My Mom's Divine Rosary: April 2015

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Martha Ann Miller Wynn

Martha Ann Miller Wynn - 16 March 1943/21 April 2015

This morning, I got up tired from the 9 days before... my last momma was dead, and I feared for daddy - feared for Martha's poor funeral... My fears were useless, it turned out. While we had family (his, hers, ours, and somebody else's) to help with our parents' and grandparents' funerals, my dad had her brothers and sister to help. We were left three days to get 7 kids, 3 spouses, 2 significant others, 15 grand-kids, and 4 great-grandchildren to the funeral. Of the kids, 5 made it; 3 of the spouses/significant others came; only 1 grandchild and none of the great-grandchildren were there. According to mere math, we had 9 descendants at the funeral.

My dad was already there! (*happy gasp*) He was the only one there, but my sister Cathie, my daughter Jody, my hubbit Rocky and I soon joined him.

I got plenty of time to talk to Martha at Meadowview Rehab the previous Friday. Once, I thought she was a-sleepin, and took out my Rosary. It was like an echo of John Westerfield's from the previous summer: Martha's voice tremulously asked... "Pray for me, René... Pray for your father and Shane... Pray the Rosary..." So, I did. I prayed the Rosary all morning long, and into the afternoon. With her and John's voices echoing in the background, I prayed the whole week.

Saturday morn, with only us there (not all, but 5 there), I prayed the Rosary over Martha's emaciated body, that the funeral home had done marvelous work with, and Linda Miller had bought her a beautiful outfit for. My hubby wheeled me out after I put the white beads (that were blessed with the Pope's wishes for more evangelization of families and Divine Mercy) in her curled up right hand.

Someone put a small pamphlet in my hand - listing her, her husband (Dad), her son, her brothers, her sister and husband, her sister-in-law, nieces, nephews... we six step-children and 3 spouses, 2 significant others, 15 grand-kids, and 4 great-grandchildren weren't mentioned at all... I mentally shrugged - we were there, as much as possible... even Karen and April sent their wishes and prayers, because Martha was our step-mother.

With time, some more people showed up: Jimmie Miller, Bernice Underwood, Linda Miller, more and more... Bills, Bobs, Karens, Marys, Lindas, her nieces and nephews, her friends from childhood and church, Rev Bill Crider... I cried my thanks to God, for showing me and daddy her family and friends...

Frank was represented by his wife, Tammy, who both loved and respected Martha. Cathie was there, as were Charlie and Tegwin. Paul and Sylvia sent their prayers; Arianne was there, without Connor (she said "He would be hyperactive!") tugging at her shirt tail.

Her grandchildren weren't all there, but they all missed Martha. Her great-grandchildren weren't there. Cathie's Brittany and Joshua, and his children Breonna and Roman... Paul's Eric, Chris, Tim and Maddie... Charlie's Ariel... Arianne's Cody, Colton, Hayden, and Connor... my own Jena and Julie, with Julie's son Robbie... my Robby, whose funeral Martha had come to...

With all my heart, I thank God for Martha's presence in my life, and in daddy's life.

From their wedding on 10 May 1987 til 4 days before her death...A long time in this world.

Leaving in a line of cars, headlights on, for the graveyard is a time-honored standard of all our funerals. The hearse leads, husband follows the hearse, kids and step-children follow Daddy, brothers and sisters follow the last car with kids, and everybody else follows last. That's what we expected. That's not what happened.

We have always had someone on the police force, and the funeral procession would be accompanied by their fellow brothers. We had no knowledge that there would be charges for the police to stand guard at each intersection for the funeral goers to follow the hearse in an orderly manner, without interruptions, that wouldn't leave out-of-towners looking alarmingly for the grave site. Ah well... you live and - with daddy following us - you learn. It took us 10 minutes to hunt the cemetery down, and 2 more to find the grave site.

My sisters followed last - Cathie, Arianne and Tammy. They didn't begin until Daddy got there.

At the end of funerals, we would gather at the Church where the loved one was buried, or if a funeral home was used, at the home of the surviving wife or one of the kids or the parents; feeding loved ones is the last chore of the heaven-gone before we all separate, and the first chore of those left behind. Being in Minden, we had already decided to gather at a restaurant in Minden, with credit cards ready for those with no money. Imagine our relief at Rev Bill Crider's announcement that "the family" welcomed any and all to the home of Jimmie and Linda for a repast.

We all were a little wore out by the time we got to Jimmie and Linda's home. We went inside, and found a beautiful home with a beautiful den set up with chairs. That's as far as I could go. I wended my way around to the chair in the corner - and found an empty cross of Jesus on the small table between myself and Rocky.

Rocky left to get me a plate, my brother Charlie and Tegwin left shortly afterwards to eat at table, and I was left with Jesus. "Why, Jesus, are we not allowed to give Martha the funeral she wanted?"

He answered, "The funeral was attended by you. That, and the Rosaries, is all she wanted." Comforted from all complaints of mine, I felt ready to eat, and be for my family what they have been through the years for me - the symbol of the Rock I placed myself on.

Having eaten (ham and brisket, baked beans and green bean casserole, corn and squash, sweet potatoes and dinner rolls) and regained some of my strength, we moved from the deserted den to the family-placed dinner table for more tea, some good, strong coffee, and some pecan pie and pound cake with fruit. We talked, shared about us and about the ones missing, shared tears and tales from the years, before we got up and went outside for our smoking members of the family. We smoked in honour of Martha; we smoked in honour of Jesus; we smoked in honour of our Indian-forbears; and last, we smoked in honour of those forgone, but not not forgotten.

All the food was wrapped up, and placed in my dad's car, after getting him to unlock it. We sent Dad to the newspaper for some copies of Minden Press-Herald with her funeral obit inside. We gathered up ourselves, and each greeted at least the host and hostess with a hug and a handshake, thanking them profusely for dinner, and for giving the best funeral to Martha as possible.

We left to go to my own home, where we had some more come by, and we said "Good-bye" to Martha in our diminished capacity.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Express Novena

An Express Novena is 9 Memorares in a row.

In 1983, one of the Superior sisters had gotten sick in Eastern Berlin, and Mother Teresa had to appoint a replacement that could handle the Communist government. The sister that they appointed as the successor for Eastern Berlin needed a Visa. Mother Teresa gathered her nuns and started praying the Express Novena (9 Memorare’s).

On the 8th Memorare, the phone rang, it was a Communist official stating that it would be 6 months until they would receive the Visa.

After the 9th prayer, Mother Teresa started the novena again.

On the 8th Memorare the second time, the telephone rang this time, it was a Communist official who stated you will have your Visa immediately!"

Mother Teresa had great courage and once stated that "I never refused God anything".

* * *
What you do is make the Sign of the Cross:

In the Name of the Father, (touch your forehead)

and of the Son, (touch your breastbone)
and of the Holy (touch your left shoulder) Spirit. (touch your right shoulder)
Amen.

State your intentions, then sincerely pray the Memorare prayer...

MEMORARE

Remember,
O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my mother;
to thee do I come, before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.

Repeat your intentions and the Memorare for 9 times total.

Then, make the Sign of the Cross (above).

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Work For Your Love

my momma said to my dad, "I will love you forever..."

that was before and during their marriage...

she fought everybody and everything for her husband - until she had proof he no longer loved her, despite his assurances that he did...

my dad said to my momma, "I will love you forever..."

he prided himself his wife would never leave him, regardless of the minor differences of opinion on anything...

until he started seeing another woman as more than a Christian... until he told her he loved her, and would forever...

the marriage dissolved - 5 children were left behind...

he said "I love you..." but he didn't love her the way she believed in love...

their marriage began to be dissolved the second he stopped working on it...

today, he says "I love you" to each of 3 women... he cried at two of them's funeral... it is too late to work on the marriages he hadn't treasured more than his own life...

don't be too late... work on your love for Christ - because one day Jesus will say, "You didn't work on our love - I do not know you..."

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Divine Mercy of Our Lord...

Jesus, I trust in Thee!

I pour out my love for those that call me granny or mom, for those that call me by name, for those that help me, for those who assist me, for those - yes...

I pour out for love of Thee all my feelings - both good and bad - through Mother Mary, who by her works inside me will make them all good for You... I pour them out, through the Virgin Mary to Jesus...

To You, Sweet Jesus, I dedicate myself to suffer as much as I'm able to, in order to assuage Your Heart and that of Blessed Mary of any offenses committed by _____, not to buy them pardon, but to plead with You to show them as much of Your Mercy as it will take to get them to ask You for Your Mercy on first themselves, then later for others...

*bowed head....*

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Novena to The Divine Mercy: Ninth Day

Ninth Day of the Divine Mercy Novena:

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.

Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy.
Amen.

* To understand who are the souls designated for this day, and who in the Diary are called "lukewarm," but are also compared to ice and to corpses, we would do well to take note of the definition that the Savior Himself gave them when speaking to St. Faustina about them on one occasion: There are souls who thwart My efforts (1682). Souls without love or devotion, souls full of egoism and selfishness, proud and arrogant 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 out upon them flow off them as off the face of a rock. I cannot stand them because they are neither good or bad (1702).

+ Divine Mercy:
(V) For the sake of his sorrowful passion...
(R) Have mercy on us and on the whole world.

+++ Mom’s Divine Rosary +++

     (on the Crucifix)

+ Sign of the Cross:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

+ The Apostles Creed: (V) 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; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
(R) 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.

     (on the first lone bead)

+ Our Father:
(V) Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
(R) 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.

     (on the three beads, Faith, Hope, Charity)

+ Hail Mary:
(V) Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
(R) Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

     (on the chain between)

+ The Glory Be:
(V) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
(R) As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

+ O Sweet Jesus:
(V) O Sweet Jesus,
(R) forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

    1. (On first lone bead...)
+ The Chaplet:
(V) Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Thy dearly beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ,
(R) in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world. ... announce first mystery
... recite the verse and/or goal
Our Father...

(On chain between...) ............... (On bead...)

a. Divine Mercy ... then ... Hail Mary
b. Divine Mercy ... then ... Hail Mary
c. Divine Mercy ... then ... Hail Mary
d. Divine Mercy ... then ... Hail Mary
e. Divine Mercy ... then ... Hail Mary
f. Divine Mercy ... then ... Hail Mary
g. Divine Mercy ... then ... Hail Mary
h. Divine Mercy ... then ... Hail Mary
i. Divine Mercy ... then ... Hail Mary
j. Divine Mercy ... then ... Hail Mary

     (On long chain between...)

Glory Be, O Sweet Jesus

    2. Chaplet, announce second mystery, recite the verse and/or goal, and the Our Father, ten Divine Mercies / Hail Mary's, Glory Be, and O Sweet Jesus.

    3. Chaplet, announce third mystery, recite the verse and/or goal, and the Our Father, ten Divine Mercies / Hail Mary's, Glory Be, and O Sweet Jesus.

    4. Chaplet, announce fourth mystery, recite the verse and/or goal, and the Our Father, ten Divine Mercies / Hail Mary's, Glory Be, and O Sweet Jesus.

    5. Chaplet, announce fifth mystery, recite the verse and/or goal, and the Our Father, ten Divine Mercies / Hail Mary's, Glory Be, and O Sweet Jesus.

     (On the centerpiece)

+ Salve Regina:
(V) Hail, holy Queen,
(R) Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send forth our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn, then, O most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

(V) Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
(R) That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

     (On the first lone bead)

+ The Memorare:
(V) Remember,
(R) O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To thee do we come; before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer us. Amen.

     (On the three beads, repeat the following three times...)

+ Holy God:
(V) Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,
(R) have mercy on us, and on the whole world.

     (On the second lone bead)

+ Prayer After the Rosary:
(V) O God,
(R) Whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech Thee, that, meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(V) May the divine assistance remain always with us.
(R) And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

     (On the Crucifix)

+ Sign of the Cross:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Novena to The Divine Mercy: Eighth Day

Eighth Day of the Divine Mercy Novena:

Today bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ARE DETAINED IN PURGATORY, and immerse them in 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.

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion.
Amen.

+ Divine Mercy:
(V) For the sake of his sorrowful passion...
(R) Have mercy on us and on the whole world.

+++ Mom’s Divine Rosary +++

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Novena to The Divine Mercy: Seventh Day

Seventh Day of the Divine Mercy Novena:

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.

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.

* The text leads one to conclude that in the first prayer directed to Jesus, who is the Redeemer, it is "victim" souls and contemplatives that are being prayed for; those persons, that is, that voluntarily offered themselves to God for the salvation of their neighbor (see Col 1:24; 2 Cor 4:12). This explains their close union with the Savior and the extraordinary efficacy that their invisible activity has for others. In the second prayer, directed to the Father from whom comes "every worthwhile gift and every genuine benefit," it is recommended that the "active" souls, who promote devotion to The Divine Mercy and exercise with it all the other works that lend themselves to the spiritual and material uplifting of their brethren.

+ Divine Mercy:
(V) For the sake of his sorrowful passion...
(R) Have mercy on us and on the whole world.

+++ Mom’s Divine Rosary +++

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Novena to The Divine Mercy: Sixth Day

Sixth Day of the Divine Mercy Novena:

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.

Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, “Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart.” Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father’s favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages.
Amen.

+ Divine Mercy:
(V) For the sake of his sorrowful passion...
(R) Have mercy on us and on the whole world.

+++ Mom’s Divine Rosary +++

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Novena to The Divine Mercy: Fifth Day

Fifth Day of the Divine Mercy Novena:

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 bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion.

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son’s Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages.
Amen.

+ Divine Mercy:
(V) For the sake of his sorrowful passion...
(R) Have mercy on us and on the whole world.

+++ Mom’s Divine Rosary +++

Monday, April 6, 2015

Novena to The Divine Mercy: Fourth Day

Fourth Day of the Divine Mercy Novena:

Today bring to Me THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD* AND THOSE WHO DO NOT YET KNOW ME. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.

Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages.
Amen.

* Our Lord's original words here were "the pagans." Since the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Church has seen fit to replace this term with clearer and more appropriate terminology.

+ Divine Mercy:
(V) For the sake of his sorrowful passion...
(R) Have mercy on us and on the whole world.

+++ Mom’s Divine Rosary +++

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Novena to The Divine Mercy: Third Day

Third Day of the Divine Mercy Novena:

Today bring to Me ALL DEVOUT AND FAITHFUL SOULS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. The souls brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness.

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wonderous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages.
Amen.

+ Divine Mercy:
(V) For the sake of his sorrowful passion...
(R) Have mercy on us and on the whole world.

+++ Mom’s Divine Rosary +++

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Novena to The Divine Mercy: Second Day

Second Day of the Divine Mercy Novena:

Today bring to Me THE SOULS OF PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave Me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind.

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard–upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end.
Amen.

*In the original text, St. Faustina uses the pronoun "us" since she was offering this prayer as a consecrated religious sister. The wording adapted here is intended to make the prayer suitable for universal use.

+ Divine Mercy:
(V) For the sake of his sorrowful passion...
(R) Have mercy on us and on the whole world.

+++ Mom’s Divine Rosary +++

The Passion, According to St John

The Passion of the Christ:

Gospel of St John (DR-CR)

18 When Jesus had said these things, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where there was a garden, into which he entered with his disciples.

²And Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place; because Jesus had often resorted thither together with his disciples.

³Judas therefore having received a band of soldiers and servants from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

⁴Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said to them: Whom seek ye?

⁵They answered him: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith to them: I am he. And Judas also, who betrayed him, stood with them.

⁶As soon therefore as he had said to them: I am he; they went backward, and fell to the ground.

⁷Again therefore he asked them: Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

⁸Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way.

⁹That the word might be fulfilled which he said: Of them whom thou hast given me, I have not lost any one.

¹⁰Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And the name of the servant was Malchus.

¹¹Jesus therefore said to Peter: Put up thy sword into the scabbard. The chalice which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

¹²Then the band and the tribune, and the servants of the Jews, took Jesus, and bound him:

¹³And they led him away to Annas first, for he was father in law to Caiphas, who was the high priest of that year.

¹⁴Now Caiphas was he who had given the counsel to the Jews: That it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

¹⁵And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. And that disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the court of the high priest.

¹⁶But Peter stood at the door without. The other disciple therefore, who was known to the high priest, went out, and spoke to the portress, and brought in Peter.

¹⁷The maid therefore that was portress, saith to Peter: Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith: I am not.

¹⁸Now the servants and ministers stood at a fire of coals, because it was cold, and warmed themselves. And with them was Peter also, standing, and warming himself.

¹⁹The high priest therefore asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

²⁰Jesus answered him: I have spoken openly to the world: I have always taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither all the Jews resort; and in secret I have spoken nothing.

²¹Why asketh thou me? ask them who have heard what I have spoken unto them: behold they know what things I have said.

²²And when he had said these things, one of the servants standing by, gave Jesus a blow, saying: Answerest thou the high priest so?

²³Jesus answered him: If I have spoken evil, give testimony of the evil; but if well, why strikest thou me?

²⁴And Annas sent him bound to Caiphas the high priest.

²⁵And Simon Peter was standing, and warming himself. They said therefore to him: Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said: I am not.

²⁶One of the servants of the high priest (a kinsman to him whose ear Peter cut off) saith to him: Did I not see thee in the garden with him?

²⁷Again therefore Peter denied; and immediately the cock crew.

²⁸Then they led Jesus from Caiphas to the governor's hall. And it was morning; and they went not into the hall, that they might not be defiled, but that they might eat the pasch.

²⁹Pilate therefore went out to them, and said: What accusation bring you against this man?

³⁰They answered, and said to him: If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to thee.

³¹Pilate therefore said to them: Take him you, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said to him: It is not lawful for us to put any man to death;

³²That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he said, signifying what death he should die.

³³Pilate therefore went into the hall again, and called Jesus, and said to him: Art thou the king of the Jews?

³⁴Jesus answered: Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of me?

³⁵Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thy own nation, and the chief priests, have delivered thee up to me: what hast thou done?

³⁶Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from hence.

³⁷Pilate therefore said to him: Art thou a king then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice.

³⁸Pilate saith to him: What is truth? And when he said this, he went out again to the Jews, and saith to them: I find no cause in him.

³⁹But you have a custom that I should release one unto you at the pasch: will you, therefore, that I release unto you the king of the Jews?

⁴⁰Then cried they all again, saying: Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

19 Then therefore, Pilate took Jesus, and scourged him.

²And the soldiers platting a crown of thorns, put it upon his head; and they put on him a purple garment.

³And they came to him, and said: Hail, king of the Jews; and they gave him blows.

⁴Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith to them: Behold, I bring him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in him.

⁵(Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment.) And he saith to them: Behold the Man.

⁶When the chief priests, therefore, and the servants, had seen him, they cried out, saying: Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith to them: Take him you, and crucify him: for I find no cause in him.

⁷The Jews answered him: We have a law; and according to the law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

⁸When Pilate therefore had heard this saying, he feared the more.

⁹And he entered into the hall again, and he said to Jesus: Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

¹⁰Pilate therefore saith to him: Speakest thou not to me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and I have power to release thee?

¹¹Jesus answered: Thou shouldst not have any power against me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore, he that hath delivered me to thee, hath the greater sin.

¹²And from henceforth Pilate sought to release him. But the Jews cried out, saying: If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar's friend. For whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Caesar.

¹³Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew Gabbatha.

¹⁴And it was the parasceve of the pasch, about the sixth hour, and he saith to the Jews: Behold your king.

¹⁵But they cried out: Away with him; away with him; crucify him. Pilate saith to them: Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered: We have no king but Caesar.

¹⁶Then therefore he delivered him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him forth.

¹⁷And bearing his own cross, he went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha.

¹⁸Where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the midst.

¹⁹And Pilate wrote a title also, and he put it upon the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

²⁰This title therefore many of the Jews did read: because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin.

²¹Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate: Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am the King of the Jews.

²²Pilate answered: What I have written, I have written.

²³The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified him, took his garments, (and they made four parts, to every soldier a part,) and also his coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

²⁴They said then one to another: Let us not cut it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be; that the scripture might be fulfilled, saying: They have parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture they have cast lots. And the soldiers indeed did these things.

²⁵Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.

²⁶When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son.

²⁷After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.

²⁸Afterwards, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst.

²⁹Now there was a vessel set there full of vinegar. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar and hyssop, put it to his mouth.

³⁰Jesus therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said: It is consummated. And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.

³¹Then the Jews, (because it was the parasceve,) that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath day, (for that was a great sabbath day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

³²The soldiers therefore came; and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him.

³³But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

³⁴But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side, and immediately there came out blood and water.

³⁵And he that saw it, hath given testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true; that you also may believe.

³⁶For these things were done, that the scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of him.

³⁷And again another scripture saith: They shall look on him whom they pierced.

³⁸And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

³⁹And Nicodemus also came, (he who at the first came to Jesus by night,) bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

⁴⁰They took therefore the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths, with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

⁴¹Now there was in the place where he was crucified, a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man yet had been laid.

⁴²There, therefore, because of the parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus, because the sepulchre was nigh at hand.