What to Do on Divine Mercy Sunday? Are You Ready to Receive Special Graces?

By Marian Fathers Are you discouraged that you will not be able to receive the special graces of Divine Mercy Sunday promised directly by our Lord through St. Faustina in the 1930s? Don’t be. Even though churches are closed and you cannot go to Confession and receive Holy Communion, you can receive these special graces this Sunday, April 19, Divine Mercy Sunday. And we’re going to tell you how. Let’s begin by reading what is arguably the most important passage in St. Faustina’s Diary, when Jesus tells St. Faustina: I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls 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 graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet (699). There it is: Jesus promises that the soul that’s been to Confession and receives Holy Communion will be completely wiped away of the two stains that are on our soul. Those stains are sin and the punishment due to sin. The special grace promised by our Lord for Divine Mercy Sunday is nothing less than the equivalent of a complete renewal of baptismal grace in the soul. But how can you receive this complete forgiveness of sins and remission of all punishment? After all, churches are closed and Confession and Communion are not available.  There is, however, still a way to receive this grace. Do these three things on Divine Mercy Sunday with the intention to turn away from sin in your life: Make an Act of Contrition Since you are unable to get to Confession, make an Act of Contrition, instead. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is ‘sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again’” (1451). You thereby will be completely forgiven of all sins, even “mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible” (Catechism, 1452).   Make a Spiritual Communion Since churches are closed and you cannot receive Holy Communion, make a Spiritual Communion instead, asking God to come into your heart as if you received Him sacramentally — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. For instance, you can say this: Act of Spiritual Communion My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You were already there, I embrace You and unite myself to You; permit not that I should ever be separated from You. Amen.  Again, do this act of trust with the intent to return to the sacrament of Holy Communion as soon as possible.    Say a prayer like this: Lord Jesus Christ, You promised St. Faustina that the soul that has been to Confession [I’m unable, but I made an Act of Contrition] and the soul that receives Holy Communion [I’m unable, but I made a Spiritual Communion] will receive the complete forgiveness of all sins and punishment. Please, Lord Jesus Christ, give me this grace. Finally, please remember that this extraordinary promise of Divine Mercy Sunday is for everyone. Tell your non-Catholic friends about it. Everyone can ask Jesus to forgive their sins. Everyone can make a Spiritual Communion. And everyone can ask for this grace to completely wipe their slate clean of not only all sin, but all punishment due to sin. Normally, the punishment is not remitted unless one has absolute perfect contrition. And unlike a plenary indulgence, there is no requirement of having perfect detachment from sin. In other words, as long as we have a desire for this grace and intention to amend our lives, we can be completely cleansed with grace similar to our original Baptism. It is a way to really start over in our spiritual life!  Read more…

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Dedication of the Rural Family to the Divine Mercy

Almighty and merciful Father,whom Your only-begotten Son,our Lord, Jesus Christ,has named the Husbandman, or Farmer,graciously accept our praise and adoration.All things were made by Youand all that we have is Yours. Our lives and our talents,our home and furnishings,the soil and its fruits,the animals and their abode,sunshine and rain,fruit and harvest are all from You.By their use we are to come more securely to You.For all Your gifts, O God,we offer You our thanks. You have made us branches of Your Son,the true Vine,members of Your kingdom,and sheep of Him who is our Good Shepherd.In gratitude and lovewe promise to remain ever closeto the Divine Heart of Him who is the Way,the Truth, and the Life. We humbly beseech You to look with favor upon this Your familyand to sanctify its members.Bless also our home,our flocks and herds,our fields and labors.Keep from us all attacks of Satanand preserve us from all evil,through Your beloved Son in the charity of the Holy Spirit. With filial affection and reverencewe humbly dedicate ourselves to the Blessed Trinity,the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.Keep us ever in Your love,faithful and true unto death. We place this our dedicationin the pure hands of the Immaculate Mother of God,the patroness of our beloved country.May the Most Holy Virgin Marycarry this offering of ourselvesand all that is ours to the throne of Your Divine majesty.Grant us through her intercession,we beseech You,the grace to pass through things temporalthat we may not lose those which are eternal.Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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O Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Heaven

hymn from the Roman Brieviary, 5th century O Christ, whose glory fills the heaven, our only hope, in mercy given; Child of a Virgin meek and pure; Son of the Highest evermore: Grant us Thine aid Thy praise to sing, as opening days new duties bring; that with the light our life may be renewed and sanctified by Thee. The morning star fades from the sky, the sun breaks forth; night’s shadows fly: O Thou, true Light, upon us shine: our darkness turn to light divine. Within us grant Thy light to dwell: and from our souls dark sins expel; Cleanse Thou our minds from stain of ill, and with Thy peace our bosoms fill. To us strong faith forever give, with joyous hope, in Thee to live; That life’s rough way may ever be made strong and pure by charity. All laud to God the Father be; All praise, Eternal Son, to Thee; All glory, as is ever meet, to God the Holy Paraclete. Aeterna caeli gloria, beata spes mortalium, celsi Parentis Unice, castaeque proles Virginis: Da dexteram surgentibus, exsurgat et mens sobria. flagrans et in laudem Dei grates rependat debitas. Ortus refulget lucifer, ipsamque lucem nuntiat, cadit caligo noctium, lux sancta nos illuminet. Manensque ostris sensibus noctem repellat saeculi omnique fine temporis purgata servet pectora. Quaesita iam primum fides radicet altis sensibus, secunda spes congaudeat, tunc4 maior exstat caritas. Sit, Christe, rex piissime, tibi Patrique gloria, cum Spiritu Paraclito, in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

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Canticle of Creatures by St. Francis of Assisi

Most High, All-powerful, All-Good, Lord!All praise is Yours,all glory, all honorAnd all blessing. To You alone, Most High, do they belong.No mortal lips are worthyTo pronounce your name. All praise be Yours, my Lord, through all that You have made,And first my lord Brother Sun,Who brings the day; and light you give to us through him.How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor!Of You, Most High, he bears the likeness. All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars;In the heavens You have made them, brightAnd precious and fair. All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,And fair and stormy, all the weather’s moods,By which You cherish all that You have made. All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Sister Water,So useful, lowly,precious, and pure. All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire,Through whom You brighten up the night.How beautiful he is, how happy!Full of power and strength. All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, our mother,Who feeds us in her sovereignty and producesVarious fruits and colored flowers and herbs. All praise be Yours, my Lord,through those who grant pardonFor love of You;through those who endureSickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace,By You, Most High,they will be crowned. All praise be Yours, my Lord,through Sister Death-of-the-Body,From whose embraceno mortal can escape.Woe to those who diein mortal sin,Happy those She findsdoing Your holy will!The second death can dono harm to them. Praise and bless my Lord,and give Him thanks,And serve Him with great humility. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRDxpmV27p8

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St. Hildegard’s Prophetic Vision: Renewal and Hope for the Church

Are you ready to uncover the fascinating prophecies of one of the most intriguing women in the history of the Catholic Church? A medieval visionary, Benedictine abbess, writer, composer and mystic, St. Hildegard of Bingen not only spoke about the Church’s end times but also had a clear message of hope and renewal. Her prophecies, as recorded in her book Scivias, offer insight into an era of great upheaval and challenges for the Church, but also a vision of a renewed and strengthened Church, sustained by the grace of God. Let’s delve into the prophecies of St. Hildegard of Bingen and discover how they can inspire us to face the challenges of our own time with faith, courage, and hope. In her book Scivias, which she completed in 1151, St. Hildegard predicted an era of great upheaval in the Church, which she referred to as the “Age of the Grey Wolf.” She foresaw a crisis of faith, corruption among the clergy, and a lack of leadership in the Church. She prophesied that “the time is coming when princes and peoples will reject the authority of the Pope” and “some countries will prefer their own Church rulers to the Pope.” “Toward the end of the world, mankind will be purified through suffering. This will be true, especially of the clergy who will be robbed of all property. “The Church will not be left in peace, and the enemies of Christ and His Church will be many.” She predicted that “the German Empire will be divided,” “church property will be secularized,” and that “priests will be persecuted.” St. Hildegard also predicted that “the Church will be punished because the majority of her members, high and low, will become so perverted.” But that’s just the beginning. She wrote to St. Bernard of Clairvaux that “the Church will sink deeper until she finally seems to be extinguished, and the succession of Peter and the other Apostles to have expired. But, after this, she will be victoriously exalted in the sight of all doubters.” Despite these challenges, St. Hildegard believed that the Church would ultimately overcome these obstacles and emerge stronger than ever before. She foresaw a time of spiritual renewal and the rise of a new generation of holy leaders who would guide the Church into a new era of peace and prosperity. She said, “the Church will be divided, and there will be much strife and discord, but the faithful will persevere and be rewarded.” “The Church will suffer greatly, and her enemies will seem to triumph, but God will intervene and restore her to her former glory.” She also predicted that “the Church will be purified and made radiant, and many will be saved through her” and that “the Church will be in turmoil and confusion, and many will be deceived, but those who remain faithful will be rewarded.” “The Church will be attacked by many enemies, but she will emerge victorious and will shine like the sun.” St. Hildegard believed that “the Church will undergo a great trial, but she will be sustained by the grace of God and will emerge stronger than ever before.” The prophecies of St. Hildegard of Bingen offer a powerful message of hope and renewal for the Church. As we witness a world in chaos, where faith is under attack, and the Church is facing an internal crisis, her prophecies speak to us with a prophetic urgency. Despite the challenges and trials she foresaw, she firmly believed that the Church would ultimately emerge stronger and more radiant than ever before. Her prophetic words are not just an interesting historical artifact but a timeless reminder that God’s grace is always at work, even in the darkest moments of human history. Let us take inspiration from St. Hildegard’s prophecies to face the challenges of our time with faith, courage, and hope. It is important to keep in mind that interpreting these prophecies requires prayerful discernment, as they are not considered official Church teachings. However, St. Hildegard’s status as a Doctor of the Church, which was officially conferred upon her by Pope Francis in 2019, gives her prophecies considerable credibility. She was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, and her recognition as a Doctor of the Church makes her one of only four women to have received this title. O Mary, Mother of the End Times, pray for us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5dwcaO6my0

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HEAVEN’S HARBINGER

My dear family, beloved children of God, and ‘apostles of these last times’, As I was praying on where to begin, this message from Our Lady to Fr. Stefano Gobbi pierced my heart at such a profound depth. It was as if She spoke directly to me, and Her comforting voice rose from deep within my heart… “The moment has come for you to come out from your hiddenness in order to go and shed light upon the earth.”  As soon as I read those words, I knew that it was true – it was time. For a while now, my heart has longed to share the messages from Heaven, and I believe this was the affirmation I needed to begin. It is after much prayer and discernment on whether or not to write, how I would do so, and to whom I should direct my writings, that Our Lady seems to have orchestrated everything perfectly – as She always does. And while I now feel the call to “go and shed light upon the earth” as the message exhorts, another prompting presses upon my heart – to keep my identity hidden for the time being. Sounds like a contradiction, right? To spread Heaven’s messages and to write spiritual reflections on them for the world, while simultaneously keeping my identity hidden from the same world? That doesn’t seem to make sense. However, it is what I feel called to do at this present time. I believe that this may change in the future, if that is the Lord’s Divine Will, but for now I hold a deep conviction on two things: It is time for my messages to be shared with the world.  My personal identity must remain hidden for the time being.  As for why I believe that my identity must remain hidden for now, I cannot yet reveal. However, what I do ask with utmost humility, is for your prayers and fasting. I desire to remain faithful to the Divine Will of God, and remaining hidden is a way for me to do that.  Here is a thought that came to me as I write this introductory reflection: Jesus remained hidden for the first 30 years of His life. It was only the final three years of His earthly journey where His identity was revealed to the world, and where He began His “public ministry”. There was a reason why His identity was kept private for so long. It was God’s will. Since my identity must remain hidden for the time being, I thought that a pseudonym would be fitting. I began to think of what would be appropriate, but I was having some difficulty. The ones that came to mind felt forced, they didn’t seem genuine, natural, or from God. Finally after much brainstorming, one struck me, and it’s what I intend to use – Heaven’s Harbinger.  What is a “harbinger” you may ask? There are varying definitions and etymological explanations, but the one I relate with the most, and the one which is the motivation for my selection is, “a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another; a forerunner of something.” The idea of being Heaven’s Harbinger really resonated with my soul. The more I pondered the possibility of using it, the more peace prevailed within me. What does it mean to be a harbinger of Heaven? It means to announce the coming of God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven; it means to proclaim the promised triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of the Sacred Heart; it means to prepare oneself and others for the glorious Era of Peace; it means to share Heaven’s “Harbingers” (the messages, warnings, instructions, and promises) to a humanity that is depending upon them. That’s what it means to be a harbinger of Heaven. If it is the Lord’s Divine Will, I long to be a forerunner of the forthcoming “Second Pentecost”, of the “New Advent”, and of the Church’s “most beautiful springtime” in her history. Heaven has told us countless times that what awaits us is the most glorious period of the Church in her entire existence! Saints of old have long wished they could live in the times that we have been given. The times we are living in are unlike anything ever experienced, and the times ahead of us are beyond imagination – they are the fulfillment of the Lord’s prayer, the greatest prayer ever made. As I hope to be Heaven’s Harbinger, I will strive to live in the Divine Will, to proclaim that Will to the ends of the earth, and to prepare the world for the coming of God’s Kingdom. I pray that my writings will speak to your souls, offer you peace and hope, inspire you to grow in holiness, encourage you to remain in the faith, embolden you to rely on the Lord’s plan, help you to trust in His divine mercy, and ultimately to assist you in living in the Divine Will of God. Join me in praying for the coming of God’s Kingdom and for His Divine Will to be done “on earth as it is in Heaven.” For the triumph of the Immaculate Heart, and for the reign of the Sacred Heart, – Heaven’s Harbinger

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Prayer to Our Lady Help of Christions

by St. John Bosco Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christians,how sweet it is to come to your feetimploring your perpetual help.If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children,how can you, the most loving of all mothers forget me?Grant then to me, I implore you,your perpetual help in all my necessities,in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations.I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering.Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners.Grant through your intercessions many vocations to the religious life.Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,that having invoked you on earth we may love and eternally thank you in heaven. Amen

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