Category Archives: Novenas

Come Holy Spirit: Novena Day 5

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For the Spirit of God scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God…. no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).”

Send Forth Your Spirit, Lord! © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012 (photo by Ken)

Like our ancient counter-parts in waiting for Pentecost in the Cenacle of the Upper Room in Jerusalem, we are on a spiritual quest to prepare our hearts to receive fully the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. We are cognizant that our true happiness lies in in our ability to know, love and serve God in this life and the next. We are powerless to achieve this goal alone: we need His grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

God Is Love. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

The Holy Spirit is the Love of God in action- One, perpetual movement of Being, emanating from the Father and the Son Eternally in Love. We are called to Love and by this Love we shall be saved. The gift of the Holy Spirit is essential in our lives. Jesus said: “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God John 3:5).” If we desire Eternal happiness, then seeking the fullness of the Holy Spirit is a requisite place to begin.

It is to this end that we continue with the fifth day of our novena to the Holy Spirit in preparation for the Solemnity of Pentecost. This novena is currently prayed each day after Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill.

Each day the Preparatory prayer is:

Enlighten the Hearts of Your Faithful! © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012 (EA photo)

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!

I adore You as my Triune God.

I bless You by uniting myself to the praises You receive from the angels and saints.

I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed and unceasingly bestow upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts and Who did enrich with immense favors the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, I beseech You to visit me by Your Grace and Your Love, and grant me the favor I so earnestly seek in this novena. . . .(state your request here). O Holy Spirit, Spirit of all Truth, come into our hearts: shed the brightness of your light on all nations, that they may be of one faith and pleasing to You. Amen.

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Love.

(Recite the prayer of the appropriate day)

Day Five

Send Forth the Radiance of Your Light! © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012 (EA photo)

Come, O Spirit of sanctity, from the glory of heaven and send forth the radiance of Your Light. Father of all the poor, light and peace of all hearts, come with Your countless gifts. Consoler in desolation; refreshment full of loveliness, come dear friend of my soul. In weariness send repose; breathe gently cool refreshing breeze; console the desolate who weep alone. Light of Beatitude, make our hearts ready; come enter our souls. Without Your grace, man stands alone; he cannot be good or sure. Cleanse what is soiled; heal what is wounded; moisten what is arid. Bend the stubborn will; warm the cold heart; guide the wandering footstep. O Holy Spirit, we beg You to give us grace through Your sevenfold power and grant me the favor I so earnestly seek in this novena. . .(state your request here). . Give us merit for the present, and one day beatitude when we have finished our earthly journey. Amen.

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Love.

May the Holy Spirit give you His Light and His peace!

Blessings,

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

M.A. J.M.J.

Enlighten the Hearts of Your Faithful

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“For with Thee is the Fountain of Life; and in thy Light we shall see Light (Psalm 36:9).”

In Thee We See the Light. . . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012. GC photographer

It is impossible to wrap our mere human minds around the notion of the Holy Spirit. The Love that is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity is conceptually so vast that it cannot be contained by mortal understanding. Our fallen nature cannot begin to sound the depths of Love personified in the Holy Spirit. Thus, God has chosen certain symbols to augment our understanding.

I Saw the Spirit as a Dove. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012. KJ photographer

Often we view the Holy Spirit as a dove. Scripture itself relates John the Baptist as stating: “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain on Him (John 1:33).” This symbol seems to convey the transcendent peace of the Holy Spirit, and His role in creation itself. God is above and beyond the limits of human frailty; time and space cannot contain Him, nor can conflict and discord shape His existence. God’s transcendent peace and beauty surpass the limits of our temporal world.

A Mighty Wind Swept Over the Water. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012. photpgrapher EA

The presence of God the Holy Spirit is often communicated through symbols of water and wind. For example, Genesis 1:2 manifests this concept with: “a mighty wind swept over the waters.” The waters of Baptism refresh and cleanse, bringing new life to the soul. It is only through the action of the Holy Spirit that we may respond to our Baptismal grace and live lives pleasing to God. The waters of Baptism remove the stain of Original Sign, and with the grace of the Holy Spirit, sanctify our souls.

Our Lord Himself stated:

“The waters that I will give Him will become a fountain of water springing up into life everlasting (John 4:14).”

Enkindle in Us the Fire of Your Love…© SalveMaterDei.com, 2012. EA photographer

One of the most enduring symbols of the Holy Spirit is that of light. Light transcends darkness. One beam of light dispels the shadows and brings clarity to what otherwise would remain unintelligible. Light transforms; bringing shape and form to objects that lack dimension and substance if left in the dark. Light erases the obscurities that darkness tends to cloak. When the Holy Spirit brings light into a human soul, the shadow of sin and despair takes flight.

“The Light of Thy countenance, O Lord, is signed upon us; Thou has given gladness in my heart (Psalm 4:7).”

Today as we continue day four of our Novena to the Holy Spirit in Preparation for Pentecost, let us pray for the Light of the Spirit to penetrate us, sounding the depths of our frail humanity and transcending it with the very Love of God.

This novena to the Holy Spirit is currently prayed each day after Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill.

Each day the Preparatory prayer is:

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!

I adore You as my Triune God.

I bless You by uniting myself to the praises You receive from the angels and saints.

I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed and unceasingly bestow upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts and Who did enrich with immense favors the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, I beseech You to visit me by Your Grace and Your Love, and grant me the favor I so earnestly seek in this novena. . . .(state your request here). O Holy Spirit, Spirit of all Truth, come into our hearts: shed the brightness of your light on all nations, that they may be of one faith and pleasing to You. Amen.

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Love.

(Recite the prayer of the appropriate day)

Let Your Light Shine Upon Us . . .SalveMaterDei.com, 2012. GM photographer

Day Four

O God, Who today by the Light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, give us, by the Light of the Same Holy Spirit, a love for what is right and just, and a constant enjoyment of His comforts. Pray Holy Spirit, that I may strive to learn more of my faith; that I may be ever more conscious that reason in all its human magnificence is capable of grasping but a glimpse of the reality that is God. Pray that I may accept a the motto of my life: “All for the greater glory of God,” and grant me the favor I so earnestly seek in this novena. . .(state your request here). . .Amen.

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Love.

May the Holy Spirit give you His Light and His peace!

Blessings,

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

M.A. J.M.J.

God Mounts His Throne to Shouts of Joy

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“I am going to My Father and Your Father, to My God and Your God (John 20:17).”

As we celebrate the glorious Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord, our eyes must turn from looking up at the clouds to walking the road ahead of us. After His Resurrection, Our Lord appeared to His disciples over a period of forty days – eating, drinking, and speaking with them on various occasions. Today we celebrate that moment during which Jesus, the Risen Christ, returned to His Heavenly Throne, where He is eternally seated at the right hand of The Heavenly Father. Our Lord promised His disciples that he would not leave them orphaned; Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth. It is in anticipation of the fulfillment of this promise, that Jesus instructs His disciples to remain in Jerusalem for a time.

Today’s First Reading states:

“the promise of the Father about which you have heard Me speak; for John baptized with water but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts of the Apostles 1:4-5 ).”

I don’t know about you, but I often find myself like the disciples, too concerned about temporal matters to comprehend the depth of the gift which they are about to receive. They question Our Lord about whether He now intends to restore the temporal kingdom of Israel. Like us, they just don’t get it! He has died, risen, and explained the subtleties of Sacred Scripture to these individuals. They have enjoyed the intimacy of His companionship, eating, drinking and sharing profound conversation with the Risen Christ; and like us, the distraction of the temporal situation blurs the reality of the spiritual grace which is perpetually lavished upon them.

© SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

Today First Reading continues:

“It is not for you to know the times and the seasons that the Father has established by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth (Acts of the Apostles 1:7-8).”

Like the early disciples, our Lord commissions us to carry His Word to all peoples. Yet, we too need the supernatural grace of the Holy Spirit, to fulfill our mission. Later this year we will hear more about our responsibility to act on this commission by Our Lord, as Pope Benedict XVI opens the Year of Evangelization.

Today’s First Reading continues:

© SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

As they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as He was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen Him going into Heaven (Acts of the Apostles 1: 10-12 ).”

One can scarcely imagine the array of emotions which confronted the Apostles and disciples after witnessing Our Lord ascend into the clouds of the sky: joy, exhilaration, trepidation, awe, incredulity, wonder – the experience is almost unimaginable! Were it not for the admonition of their celestial messengers, the disciples might have remained frozen, contemplating the miraculous Ascension, yet unable to take the requisite steps to make Our Lord’s commission an actuality. The white-clad visitors pull them back to reality. They validated the mystery experienced by all present, yet called the Apostles and disciples to transcend it. It is as if God’s messengers were saying: “Yes, Jesus did just rise above the clouds and enter Heaven. However, He has given you a mission and will return with a demand for accountability. Get moving! Begin the work He has entrusted to you!”

© SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

Two millennia have passed, and yet the message is as relevant today as it was on the day of Our Lord’s Ascension. We too need the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives to grasp the meaning of the Ascension. Yes, there is a moment to stare into the clouds in wonder and awe, contemplating the glorious mystery of Christ, yet we are also called to embrace the evangelical mission entrusted to us.

Therefore, as this week unfolds let us join the Apostles in the Cenacle in prayer. Consider joining me in preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost with this novena to the Holy Spirit which is currently prayed each day after Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill.

Each day the Preparatory prayer is:

© SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!

I adore You as my Triune God.

I bless You by uniting myself to the praises You receive from the angels and saints.

I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed and unceasingly bestow upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts and Who did enrich with immense favors the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, I beseech You to visit me by Your Grace and Your Love, and grant me the favor I so earnestly seek in this novena. . . .(state your request here). O Holy Spirit, Spirit of all Truth, come into our hearts: shed the brightness of your light on all nations, that they may be of one faith and pleasing to You. Amen.

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Love.

(Recite the prayer of the appropriate day)

© SalveMaterDei.com, 2012. photo by Joey

Day Three

Heavenly Father, You have called me to be a member of the Mystical Body of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and to be a Temple of the Holy Spirit. I ask You to give me these Gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, that I may understand the follies of this world; understanding, that I may grasp more fully the meaning of my existence and the purpose of all things in the world; counsel that I may always choose the proper way; fortitude, that I may remain faithful to You under the pressure of temptation; piety, that I may revere You in all I do, think or say; fear of the Lord, that should the motive of love fail me, I may be quickly awakened to the eternal consequences of my deeds. Visit me by Your grace and Your Love and grant me the favor I earnestly seek in this novena. . . .(state your request here). . .Amen.

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Love.

May the Holy Spirit give you His peace!

Blessings,

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

M.A. J.M.J.

Veni Creator Spiritus!

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You Priest Forever. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

Today I had the rare privilege to witness six stellar young men be sealed with the grace of the Holy Spirit and receive an indelible mark upon their souls as they were ordained to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral. It was a magnificent ordination Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Jerome Listecki, Bishop Donald Hying, Bishop Emeritus Richard Sklba, as well as dozens of diocesan and ordered priests. The Cathedral was packed to standing room capacity for the nearly three-hour outpouring of God’s Divine Grace.

Hearts swelled as the choir and congregation sang out: “O God, Beyond All Praising,” for the Entrance Procession. Sacred Scripture was proclaimed in both English and Spanish. The six young men, whose ordination to the transitional diaconate we witnessed only 12 short months ago, were called forth and stood before Archbishop Listecki, as the beautiful ritual began. Archbishop Listecki reminded the deacons and the congregation of the arduous hours each of these candidates had labored in preparation for this prodigious moment. As I reflected on Archbishop Listecki’s homily, I felt an overwhelming sense of comfort knowing that the future of Catholicism rests in hands as capable as those of these fine young men.

Come Holy Spirit © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

As the ritual progressed, the white alb-clad candidates were questioned by Archbishop Listecki, and pledged their obedience to him and his successors. Each man then lay prostrate, his face to the marble floor, while the Litany of Supplication was chanted by the entire congregation. This beautiful ancient prayer unites the entire assembly in prayer with the Communion of Saints, storming Heaven in supplication for the requisite graces these young men need for the fulfillment of their chosen vocation.

© SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

Later, as the candidates knelt before the Archbishop, he placed his hands upon each of them in silent prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to fill each of them with wisdom and grace. Bishops Hying and Sklba also laid their hands upon each candidate in prayer, and then each concelebrating priest did likewise. Year to year, I love this moment! The unity in the brotherhood of priests is visible. As each priest prays over his brother priest there is a sense of mystery and awe: an unbroken line of grace, being transmitted through mere human instruments, inspiring those receiving it to fulfill their role in Persona Christi with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Each Newly Odrained Priest is Vested. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

Veni Creator Spiritus! With his hands extended over the candidates, Archbishop Listecki then prayed the Prayer of Ordination. Each newly ordained priest was then vested in his stole and chasuble (the symbols of his office) by a priest of his choosing. As the ritual continued to unfold, Archbishop Listecki anointed the palms of the newly ordained priests with Holy Chrism. Bread and wine were then presented to each newly ordained priest by the Archbishop to signify the role in presiding at the Holy Eucharist. As the rite of Ordination drew to completion, the Archbishop and fellow Bishops individually greeted the newly ordained priests with a fraternal embrace.

© SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

My tears flowed as the mothers of the newly ordained priests brought the gifts of bread and wine to their sons, and the Archbishop. These mothers here embraced the sons whom they had once nourished as children, who in turn would now nourish them with the Body and Blood of Christ. The Consecration was magnificent. I can only imagine the joy these newly ordained priests and their families felt.

Fraternal Prayer © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

Ryan’s Chasuble & Chalice in the Sanctuary © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

After the final blessing and procession, there was time for photos and hugs. Through the years, our family has grown very fond of one of the newly ordained priests. From a distance, we watched our friend Ryan cope with the rigorous academic challenges of seminary life. We were present last year in this same cathedral as he was ordained to the transitional diaconate in preparation for this monumental day. Over the past few weeks we have seen his vestments and chalice present in the sanctuary of St. Peter Church – waiting as if nearly ready for their new owner to fulfill the purpose for which they were created. Now we witnessed this amazing young man complete his path to ordination, and take his first steps in Persona Christi. Wow!

There is a tradition that the blessing of a new priest is abundantly fruitful. As our family knelt in blessing before our friend Fr. Ryan, I felt a sense of awe and gratitude. Who can know the Mind of God? It is incomprehensible how Our Lord should call a unique group of chosen men to stand in His place on Earth, and communicate His love sacramentally. The mystery is so profound that the human mind cannot fathom its depths. Likewise, it is a mystery how mere men can have the fortitude to respond to God’s call to sacrifice all to become fishers of men. As our Lord Himself said: “With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19: 26).” I am immensely grateful to both God and these men for allowing His Holy Spirit to turn possibility into reality.

© SalveMaterDei.com, 2011-2012.

On this day, in response to such a tremendous outpouring of the Holy Spirit, it is fitting to continue our novena in preparation for the Feast of Pentecost. As we continue this novena, please pray in a special way for these newly ordained priests:

Rev. Yamid Jose Blanco Ariza Rev. Juan Manuel Camacho Porras

Rev. Brad Alan Krawszyk Rev. Ryan Joseph Pruess

Rev. Jacob Alexander Strand Rev. Carlos Alberto Zapata Munoz

This novena to the Holy Spirit is currently prayed each day after Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill.

© SalveMaterDei.com, 2012 E.A. photographer

Each day the Preparatory prayer is:

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!

I adore You as my Triune God.

I bless You by uniting myself to the praises You receive from the angels and saints.

I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed and unceasingly bestow upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts and Who did enrich with immense favors the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, I beseech You to visit me by Your Grace and Your Love, and grant me the favor I so earnestly seek in this novena. . . .(state your request here). O Holy Spirit, Spirit of all Truth, come into our hearts: shed the brightness of your light on all nations, that they may be of one faith and pleasing to You. Amen.

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Love.

(Recite the prayer of the appropriate day)

© SalveMaterDei.com, 2011-2012.

Day Two

O Holy Spirit, make me faithful in every thought, grant that I may always listen to your voice, and watch for Your Light, and follow your gracious inspirations. I cling to You, and give myself to you, and ask You by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced feet of Jesus, looking at His five wounds, trusting in His Precious Blood, adoring His open side and stricken Heart, I implore You adorable Spirit, helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace, now and always, grant us the favor we ask in this novena. . . (state your request here). . .Amen.

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your love.

May the Holy Spirit give you His peace!

Blessings,

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

M.A. J.M.J.

Be Sealed With the Holy Spirit: Novena to the Holy Spirit Day 1

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Bishop Donald Hying & Our Family © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

During recent the months I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on the power of the Holy Spirit in my life, and the lives of those whom I love. My eldest son received the Sacrament of Confirmation a few weeks ago, and this year of preparation has offered our family the opportunity to focus more deeply upon the real, abiding presence of the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity in our lives. Kenny was graced with the ability of joining a Confirmation class that seriously undertook the task of catechesis. They worked diligently through not only portions of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, but also delved into Thomistic study. As a parent, I was required to follow along, and read the same weekly texts as my son. Watching the Holy Spirit bring His gifts of wisdom, understanding, fortitude, piety, knowledge, fear of the Lord, and counsel and heap them measure by measure upon my offspring was a delight. Thus, this year, as I prepare for Pentecost, I feel a unique gratitude to the Holy Spirit.

Bishop Hying & Kenny © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

As a matter of faith, we believe that the Holy Spirit is truly the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, distinct, yet consubstantial, coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Son. Likewise, as Catholics, we believe that the Holy Spirit is fully and truly God, and is thus not generated, but rather proceeds from the Father and the Son by a single spiration.

God is Love (1 John 4:8). Yes, indeed, in a very real way God is truly Love Itself. Aquinas viewed the Trinity as the very heart of Christian teaching. St. Thomas believed that one could use reason to arrive at and defend the concept of the existence of God. However, the concept of Trinity is one that must be revealed. It is thus, through the teachings of Jesus Christ, One in Being with the Father, that we arrive at the concept of the Blessed Trinity.

Unity yet Diversity © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

God is both unity and diversity. God is unity in the sense not only of solidarity of purpose, but also an accord – or oneness of nature. God is one God, yet three distinct Persons. Scripture clearly tells us that God is God alone. Deuteronomy 6:4 states: “Hear O Israel, the Lord Your God Is One.” Likewise: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me (Isaiah 44: 6).” While God is unity, He also exists as diversity in the sense that we can distinguish the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as discrete Persons. For the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas, the Trinity is a reflection of the relationship of Love and Self-Knowledge within the Being of God. God the Son emanates from God the Father as a reflection of His self-knowledge; in turn God the Holy Spirit proceeds from God the Father and God the Son as the Love that exists between them.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

On the day of Pentecost when seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ’s Passover is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a Divine Person: of His fullness, Christ the Lord, pours out the Spirit in abundance (731).

It continues:

On that day, the Holy Trinity is fully revealed. Since that day, the Kingdom announced by Christ has been open to those who believe in: the humility of the flesh and in faith they share in the communion of the Holy Trinity (732).

As we anticipate the great feast of Pentecost, perhaps you might wish to join me in praying the novena to the Holy Spirit that is being recited each day after Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill.

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

Each day the Preparatory prayer is:

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!

I adore You as my Triune God.

I bless You by uniting myself to the praises You receive from the angels and saints.

I offer You my whole heart, and I render You heartfelt thanks for all the benefits You have bestowed and unceasingly bestow upon the world. You are the author of all supernatural gifts and Who did enrich with immense favors the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, I beseech You to visit me by Your Grace and Your Love, and grant me the favor I so earnestly seek in this novena. . . .(state your request here). O Holy Spirit, Spirit of all Truth, come into our hearts: shed the brightness of your light on all nations, that they may be of one faith and pleasing to You. Amen.

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Love.

(Recite the prayer of the appropriate day)

Let Your Light Shine Upon Us © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

Day One

O Holy Spirit, bestow upon us Your seven gifts.

Enlighten our understanding that we may know You. Give us Wisdom that Your Will might be clear to us and that we might accept it. Grant us the Gift of Counsel that we may always perceive what is right. Fortify us that we may always be capable of fulfilling Your Divine Will. Inspire us with the Spirit of Learning that we might be able to penetrate more deeply into the truths that You have revealed. Let our hearts be steeped in the Spirit of Childlikeness that we may bring You joy. Let us have proper fear of God that we may never grieve You or wander from the path of goodness. Give us the fullness of Your gifts that we may glorify You. Amen.

Look with compassion upon us, O Holy Spirit, and grant us the favor we seek in this novena. . . . (state your request here) if it be in accordance with Your Will.

May God the Holy Spirit bring you His many gifts and give You His peace,

Blessings,

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

M.A.    J.M.J.

Be Sealed With the Gifts of the Holy Spirit © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

Jesus, I Trust In You!

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Jesus, I Trust in You! © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012 E.A. photographer

“My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, especially for poor sinners. . . .It is for them that the blood and water flowed from My Heart as from a fount overflowing with mercy. I dwell in the tabernacle as the King of Mercy (1216, p. 438 – Divine Mercy in My Soul,

Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

We are nearing the culmination of this Octave of Easter Week: the Feast of Divine Mercy. It has been as glorious week, with each day celebrated as a mini-Easter. We have prepared with both the Novena of Mercy Chaplets, and the special novena dictated by Our Lord Himself to St. Maria Faustina in preparation for this incredible feast.

Today marks the last day of the Novena of Chaplets. This novena is prayed on ordinary Rosary Beads. Complete instructions regarding the Novena of Chaplets can be found on the Divine Mercy website of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception at: http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php

Today we also complete the final day of the Divine Mercy Novena dictated by Jesus to St. Maria Faustina. For each of the past eight days, Our Lord requested that Sr. Faustina pray for a given group of souls, immersing them in the unfathomable mercy of Christ and then pleading for them before the throne of the Heavenly Father. On this the ninth day of the novena, Our Lord appealed to Sr. Faustina as follows:

Divine Mercy Image

“Today bring to Me souls who have become lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: ‘Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.’ For them the last hope of Salvation is to run to My Mercy (1216, p. 438 – Divine Mercy in My Soul,

Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

For the complete text of the ninth day of the novena, please visit the Divine Mercy Website of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception at: http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/novena/ninthday.php.

Jesus describes souls such as these in several places in the Diary. At times they are also compared to ice and corpses. Our Lord mentions that the indifferences of these souls offends Him greatly, especially when they are chosen souls. Regarding these souls He states:

All the Graces I Pour on Them Flow Off. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

“. . . . Souls without love and without devotion, souls full of self-love and egoism, souls full of pride and arrogance, souls full of deceit and hypocrisy, lukewarm souls who have just enough warmth to keep themselves alive. My Heart cannot bear this. All the graces I pour on them flow off them as off the face of a rock. I cannot stand them because they are neither good nor bad….. (1702, p. 602 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

Yikes, those words sting! When I look deep within my own soul, I see those moments of arrogance, and hypocrisy, and I shudder to think that Our Lord might be speaking of me! I don’t want to be lukewarm! I certainly do not want to be the cause of Our Lord’s loathing.

Our Lord speaks of these souls on another occasion:

I Would Lavish Great Graces Uopn Them. . . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012 E.A. Photographer

“If souls would put themselves completely in My care, I Myself would undertake the task of sanctifying them, and I would lavish even greater graces upon them. There are souls who thwart My efforts, but I have not given up on them; as often as they turn to Me, I hurry to their aid, shielding them with My mercy and giving them first place in My compassionate Heart of Mercy (1682p. 595 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

Our Lord’s love and mercy are immeasurable! He desires to save us, and offers each of us the opportunity to accept the gift of His mercy. This great feast was instituted as not only a celebration of God’s Divine Mercy, but also a vehicle to obtain it.

Jesus was very specific regarding the institution of the Feast of Divine Mercy, speaking about it through 14 entries in St. Faustina’s diary. He stipulated that it was to be liturgically celebrated on the Sunday after Easter, and that it include the solemn blessing of a Divine Mercy image bearing the words “Jesus, I trust in You!” (For more information on the Divine Mercy Image and Mercy Sunday, visit the Marians of the Immaculate Conception website at: http://thedivinemercy.org/mercysunday/dms.php.)

Our Lord stated:

Divine Mercy Image, Basilica of The National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012 E.A. Photographer

“I want the Image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it (341 p. 153 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

Jesus promised St. Faustina:

“I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My Mercy (1109 p. 412 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

This promise is extraordinary! Blessed Pope John Paul the Great officially instituted Divine Mercy Sunday in 2000, and reiterated the importance of this feast in His homily a year later.

As Our Lord designated the 3 O’clock hour as the Hour of Mercy stating:

“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 for the whole world. I will allow you to enter fully into My mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the souls that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion (1320 p. 474 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

On Mercy Sunday special Masses will be celebrated around the world to commemorate this solemn feast. Our Lord especially requested that priests preach on the subject of the immense Mercy of Jesus the Holy Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday.

To celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy we need to:

Our Lives Too Must Reflect the Image of Christ's Divine Mercy © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

A) Sincerely repent of our sins.

(B) Offer our complete Trust to Jesus.

(C) Sacramentally Confess our sins and be Absolved – (within 8 days prior or after).

(D) Receive Holy Communion.

(E) Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.

(F) Venerate (show a gesture of respect) to the Image of the Divine Mercy Jesus.

(G) Be Merciful! Extend Our Lord’s mercy to others by being merciful.

This great feast is an extraordinary celebration of the love and mercy of Christ. Unimaginable graces are poured out upon the whole world through it. Rejoice! Celebrate!

He Is Risen!

He is Truly Risen Indeed!

Ad Jesum per Mariam

M.A. J.M.J.

Secretary of Mercy

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St. Maria Faustina grew up on a farm. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012 E.A. Photo

Our Lord chose to reveal the depths of His Mercy to a young, uneducated Polish nun named Sr. Faustina Kowalska in the 1930’s. From her childhood, Helena Kowalska was a well-balanced, obedient, and pious young lady. She was the third child in a family of ten – a child accustomed the both the arduous labor and poverty of farm life. Helena was only able to attend formal schooling for three winters, as her help was needed on the family farm. From the age of fourteen she worked as a domestic servant, caring for the children of wealthier families in the nearby cities of Aleksandrow and Lodz.

From the tender age of 7, Our Lord had given Helena the grace to understand she was called to religious life. Since Helena’s family rejected her desire to become a nun, she attempted to stifle the call, willingly accepted her position as a domestic servant, and developed friendships among her peers. One day during a dance Helena attended with her sister, Our Lord revealed himself to Helena in a vision. He was suffering in agony, and cried out to Helena saying: “How long shall I put up with you and how long will you keep putting me off (9, p. 7– Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987)?”

St. Maria Faustina, Please Pray for Us! © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

With her entrance into the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, on August 1, 1925, Helena Kowalska became Sr. Maria Faustina of the Most Blessed Sacrament. As soon as the veil was put on Sr. Faustina’s head, Our Lord immediately enlightened her soul regarding what she would have to suffer. Sr. Maria Faustina remained a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy until her death – a mere 13 years later – at the age of 33, on October 5, 1938.

Throughout those next 13 years, Our Lord shaped and modeled St. Faustina’s soul to closely resemble His own. He stated: “Your life is to be modeled on Mine, from the crib to My death on the cross (438, p. 193 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

This simple, pious sister, who was the gardener, cook and porter for the community, was also Our Lord’s chosen Apostle and Secretary of Mercy. Though possessing no more than three winters of formal education, St. Faustina would pen a 600+ page diary containing some of the most profound insights regarding Our Lord’s Divine Mercy ever written.

One of the scholars who would later study and champion St. Faustina’s work, was a Polish kinsman, a certain Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. In 1981, Pope John Paul II published an encyclical, Dives Misericordia – Rich in Mercy, in which the Holy Father drew from the theme of Divine Mercy present in St. Faustina’s Diary- Divine Mercy in My Soul. On April 18, 1993, Pope John Paul II Beatified Sr. Faustina; and seven years later, on Mercy Sunday, April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faustina as the first saint of that Jubilee year.

St. Faustina’s entire mission was to convey to the world the unfathomable Mercy of Christ. Over the years, Our Lord revealed much to her.

My Mercy is Greater than the Sins of the World. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012 E.A. Photo

On one occasion He stated: “My mercy is greater than your sins and the sins of the whole world. . . . I never reject a contrite heart (1485, p. 524 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

On another: “Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet (699, p. 286 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

Likewise He stated: “My mercy is greater than your sins, and those of the whole world (1485, p. 438 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

Blessed Are The Merciful, for Mercy Shall Be Theirs. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

Our Lord made it clear that mercy was His gift to an aching humanity, but that this gift must recognized, accepted, and acted upon. We must return mercy for the mercy that has been granted to us. Jesus states: “If a soul does not exercise mercy in some way it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment (1317, p. 473 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

Our Savior cautions: “My hand is reluctant to take hold of the sword of justice. Before the Day of Justice I am sending the Day of Mercy (1588, p. 564 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

Jesus also warns: “He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice (1146, p. 420 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

As we prepare to celebrate the great Feast of Divine Mercy, initiated by Our Lord, and instituted by Blessed Pope John Paul the Great, let us continue with the eighth day of the Novena of Chaplets. For complete instructions please visit the Divine Mercy website run by the Marians of the Immaculate Conception: http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php.

Today we also continue with the eighth day of the preparatory novena dictated by Our Lord to St. Faustina. Each day He instructed Sr. Faustina to bring a certain group of souls into the abyss of His mercy by means of prayer, and likewise to intercede for them before the throne of God the Father.

On the eighth day of the novena, Jesus requested of St. Faustina:

May His Mercy Endure Forever! © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012 KJ Photographer

“Today bring Me souls who are in the prison of Purgatory and immerse them into the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice (1226, p. 441 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

For the complete text of the eighth day of the novena, please visit the Divine Mercy Website of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception at: http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/novena/eighthday.php.

One of the greatest ways we can share the Mercy of Christ with others is to pray for them. Thus, praying for the souls in Purgatory is a worthy act of mercy. Together with St. Maria Faustina let us immerse the suffering souls in the abyss of God’s mercy, and beg Our Heavenly Father to look upon then in no other way, but through the wounds of Jesus.

May the Risen Christ bless you and yours abundantly,

Praise the Lord for He is Risen!

Indeed, He is Truly Risen, Alleluia!

Ad Jesum per Mariam

M.A. J.M.J.

Blessed Are The Merciful!

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His Mercy Endures © SalveMaterDei.com, 2011-2012.

“Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy (301 p. 139 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Diary of St. Maria Faustina, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

Our Lord Jesus makes it abundantly clear that mercy is His greatest attribute. God is perfect, and as such the perfections of God are limitless. However, of all of these, mercy reigns as  preeminent of all of God’s glorious attributes. Our Lord stated to St. Maria Faustina: “I am Love and Mercy Itself (1074 p. 404 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Diary of St. Maria Faustina, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

It is therefore right that we should glorify the mercy of God, and proclaim it to others. With this thought in mind we continue to prepare for the Feast of Divine Mercy Sunday, a feast on which Our Lord promised immeasurable graces to those who celebrate the unfathomable nature of His mercy.

Jesus told St. Faustina:

“Whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment (300 p. 139 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Diary of St. Maria Faustina, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

Our Lord spoke to St. Faustina fourteen times regarding this incredible Feast that He Himself instituted on the First Sunday after Easter.

The most extensive diary entry detailing Jesus’ revelations regarding this feast can be found in entry number 699 (p. 286 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Diary of St. Maria Faustina, Congregation of Marians, 1987). A portion of this entry reads:

Jesus, I Trust in You! © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

“On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out whole torrents of grace upon those who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet (699).”

Today we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the seventh day of our novena of preparation. For complete instructions, please visit the Divine Mercy website run by the Marians of the Immaculate Conception: http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php.

Also today, we pray the seventh day of the preparatory novena Our Lord dictated to St. Maria Faustina. Through this novena, Jesus requests that Sr. Faustina bring a different group of souls into the abyss of His mercy each day for nine days. He requested that she pray for these groups of souls, immersing them in His Mercy, and pleading for them before the throne of God the Almighty Father.

On this seventh day, Our Lord requested of Sr. Faustina:

Live in His Mercy. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

“Today bring to Me the souls who especially venerate and glorify My mercy, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of Hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death (1224, p. 440 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

For the complete text of the seventh day of the novena, please visit the Divine Mercy Website of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception at: http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/novena/seventhday.php.

Today as we seek to be among those blessed souls whom our Lord refers to in today’s portion of this novena, let us strive to be merciful. Jesus told Sr. Faustina that her hands must be full of deeds of mercy. Jesus stated:

Blessed are the Merciful. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

“Yes, the First Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must be acts of mercy. . . .I demand from you deed which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to absolve yourself from it (742, p. 297-298 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Diary of St. Maria Faustina, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

So too must our hands be engaged in the work of mercy if we are to share in the myriad of graces He promises to lavish upon us. While this is a difficult command, His grace is sufficient for our weakness.

Lord, please grant me the grace to be merciful as You are merciful!

May the Risen Christ bless you and yours abundantly.

Praise the Lord for He is Risen!

Indeed, He is Truly Risen, Alleluia!

Ad Jesum per Mariam

M.A. J.M.J.

If I Had the Faith of A Child (reprise)

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“Truly I say to you, unless you receive the Kingdom of God as a child, you shall not enter into it (Luke 18:17).”

Unless You Receive The Kingdom of God As A Child. . . .. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

I love watching the reflection of Easter in the eyes of my children. The purity of their love shines forth. Children have a unique relationship to God. Our Lord chose to enter the world as a helpless, innocent babe, and from the moment of the Incarnation, He became one of them, one of us. As we walk the outdoor Stations of the Cross, and listen to the Passion on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, our Lord’s suffering seems to resonate deeply with them. Their piety is genuine; their love is deep. Just as sorrow seems to carve a space within us, so too later that whittled space can brim with joy. Easter through the eyes of a child is a blessing to behold!

Today as we prepare for the great feast of Divine Mercy Sunday, we continue with the sixth day of the novena of chaplets, prayed with ordinary rosary beads. For complete instructions on how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, visit the Divine Mercy website of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception at: http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php.

Let the Children come to Me © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

Today is also the sixth day of the novena dictated by Jesus to St. Maria Faustina. For each day of this novena, Our Lord requested that Sr. Faustina bring a different group of souls into the abyss of His mercy. Today Our Lord directed:

“Today bring to Me the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble soul is capable of receiving My grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence (1220, p. 439 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

For the complete text of the sixth day of the novena, please visit the Divine Mercy Website of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception at: http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/novena/sixthday.php.

Our Lord stated:

A Sweet Smelling Bouquet. . . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2011-2012.

“These souls send all of Heaven into ecstasy and are the Heavenly Father’s favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance (1220, p. 439).”

If God Himself takes delight in the souls of children, and the humble souls who resemble them, can we do no less?

In honor of these special souls I am reposting a prayer I penned and posted many months ago.

If I Had The Faith of A Child. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

If I Had the Faith of A Child

If I had the faith of a child, I would welcome each day with delight.

With reckless abandon, I would pursue the task of Life.

If I had the faith of a child, I would treat God as my Father,

With confidence I would speak to Him about little things throughout the day.

If I had the faith of a child, I would view His creation with a sense of wonder.

With gratitude, I would thank Him for the flowers, and snowflakes, and autumn leaves….

With Reckless Abandon, I would Live . . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

If I had the faith of a child, I would realize my smallness,

And I would seek shelter in His Magnitude.

If I had the faith of a child, I would not let a sense of time constrain me,

Rather, I would marvel in the timelessness of eternity.

If I had the faith of a child, I would not grow anxious about complex matters,

Instead, I would trust in His Providence to make it all right.

I Would See Miracles Every Day © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

If I had the faith of a child, my prayers would be simple.

With innocence, I would reflect His purity.

If I had the faith of a child, I would tell Him, “I’m sorry,” when need be,

And I would believe in my heart that His Mercy is greater than my weakness.

If I had the faith of a child, I would see miracles every day,

With simplicity, I would accept the incomprehensible.

If I had the faith of a child, I would make God laugh.

He Would Delight in My Littleness © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

He would delight in my littleness, and I in His Omnipotence.

If I had the faith of a child, I would feel His unconditional Love,

He would fill me with His gifts and I would share them.

If I had the faith of a child, I would possess true wisdom,

For, He would reveal the secrets of His Heart.

I Would Hope for Heaven © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

If I had the faith of a child, I would enter the Kingdom of God!

I would hope for Heaven, yet see the Kingdom here around me now.

If I had the faith of a child, I would trust that my every prayer would be answered.

Lord, please, grant me the faith of a child!

________________________________________

May the Risen Christ bless you and yours abundantly

Praise the Lord for He is Risen!

Indeed, He is Truly Risen, Alleluia!

Ad Jesum per Mariam

M.A. J.M.J.

Woman, Why Are You Weeping?

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Proclaim the Good News. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012 E.A. Photographer

“While I was weeping at the tomb, I saw my Lord (Evening Antiphon, Tuesday Octave of Easter, Divine Office, Liturgy of the Hours).”

Have you longed for something so deeply that you nearly missed it when it was given to you? Have you ever prayed with all your heart and soul for a grace, only to have God answer with miracle beyond your wildest imagination?

That is exactly how we find Mary Magdalene in today’s Gospel from Holy Mass, on this the Tuesday of the Easter Octave.

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried Him away, tell me where you laid Him, and I will take Him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew “Rabbouni,” which means teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father and your Father, My God and your God.” Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what He told her (John 20: 11-18).

Whom Do You Seek? © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012 E.A. Photographer

One can easily picture the distraught Mary Magdalene, kneeling in exhausted sorrow that Easter Morning, before Our Lord’s tomb. Sobs rack her body; her eyes are swollen from two days of grief, and her strength has faded. She had seen Jesus tried, tortured, and crucified. With Mary, and a handful of others she had hastily prepared Jesus for burial, and watched the stone set to seal the tomb. These past two days had been spent in a numb pain; alternating between fear, anger, and grief. How could this have happened to her Lord? There was nothing more that the chief priests, council, temple guard, or Roman soldiers could do that would surprise her.

Now, as Mary Magdalene kneels in agony before the empty tomb, her pain is so great that she misses the joy that is before her. Her sorrow is so monumental that she is utterly oblivious to the two angels in white who are sitting “one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been.” The angels speak to her, and Mary is still so thoroughly immersed in her own grief that their presence, their words do not even register.

Sorrow turns to Joy! © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

Christ Himself repeats the query of the angels: “Woman, why are you weeping?” She perceives Him to be a gardener, and is so intent on finding the dead Jesus, that she misses the Risen, Living Christ in front of her very eyes! She wants to find Jesus’s body, and return it lovingly to the tomb. She is even willing to try to carry it herself – “tell me where you laid Him, and I will take Him.” However, God’s plans are far greater than she can imagine. As Jesus calls her name, her eyes are opened – just like so many of the blind whom Jesus had cured. One can imagine the joyous reunion and  Mary hugging Jesus with the strength of an iron vice-grip. One can almost sense a hint of amusement in Our Lord’s voice as He tells to loosen her grip: “Stop clinging to me!” Jesus tells Mary that He still has work to accomplish. “I have not yet ascended to My Father and your Father, My God and your God.” It is as if Our Lord is telling her, “In Heaven you will have all eternity to cling to Me if you wish, but for now, We need to get moving. You have work to do, as do I.

Again, there is a message for us as well. How often do we miss the grace and miracles that Our Lord lavishes upon us, because we are too narrowly focused on challenges of which seem insurmountable? God’s glorious designs surpass our greatest fears; His brilliance erases the bleakness of our sorrow. Jesus calls each of our names, just as He called out to Mary. Our task is to recognize the call, and respond to it with a hearty embrace of Our Risen Lord.

As the Easter Octave progresses we move toward the Great Feast of Mercy Sunday. We continue with the fifth day of our novena of Divine Mercy Chaplets. Again, full instructions regarding how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet can be found on the Divine Mercy Website of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception at: http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php.

St. Maria Faustina, Please Pray for Us! © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

Today is also the fifth day of the novena Our Lord dictated to St. Maria Faustina in preparation for the Feast of Divine Mercy. For each day of this novena, Our Lord asked St. Faustina to pray for a particular group of souls, immersing them into the abyss of His unfathomable Mercy, and pleading for them before the throne of the Heavenly Father. Today, Jesus directed St. Faustina as follows:

Today bring to me the souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My passion they tore at My Body and My Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion (1218, p. 438 – Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of Marians, 1987).”

For the complete text of day 5 of the novena please go to the Divine Mercy Novena Website of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception at http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/novena/fifthday.php.

Today let us join St. Maria Faustina in praying for those who have separated themselves from the Holy Church. We intercede for all individuals who squander the graces God has lavished upon them, and pray that they may soon return to unity with the Church. As Jesus Himself prayed, “Father, may they all be one (John 17:21).”

With Mary Magdalene, may we each have the grace to turn to Lord, and respond to His call; to embrace Him with all our strength, and to endeavor to do His will. May the Risen Christ bless you and yours abundantly.

Praise the Lord for He is Risen!

Indeed, He is Truly Risen, Alleluia!

Ad Jesum per Mariam

M.A. J.M.J.