40 Days of Seeking Him Lent 2012 ~ Day 15: Divine Mercy

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Last night, I merely dropped P off at his Truth Quest study group and then walked into the narthex of our parish for a special presentation about Divine Mercy.

 

A priest from the Marians of the Immaculate Conception order living in the Fairbanks Diocese had traveled down and was doing the presentation.  I’d heard that he was a great presenter from a fellow parishioner here who used to live in a parish up in Fairbanks where he was.  Hence, my decision to skip the presentation and discussion on Samuel 1 and 2 with the teens.

 

The presentation started with a viewing of an short film titled Divine Mercy: No Escape. 

 

It was a wonderful introduction to the story of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, a young Polish girl who recorded her conversations with Christ that talked all about His Divine Mercy.  She was called to religious life and it was during her years as a Sister of Our Lady of Mercy that she recorded what is labeled as her diary chronicling the messages from Christ. 

 

I have not read the Diary, but am now putting it on my list to read.  I firmly believe that God speaks through others and this is a message I know I need to hear.  But, even without reading her writings, I can change my actions and do works for mercy.

 

 

Father’s talk after the film was packed with wisdom and stories showing practical application.  I just wish I wasn’t getting so tired during the 25 minutes he was talking!  However, there are a few gems that stuck out.

 

One was a story of a woman who was weighted down by so many transgressions she saw.  She finally decided the only course of action was to forgive it all.  I can so completely relate to that decision and how making the active choice to forgive can release a flowing of Grace through Christ’s Divine Mercy.

 

Another was a comment about how he views forgiveness: it is the lubricant for relationships.  That short statement packs so much, that I don’t feel like this one blog post could hold it.

 

While I know some might see this as strictly a Catholic thing, I’d beckon to differ.  Christ suffered and died for all willing to accept Him as Lord.  And, while He appeared to a young Polish woman to share about His Divine Mercy, He did not say it was only for a select few.  Rather, all who seek His Divine Mercy can receive.

 

 

There are several channels for receiving His Grace through His Divine Mercy: Image of The Divine Mercy, the Feast of Mercy (Divine Mercy Sunday), the Chaplet, the Novena to The Divine Mercy, and prayer at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, the Hour of Great Mercy.  I know our parish is planning on doing the Chaplet and other prayer on Diving Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter Sunday) and I’ll most likely be there.  It’s remembering to pray at 3 p.m. that is the call to action I often fail to do.

 

 

This year, I am joining Trish @ A House Upon the Rock in co-hosting the 40 Days of Seeking Him meme. The linky will be up each week so you can add in posts daily, weekly, or whenever you are able. The posts can be about anything related to Lent and preparing for Easter ~ crafts, food, devotions, music or reflections are all welcomed.

 

I hope you will join us on this journey as we prepare our hearts to receive the wonderful gift of salvation we’ve been given through Jesus’ death and resurrection.