

How To Pray The Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Chaplet of Mercy is recited using ordinary rosary beads of five decades.

1.    Make a Sign of the Cross 

2.    Say and pray your intentions using ACTS (Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication)

3.    Our Father       

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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.

4.    Hail Mary 

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. 

5.    Apostle's Creed (Original Version)

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, 
he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven 
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son, 
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, 
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen

6.     On the large bead before each decade

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.

7.    On the ten small beads of each decade, says..

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

After 5 decades, conclusion prayer.. 

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One

Have Mercy on us and on the whole world (3x)  

Amen.

Jesus, King of Mercy

We trust in You. 

Our Lord said to Saint Faustina:

"Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you ... Whoever will say 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 as the Just Judge but as the Merciful Savior ... Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to say 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."

Source:   http://www.catholicity.com/prayer/divinemercy.html

November 7, 2013 Thursday Mass Readings and Reflection - The Lost Sheep

“Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.” 

– Luke 15:6 

REUNITED

         Babita’s biggest nightmare came true: her five-year-old daughter, Suhani, was missing.

           She left her alone at home because she went to visit a nearby hospital while her husband, a vegetable vendor, had already gone to the market early that morning. Together with her husband, they looked for Suhani but she was nowhere to be found. Later, they went to the police station to report the missing child. The police informed them that their child was in the safe custody of Childline. A good Samaritan noticed their frightened-looking daughter around 12 noon. He took her in his custody before he handed her over to the police. After seven agonizing hours of frantic searching, the child was reunited with her parents.

        Just like the parents of Suhani, God searches for those who are lost. And He never stops until He finds them and brings them back to His fold. Each person is valuable to the Lord. No matter how far deep you are in your sins, He continues to love, search and woo you. And when He finally finds you, He rejoices together with His angels and saints. Judith Concepcion 

1^ST READING

The things we do reflect to others what we believe. This is why we need to take care that we do not scandalize others by our actions. It is imperative that we realize the power of our example to children. If adults are doing something, it lends credence to the idea that it is worth doing even when it is something like smoking or getting drunk or swearing. Children’s minds are very open to new experiences.

Romans 14:7-12

7 Brothers and sisters: None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. 8 For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 Why then do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you look down on your brother or sister? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” 12 So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.

P S A L M

Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

R: I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (R) 4 One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate his temple. (R) 13 I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. (R)

GOSPEL

When we are reunited with the object of love we have previously lost, we rejoice. We all know the experience of finding something or someone who was lost. This is how the heart of God reacts when we repent of our sins and return to the sheepfold. He rejoices as we see in the next parable of the Prodigal Son. God does not desire to punish us; He simply wants us to let Him love us.

Luke 15:1-10

1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, 2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So Jesus addressed this parable to them. 4 “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy 6 and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. 8 Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ 10 In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

REFLECTION

WE ARE THE LORD’S 

        A very clear statement regarding ourselves is what we have in today’s First Reading from St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans: “Both in life and in death we are the Lord’s.” So is it any wonder that in the corresponding Gospel for today, the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, the shepherd and the woman considered their loss as unbearable and they didn’t stop until they recovered what they were looking for?

       Incidentally, it often happens to us as well, that we lose things (like our cell phone, for example). We misplace them, forget them or leave them behind somewhere. In an effort to recover them, we have recourse to “lost and found” announcements or ask the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua. But even with these, there is no foolproof guarantee that we will find or recover the lost items. At the root of such an unpleasant experience is the identity and belongingness of the thing. When threatened by theft or loss, its identity is endangered.

       That is why, for us, our fundamental identity as creatures of God and children of the Father is something we should always keep in mind. Again, “both in life and in death we are the Lord’s.” Because of this, we cannot pass judgment on others just because they happen to stray away or engage in attitudes and behaviors which seem inconsistent with their fundamental identity.

       The early Christians of St. Paul’s time were in fact quarreling over clean and unclean foods (as prescriptions to identify themselves). On the other hand, the Pharisees and the scribes of the Gospel were disdaining the tax collectors and sinners who were associating with Jesus. Issues like these undermine our universal Christian identity and belongingness to God. He, more than anybody else, owns us.

       Thank God that should we be lost, it is He himself who will take pains  to search for us and bring us back where we belong. Indeed, “we are the Lord’s.” Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

"Lord Jesus, thank You for always looking out for me. May I never stray from Your embrace again."

Source:   http://kerygmafamily.com/modules/dailyreadings/read.php?date=2013-11-07

November 6, 2013 Wednesday Mass Readings and Reflection - Following Jesus

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:26

THE VALUE OF THINGS

If I slapped a friend just for kicks, she’d probably never talk to me again. If I did the same to my boss, I’d likely be suspended. Still, if I hit the President, I’d be thrown in jail or shot on site. See the pattern? Even if the offense is the same, the weight of punishment follows the rank of the person offended. So what do you think happens when we offend God?

       As the weight of punishment varies according to the person we offend, so should our love and loyalty naturally change according to the responsibility we have towards people. While my kids were having a conversation, one of them asked, “Who is more important, Mommy or God?” My other kid replied, “God, of course, because Mommy wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for God.”

       In being called to follow Christ, we are also called to know the weight and value of our relationships. We are tasked to grow in knowing each person’s place in our lives. God most certainly should always be first. It is not, after all, worthy of being called Christianity if it isn’t Christ-centered. Rod Velez

1^ST READING

Paul tells us that growing in love is the most important thing we can do in life. He challenges us to compete against one another in the love that we have for God and others. He teaches us that growth in our love is an important measure of how well we are doing in our spiritual lives.

Romans 13:8-10

8 Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

P S A L M

Psalm 112:1-2, 4-5, 9

R: Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

1 Blessed the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. (R) 4 He dawns through the darkness, a light for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. 5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice. (R) 9 Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus does not mean that we have to literally hate our parents. What He means to teach us is that we need to prefer God over everyone else. The most important relationship we develop in life is with God and this fact ought to be reflected in the way we make our choices, preferring Him over all other people.

Luke 14:25-33

25 Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, 26 “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 29 Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him 30 and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 31 Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 32 But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 33 In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

REFLECTION 

NO WALK IN THE PARK 

Let’s pick up immediately the opening words of today’s Gospel passage for a few insights. “Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them....”

       We should be able to picture easily the scene in our minds. Jesus was like any of today’s celebrities who have a huge fan base. These “groupies” followed Him literally wherever He went, with Him leading the way in front. And then now, as though suddenly (in this instance of the narrative), Jesus turned to His followers. Such a quick change of movement and position indicates the kind of confrontation Jesus made with His followers — something which we also need from time to time as we follow Him. Meaning to say, Jesus will not hesitate to face us squarely just so we can examine (and purify) our motives and intentions. And then He drops the bombshell, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother....”

       An occasional “shock treatment” from Jesus can do us good. Ours shouldn’t be a blind following, the result of a bandwagon effect, based on the popularity of the one being followed. Jesus does have His demands, which we read clearly in the Gospel. He minces no words and sugarcoats no directives. For our part, we’d better think twice and be sure of our commitment to follow Him.

       There is definitely a price we must pay in following Jesus. We must calculate the cost and face the risk. As we said, it’s a matter of really following Jesus — which is not at all a walk in the park. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

" Lord, during the times when it’s hard for me to follow You, strengthen me."

Source:  http://kerygmafamily.com/modules/dailyreadings/read.php?date=2013-11-06

How To Be Happy Without Lots Of Money?

Are We Happy Without Money?

 

This is a very good question each of us need to ponder.  Are we happy at all with what we got in life now?  Especially if we got so many possessions and money is not a problem to us?  Are we happy and fulfilled enough?  Can you answer this question honestly?

Anyway, I am a living testimony myself, and I can answer this question based on my very own experience honestly and faithfully.

 But I think it's a very long story to put it in detail.  

All I can say is, I am very happy with my life now without money, compared to my life before earning dollars abroad, enjoying all the wonderful things money can buy, but not using it for a good purpose in serving Him and others.  

Yes, I only use it to serve my family and the people close to me but not with people I didn't knew at all, believing that the main reason I sacrificed to work hard away from home is my family and not others.  So selfish of me, didn't even experienced giving regular tights to my church, but rather contented enough in dropping coins to a basket offering.  

That was too shameful of me to God.  Until came a moment that I faced too much difficulties and burdens in life.  God made me realized how shameful and sinful I was, but knowing Him as a loving, merciful and forgiving God, He transformed my life and opened up my heart and my eyes into His wonderful purpose for me.. go home and serve Him!

Right now, I am home.. serving my purpose, and though I don't have a job and expect no regular monthly income, yet, wondering why I can still cope-up my monthly 'tighting' obligations to the Lord for my two spiritual ministries?  And was still able to give something to others. And the most wonder of all wonders, I was still able to fed my family, pay my monthly bills and even have the resources to put regularly into my monthly stock market investment. 

Where these all came from? I was always amazed by God's graciousness that blessings just came in so many ways. I didn't understand either, all I understand is the mysteries behind all these purposes God has prepared for me, from all these spiritual works and obligations He commanded me to do.

All I know is that..I just say YES to Him, though my mind sometimes disagree and say NO, but I'm so grateful that my heart got the will to say YES!  What do you think?  Am I happy without money? 

You're right!  YES! I am very happy with God's purpose for me!

But I always believed that money is not at all evil when use it in God's purpose!

Anyway, I want you to be inspired more, I just want to share to you this wonderful soulfood article of Bo Sanchez regarding the happiness money can brought to us. May this will change your life's perspective about money and happiness.  

Are You Happy Without Money?

 

Money won’t make you happy.

I don’t care if you have a billion dollars, or maintain ten mansions across the globe, or wear diamonds the size of ping-pong balls, or own sixteen multinational corporations.

I believe that money can make you happy ONLY if you use it to fulfill your ultimate purpose in life—which is to love, help, and serve others!

       Here’s another spiritual principle you need to learn: Money will make you happy only if you have learned how to be happy without money.

       If someone is miserable and says, “If only I’ll get enough money, then I’ll be happy,” I’ll bet my life this person will continue to be miserable no matter how rich he gets.

        Best-selling author John Gray said, “Money is like a magnifying glass.”  I agree.  If you’re truly happy, money magnifies this feeling.  It enlarges it.  If you’re miserable, money will make you even more miserable.

It’s the same thing with marriage, or with a job, or with a house, or with kids…   A single person who is miserable and says, “If only I’ll meet my perfect match and get married, then I’ll be happy”, is in for a big surprise.  He’ll be one very miserable married person.  And worse, he’ll make someone else as miserable as he is!  Because the fact is obvious: Happy people make happy marriages.

This truth works with everything else, including money.  You have to learn the secrets of true happiness before money comes, so that when it does come, you’ll know how to handle it and become even happier.

You need to learn to be happy without lots of money.

Assignment: Think of five material things that you really craved for in the past—and you now own.  Examine your feelings.  Are you now satisfied with what you have?  Or do you now desire something new to add or replace what you already have?

It was Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe who said, Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.

May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

Source:  http://bosanchez.ph/are-you-happy-without-money/