Catholic Insight

Inspired by Truth, Enlightening Minds for the Church in Canada and Throughout the World

Catholic Insight

Inspired by Truth, Enlightening Minds for the Church in Canada and Throughout the World

What Keeps Me Spreading the Message of the Divine Mercy

It was last Thursday, during the Easter Octave, I went down in the kitchen of the friary to take a cup of coffee as I normally do every now and then.

Upon entering the kitchen, near the microwave, I saw a brown envelope, on which were written these words: To you dear priest. Being a priest I immediately felt that this envelope was addressed in a particular way to me. Hence I opened it and found a piece of folded paper inside. When I opened it I found a quote from the Diary of St Faustina, precisely number 1521. In this pericope Faustina faithfully reports what Jesus told her about the spreading of the Divine Mercy message:

My daughter, do not tire of proclaiming My mercy. In this way you will refresh this Heart of Mine, which burns with a flame of pity for sinners. Tell My priests that hardened sinners will repent on hearing their words when they speak about My unfathomable mercy, about the compassion I have for them in My Heart. To priests who proclaim and extol My mercy, I will give wondrous power; I will anoint their words and touch the hearts of those to whom they will speak.

Those powerful and life-changing words of Jesus I felt were spoken to me. Yes, to me the Lord Jesus was saying of not tiring of proclaiming his message of Mercy, especially at the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre. It was precisely to me that Jesus said to refresh His Heart burning with that utmost love of mercy towards us sinners. To me Jesus was greatly and persuasively telling me to speak about his unfathomable mercy and the compassion he has for them which was abundantly flowing from His Heart. From my experience I knew very well that whenever I let the Holy Spirit use me to proclaim and extol Jesus’ mercy extraordinary things happened. People who did not confess for ages just were touched by His unfathomable mercy there and then. I must confess that my words when I invited people to pray together with the Divine Mercy were surely not mine but His. They were so humble, loving and convincing that it left no shadow of a doubt that my mouth and the words that emerged from it were anointed by Jesus to touch the hearts of the people I spoke to.

In the morning, as I was doing the Seventh Day of the Novena of the Divine Mercy I read the following words:

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 a 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.

With how much fervour then in my heart I prayed:

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God:

Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

 It is precisely these words and experiences which keep me spreading the Divine Mercy Message throughout the remaining time of my life. JESUS I TRUST IN YOU!

Saint Kateri , Canada’s Protectress

This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading

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(Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Father Alphonse de Valk, C.S.B., a faithful, courageous and indefatigable Basilian priest, pro-life-and-family apostle, and the founder of Catholic Insight magazine. Here is what we wrote those on his entering into eternity five years ago, as we continue to remember him in our prayers and thoughts)[…]Continue reading

My Name is Bernadette

April 16th is a propitious day, for besides the anniversary of Father de Valk’s death, who founded Catholic Insight in its print form decades ago, and the commemoration of the ‘two Benedicts’, mentioned in accompanying posts, today we also recall Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared numerous times at[…]Continue reading

Canonizing Sister Faustina and Divine Mercy

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Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów

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First Holy Communion: Sermon from May 16, 1943

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In the Glorious Light of Easter, Alleluia!

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The time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is one of waiting, in silence, as the world wonders – anticipates – what will happen, after the death of Christ. We re-live this time each year in the anamnesis of our liturgy, and in turn look forward to the glorious re-creation of all things at the[…]Continue reading

Europe’s Long Descent

(As we meditate on this day on Christ’s burial, and His descent into hell, it is fitting to ponder here with contributor Peter Marcus how the world seems to be heading there as well. The difference is that, although God cannot ‘redeem’ hell, nor those therein, He can and did redeem the world. There is[…]Continue reading

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