Monday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, August 31

Confession
Only a Screen

Today, the Lord has been teaching me, once again, how I am to approach the Sacrament of Penance: My daughter, just as you prepare in My presence, so also you make your confession before Me. The person of the priest is, for Me, only a screen. Never analyze what sort of a priest it is that I am making use of; open your soul in confession as you would to Me, and I will fill it with My light (Diary, 1725).

My Prayer Response:
Thank You, Lord, for teaching St. Faustina how to make her confession before You. Help me to remember that the priest is only a screen. May I, too, make my confession before You, opening my soul to You that You may fill it with Your light.

August 31, 2020

"It is the duty of every man to uphold the dignity of every woman." — Pope St. John Paul II

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice. holy and pleasing to god, your spiritual worship.  Do not confirm yourselves to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.  Thanks be to God.

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to our call.
Alleluia, alleluia!

August 30, 2020

"Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul." — St. Teresa of Avila

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, August 29

Confession
The Blood and Water

Today the Lord said to me, Daughter, when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself entirely in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul (Diary, 1602).

My Prayer Response:
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart as a fountain of mercy for me. As I approach You in confession, I immerse myself in Your mercy with great trust.

August 29, 2020

"He who wishes for anything but Christ, does not know what he wishes; he who asks for anything but Christ, does not know what he is asking; he who works, and not for Christ, does not know what he is doing." — St. Philip Neri

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, August 28

Confession
Restoring the Soul in Full

Were a soul like a decaying corpse so that from a human standpoint, there would be no [hope of ] restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God's mercy! You will call out in vain, but it will be too late (Diary, 1448).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, thank You for restoring souls in full by the miracle of Your mercy. May I always take advantage of it in my need.

August 28, 2020

"Let us love the cross very much, for it is there that we discover our life, our true love, and our strength in our greatest difficulties." — St. Maria de Mattias

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, August 27

Confession
The Miracle of Divine Mercy

Write, speak of My mercy. Tell souls where they are to look for solace; that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy [the Sacrament of Reconciliation] There the greatest miracles take place [and] are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to him one's misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated (Diary, 1448).

My Prayer Response:
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for teaching us where to find consolation. Thank You for the Tribunal of Mercy where great miracles take place when we reveal our miseries.

August 27, 2020

"The harm that comes to souls from the lack of reading holy books makes me shudder . . . What power spiritual reading has to lead to a change of course, and to make even worldly people enter into the way of perfection." — St. Padre Pio

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, August 26

Confession
Do Not Put off Confession

I feel much better today. I was glad I would be able to meditate more during the Holy Hour. Then I heard a voice: You will not be in good health. Do not put off the Sacrament of Penance, because this displeases Me. Pay little attention to the murmurs of those around you. This surprised me, because I am feeling better today, but I gave it no more thought. When the sister switched off the light, I began the Holy Hour. But after a while something went wrong with my heart. I suffered in silence until eleven o'clock, but then I began to feel so bad that I woke up Sister N. [probably Sister Fabiola], who is my roommate, and she gave me some drops, which brought me a little relief so that I could lie down. I now understand the Lord's warning. I decided to call any priest at all, the next day, and to open the secrets of my soul to him (Diary, 1464).

My Prayer Response:
Lord, when You warn me not to put off the Sacrament of Penance, help me to search out a priest to hear my confession.

August 26, 2020

"To join two things together there must be nothing between them or there cannot be a perfect fusion. Now realize that this is how God wants our soul to be, without any selfish love of ourselves or of others in between, just as God loves us without anything in between." — St. Catherine of Siena

Tuesday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, August 25

Confession
A Cause of Murmuring

My daughter, I have something to tell you. I replied, "Speak, Jesus, for I thirst for Your words." It displeases Me that, because the sisters were murmuring, you did not ask to have Father Andrasz hear your confession in your cell. Know that, because of this, you gave them even greater cause for murmuring. Very humbly I begged the Lord's forgiveness. O my Master, rebuke me; do not overlook my faults, and do not let me err (Diary, 1460).

My Prayer Response:
Lord, help me not to be a cause of murmuring among my family and friends nor react to their murmuring. May I avoid offending You and be quick to beg Your forgiveness when I sin.

August 25, 2020

"O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams." — St. Augustine

Monday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, August 24

Confession
Be Not Afraid

Today I heard these words: Pray for souls that they be not afraid to approach the tribunal of My mercy. Do not grow weary of praying for sinners. You know what a burden their souls are to My Heart. Relieve My deathly sorrow; dispense My mercy (Diary, 975).

My Prayer Response:
Merciful Lord, bless souls that fear to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation that you call the "Tribunal of My Mercy." Bless fearful souls with Your love, peace, and joy when going to receive Your mercy in confession.

August 24, 2020

"A soul which does not practise the exercise of prayer is very like a paralyzed body which, though possessing feet and hands, makes no use of them." — St. Alphonsus Liguori

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, August 23

Tell My Priests
Hardened Sinners Will Repent

The Lord said to me, 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 (Diary, 1521).

My Prayer Response:
Lord, what a fantastic promise to priests who proclaim and extol Your mercy! Awaken priests to receive Your wondrous power that anoints their words and touches the hearts of their congregation. Please do it, Lord; the Church and world desperately need Your mercy now while it is time for mercy!

August 23, 2020

"The works of God are not accomplished when we wish them, but whenever it pleases Him." — St. Vincent de Paul

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, August 22

Tell My Priests
Recommend the Chaplet to Sinners

I heard these words in my soul: Say unceasingly the chaplet that I have taught you. Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy. I desire that the whole world know My infinite mercy. I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy (Diary, 687).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, teach priests to love and pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. May they recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation and to all at the hour of death so as to receive great mercy.

August 22, 2020

"Let all nations know that Thou art God alone, and that Jesus Christ is Thy Son, and that we are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture." — St. Clement

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, August 21

Tell My Priests
Pray for Priests

No soul will be justified until it turns with confidence to My mercy, and this is why the first Sunday after Easter is to be the Feast of Mercy. On that day, priests are to tell everyone about My great and unfathomable mercy. I am making you the [dispenser] of My mercy (Diary, 570).

Today, I saw the Lord in great beauty, and He said to me, My loving host, pray for priests, especially during this time of harvest. My Heart is pleased with you, and for your sake I am blessing the earth (Diary, 980).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, inspire priests with Your love and mercy, so when they preach — especially on the Feast of Mercy — the people may receive Your great and unfathomable mercy. Remind me, Lord, to pray for priests, especially during this time of harvest.

August 21, 2020

"Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing." — St. Therese of Lisieux

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, August 20

Tell My Priests
Speak to Priests of Mercy

My daughter, speak to priests about this inconceivable mercy of Mine. The flames of mercy are burning Me — clamoring to be spent; I want to keep pouring them out upon souls; souls just don't want to believe in My goodness (Diary, 177).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, may the flames of Your mercy set priests on fire with Your inconceivable mercy, so lukewarm and unbelieving souls may be set ablaze with Your mercy through the ministry of priests.

August 20, 2020

"We can't have full knowledge all at once. We must start by believing; then afterwards we may be led on to master the evidence for ourselves." — St. Thomas Aquinas

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, August 19

Tell My Priests
Priests Are to Proclaim Mercy

I desire that priests proclaim this great mercy of Mine towards souls of sinners. Let the sinner not be afraid to approach Me. The flames of mercy are burning Me — clamoring to be spent; I want to pour them out upon these souls (Diary, 50).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, bless priests with Your great gift of mercy, so they may radiate Your mercy in preaching and in the confessional. May Your mercy draw sinners to the feet of Your representatives to receive grace from the fountain of Your mercy.

August 19, 2020

"Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason. God often desires to see what love your soul has, and love is not tried by ease and satisfaction." — St. John of the Cross