1:20pm

• Screening of "Faustina: the Apostle of Divine Mercy" in the Parish Center Atrium

3pm

• Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Confessions, and Benediction in the Church
• Refreshments will follow in the Parish Center Atrium.

This image of the Divine Mercy
was painted in 1934 by 
Eugeniusz Kazimirowski.

1933

Sr. Faustina (Helen Kowalska), a Polish Nun of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, has several visions of Our Lord, giving her his message of Divine Mercy.  

1959

An inaccurate account of Sr. Faustina’s writings are presented to the Holy See, resulting in prohibition of the devotion.

April 15, 1978

The original documents, previously unavailable to the Holy See, surface and are examined. The prohibition is reversed and the devotion is again permitted. 

October 16, 1978

The man responsible for the reversal, Karol Wojtyla, Archbishop of Krakow, is elevated to the See of Peter as Pope John Paul II. 

Pope John Paul II honors Sr. Faustina’s visions, calling for the celebration of the Second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday throughout the Church.  

April 18, 1993

Sr. Faustina is beatified.

April 30, 2000

After miraculous healings through her intercession, Sr. Faustina is canonized the first saint of the Great Jubilee Year.

April 27, 2014

Pope John Paul II is canonized a saint.

Divine Mercy celebrates the unconditional mercy that God has for us, which is demonstrated to us not only in sacramental forgiveness but in the Pascal mystery, the central and holiest event in the life of the Church, an event that continues even today.

At times we think ourselves unworthy, because we are sinners and struggle with the call to live out our faith. Something keeps us at a distance from God. Maybe the obstacle is sin. Maybe the obstacle is fear. But whatever it is, God readily offers us mercy, forgiveness, help, guidance, healing, love. We need only to come to him and ask. He is here for us, and his gift of Divine Mercy is here for the taking.

The prayers of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy are the words given to us through Sr. Faustina by the Lord.

The Chaplet of Mercy is recited using ordinary rosary beads of five decades. The Chaplet is preceded by two opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Faustina and followed by a closing prayer.

1. Make the Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. Optional Opening Prayers

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us. 

(Repeat three times) 
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

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. The Apostle's Creed

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

6. The Eternal Father

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

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

8. Repeat for the remaining decades

Saying the "Eternal Father" (6) on the "Our Father" bead and then 10 "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion" (7) on the following "Hail Mary" beads.

9. Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times)

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

10. Optional Closing Prayer

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.