Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, July 31  Strive for Sanctity Completely in My Care

May 1, [1938]. This evening, Jesus said to me, My daughter, do you need anything? I answered, "O my Love, when I have You I have everything." And the Lord answered, If souls would put themselves completely in My care, I Myself would undertake the task of sanctifying them, and I would lavish even greater graces on them. There are souls who thwart My efforts, but I have not given up on them; as often as they turn to Me, I hurry to their aid, shielding them with My mercy, and I give them the first place in My compassionate Heart (Diary, 1682).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, I desire to put myself completely in Your care. Please undertake the task of sanctifying me. Without Your grace, I can do nothing! But with Your grace, I can do anything, because then all things are possible: "I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me" (Phil 4:13).

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, July 30  Strive for Sanctity  You are That Saint

First Friday. When I took the Messenger of the Sacred Heart into my hand and read the account of the canonization of Saint Andrew Bobola, my soul was instantly filled with a great longing that our Congregation, too, might have a saint, and I wept like a child that there was no saint in our midst. And I said to the Lord, "I know Your generosity, and yet it seems to me that You are less generous toward us." ... And the Lord Jesus said to me, Don't cry. You are that saint. Then the light of God inundated my soul, and I was given to know how much I was to suffer, and I said to the Lord, "How will that come about? You have been speaking to me about another Congregation." And the Lord answered, It is not for you to know how this will come about. Your duty is to be faithful to My grace and to do always what is within your power and what obedience allows you to do ... (Diary, 1650).

My Prayer Response:

Thank you, St. Faustina, for evoking the word of the Lord: You are that saint. Thank you, St. Faustina, for your holy life and your Diary.

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, July 29   Strive for Sanctity  The Light of Holiness

Chosen souls are, in My hand, lights which I cast into the darkness of the world and with which I illumine it. As stars illumine the night, so chosen souls illumine the earth. And the more perfect a soul is, the stronger and the more far-reaching is the light shed by it. It can be hidden and unknown, even to those closest to it, and yet its holiness is reflected in souls even to the most distant extremities of the world (Diary, 1601).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, You told us through St. John: "I am the light of the world. No follower of Mine shall ever walk in darkness; no, he shall possess the light of life" (Jn 8:12). And so You also taught us: "You are the light of the world" (Mt 5:14). Thank You for teaching us through St. Faustina that the greater the sanctity of souls, the more the light of holiness is reflected around the world.

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, July 28  Strive for Sanctity  It Is All Grace

I have noticed that, from the very moment I entered the convent, I have been charged with one thing; namely, that I am a saint. But this word was always used scoffingly. At first, this hurt me very much, but when I had risen above it, I paid no attention to it. However, when on one occasion a certain person [perhaps Father Sopocko] suffered because of my sanctity, I was very pained that, because of me, others can experience some unpleasantness. And I began to complain to the Lord Jesus, asking why this should be so, and the Lord answered me, Are you sad because of this? Of course, you are a saint. Soon I Myself will make this manifest in you, and they will pronounce the same word, saint, only this time it will be with love (Diary, 1571).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, help me not to be ashamed of my striving for sanctity. Sanctity is all Your gift; it is all grace. Remind me that sanctity is not a private love affair with You, Lord - You have called all of us to "be holy, because I am holy" (1 Pet 1:16; Lev 10:2).

Tuesday's Mercy minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, July 27   Strive for Sanctity  Called to Humility

If you do not succeed in taking advantage of an opportunity, do not lose your peace, but humble yourself profoundly before Me and, with great trust, immerse yourself completely in My mercy. In this way, you gain more than you have lost, because more favor is granted to a humble soul than the soul itself asks for ... (Diary, 1361).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, help me to remain in peace, even when I struggle. May I rejoice in my humiliation and turn to Your mercy with even greater trust. May I give You thanks for Your mercy.

Monday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, July 26  Strive for Sanctity  This Firm Resolution

This firm resolution to become a saint is extremely pleasing to Me. I bless your efforts and will give you opportunities to sanctify yourself. Be watchful that you lose no opportunity that My providence offers you for sanctification (Diary, 1361).

My Prayer Response:

Lord, bless my efforts to become a saint and so please You. May I take advantage of the opportunities You give me to grow in sanctity. Help me to be watchful for every opportunity.

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, July 25  Strive for Sanctity  The Lord's Exhortation

Know this, My daughter: if you strive for perfection you will sanctify many souls; and if you do not strive for sanctity, by the same token, many souls will remain imperfect. Know that their perfection will depend on your perfection, and the greater part of the responsibility for these souls will fall on you (Diary, 1165).

My Prayer Response:

Thank you, St. Faustina, for listening to and obeying the Lord by striving for great sanctity. May I and all the readers of this exhortation of the Lord follow your example of striving for great sanctity. Lord, give us the grace to be saints like St. Faustina.

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

 I know these are late, but better late than never...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, July 24  Spiritual Warfare Experienced in Battle

Jesus, Savior, who have deigned to come into my heart, drive away these distractions which are keeping me from talking to You.  Jesus answered me, I want you to become like a knight experienced in battle, who can give orders to others amid the exploding shells. In the same way, My child, you should know how to master yourself amid the greatest difficulties, and let nothing drive you away from Me, not even your falls (Diary, 1823).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, Your coming into my heart by Holy Communion strengthens me to enter into the battle of promoting Your message of The Divine Mercy. Help me to become experienced in battle. May I always be faithful to You.

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, July 23  Spiritual Warfare Part Five of Conference

Conference on Spiritual Warfare. Always fight with the deep conviction that I am with you. Do not be guided by feeling, because it is not always under your control; but all merit lies in the will. Always depend upon your superiors, even in the smallest things. I will not delude you with prospects of peace and consolations; on the contrary, prepare for great battles. Know that you are now on a great stage where all heaven and earth are watching you. Fight like a knight, so that I can reward you. Do not be unduly fearful, because you are not alone (Diary, 1760).

My Prayer Response:

Thank You, Lord, for Your conference on spiritual warfare. Promoting Your message of Divine Mercy is a great battle, but with Your grace and presence, I want to fight like a knight!

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, July 22  Spiritual Warfare Part Four of Conference

Conference on Spiritual Warfare.  Do not become discouraged by ingratitude. Do not examine with curiosity the roads down  which I lead you. When boredom and discouragement beat against your heart, run away from yourself and hide in My Heart. Do not fear struggle; courage itself often intimidates temptations, and they dare not attack us (Diary, 1760).

My Prayer Response:

Thank You, Lord, for the instruction on what to do when discouragement, fatigue, and struggles come upon me. Help me to run away from myself and hide in Your Heart. Give me courage in the midst of the struggle.

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...(sorry they are late)

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, July 21  Conference on Spiritual Warfare.

Observe the rule as faithfully as you can. If someone causes you trouble, think what good you can do for the person who caused you to suffer. Do not pour out your feelings. Be silent when you are rebuked. Do not ask everyone's opinion, but only the opinion of your confessor; be as frank and simple as a child with him (Diary, 1760).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, thank You, for encouraging me to be faithful to my vocation in the midst of spiritual warfare. Help me to keep these points in mind: consider what good I can do to the person who caused me to suffer; not to pour out my feelings; and to be silent when rebuked.

Tuesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, July 20  Spiritual Warfare  Part Two of Conference

Conference on Spiritual Warfare.   Put your self-love in the last place, so that it does not taint your deeds. Bear with yourself with great patience. Do not neglect interior mortifications. Always justify to yourself the opinions of your superiors and of your confessor. Shun murmurers like a plague. Let all act as they like; you are to act as I want you to (Diary, 1760).

My Prayer Response:

Thank You, Lord, for teaching me about my personal response in spiritual warfare: to set aside self-love, be patient, and make use of mortifications. May I act as You want me to.

Monday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, July 19   Spiritual Warfare Part One of Conference

Conference on Spiritual Warfare.  My daughter, I want to teach you about spiritual warfare. Never trust in yourself, but abandon yourself totally to My will. In desolation, darkness, and various doubts, have recourse to Me and to your spiritual director. He will always answer you in My name. Do not bargain with any temptation; lock yourself immediately in My Heart and, at the first opportunity, reveal the temptation to the confessor (Diary, 1760).

My Prayer Response:

Thank You, Jesus, for Your conference on spiritual warfare. May Your teachings sink deeply into my heart and mind. May I place my trust in You and abandon myself to Your will, locking myself in Your Heart. Remind me at the first opportunity to reveal the temptations to my confessor.

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, July 17  Spiritual Warfare  The Work of Redemption

Listen, My daughter, although all the works that come into being by My will are exposed to great sufferings, consider whether any of them has been subject to greater difficulties than that work which is directly Mine - the work of Redemption. You should not worry too much about adversities. The world is not as powerful as it seems to be; its strength is strictly limited (Diary, 1643).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, may I not worry and lose my peace when I face difficulties in promoting Your mercy to souls in need. May I be inspired in the struggle by the words of the Great Mercy Pope: "The ultimate limit to evil is Divine Mercy" (see Pope John Paul II, Memory and Identity, p. 55).

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, July 16

Spiritual Warfare
More Directives

Third, have the certitude that I am looking at you and supporting you. Fourth, do not fear either struggles of the soul or any temptations, because I am supporting you; if only you are willing to fight, know that the victory is always on your side. Fifth, know that by fighting bravely you give Me great glory and amass merits for yourself. Temptation gives you a chance to show Me your fidelity (Diary, 1560).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, thank You, for Your encouragement and support in fighting temptations. May I give You great glory in fighting temptations and show You my fidelity.

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, July 15  Spiritual Warfare Directives about Temptations

February 3, [1938]. Today after Holy Communion, Jesus again gave me a few directives: First, do not fight against a temptation by yourself, but disclose it to the confessor at once, and then the temptation will lose all its force. Second, during these ordeals do not lose your peace; live in My presence; ask My Mother and the Saints for help (Diary, 1560).

My Prayer Response:

Thank You, Lord, for giving me directives about temptations. May I always be open with my confessor. May I remain at peace in the midst of temptation by living in Your presence and asking Mother Mary and the Saints for help.

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, July 14  Spiritual Warfare Help Me Withstand Temptations

[St. Faustina was tempted repeatedly by Satan against her vocation of proclaiming God's mercy and praying for mercy for souls, especially sinners (see Diary, 1496-1499):]

At that moment, I saw Jesus, who said, I am pleased with what you are doing. And you can continue to be at peace if you always do the best you can in respect to this work of mercy. Be absolutely as frank as possible with your confessor.

Satan gained nothing by tempting you, because you did not enter into conversation with him. Continue to act in this way. You gave Me great glory today by fighting so faithfully (Diary, 1499).

My Prayer Response:

Lord, may I be faithful to my vocation at times of temptation. May I not enter into temptation by conversation with the Evil One. By the grace of Your presence, help me to withstand temptations.

Tuesday's Mercy minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, July 13  Spiritual Warfare Suffering and Praying for Souls

[Sister Faustina was vexed by demons during the night, one of them took the form of a cat, jumping onto her bed:]  I kept praying the rosary all the while, and toward dawn these beings vanished, and I was able to get some sleep. When I entered the chapel in the morning I heard a voice in my soul, You are united to Me; fear nothing. But know, My child, that Satan hates you; he hates every soul, but he burns with a particular hatred for you, because you have snatched so many souls from his dominion (Diary, 412).

My Prayer Response:

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your word of warning: Satan hated St. Faustina because she snatched so many souls from his dominion. Please protect us as we suffer and pray for the salvation of souls.

Monday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, July 12   Spiritual Warfare   Surrendering to Your Will

Jesus made known to me how very pleasing to Him were prayers of atonement. He said to me, The prayer of a humble and loving soul disarms the anger of My Father and draws down an ocean of blessings. After the adoration, half way to my cell, I was surrounded by a pack of huge black dogs who were jumping and howling and trying to tear me to pieces. I realized that they were not dogs, but demons. One of them spoke up in a rage, "Because you have snatched so many souls away from us this night, we will tear you to pieces." I answered, "If that is the will of the most merciful God, tear me to pieces, for I have justly deserved it, because I am the most miserable of all sinners, and God is ever holy, just, and infinitely merciful." To these words all the demons answered as one, "Let us flee, for she is not alone; the Almighty is with her!" (Diary, 320).

My Prayer Response:

Thank You, Lord, for teaching me an effective response to spiritual attacks as demonstrated by St. Faustina. She responded by surrendering to Your will. May I always humbly obey Your will.

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, July 11    Lukewarm and Indifferent

Help Us to Reach Sinners  Tell sinners that no one shall escape My Hand; if they run away from My Merciful Heart, they will fall into My Just Hands. Tell sinners that I am always waiting for them, that I listen intently to the beating of their heart ... when will it beat for Me? Write, that I am speaking to them through their remorse of conscience, through their failures and sufferings, through thunderstorms, through the voice of the Church. And if they bring all My graces to naught, I begin to be angry with them, leaving them alone and giving them what they want (Diary, 1728).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, since no one can escape Your hand, teach us and help us to reach sinners with the good news of Your hand of mercy rather than Your hand of justice. Help us to reach the world desperately in need of Your mercy.

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, July 10   Lukewarm and Indifferent

A Call to Humility and Honesty

[These souls with whom I can do nothing] sense their emptiness, but they do not recognize their own guilt, while souls in whom I reign completely are a constant source of remorse to them. Instead of correcting themselves, their hearts swell with envy, and if they do not come to their senses, they plunge in even deeper. A heart, which thus far is envious, now begins to be filled with hate. And they are already at the edge of the precipice. They are jealous of My gifts in other souls, but they themselves are unable and unwilling to accept them (Diary, 1717).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, help us to humbly and honestly recognize our own guilt. May we be open to correction from You and others. Help us to turn to You, Lord, with trust and repent when we sin. Help us to reach out to those who have lost their way or are lukewarm and indifferent to Your gifts.

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, July 9   Lukewarm and Indifferent

Teach Us Silence of Heart  Today, I was talking with the Lord, and He said to me, There are souls with whom I can do nothing. They are souls that are continuously observing others, but know nothing of what is going on within their own selves. They talk about others continually, even during times of grand silence, which is reserved for speaking only with Me. Poor souls, they do not hear My words; their interior remains empty. They do not look for Me within their own hearts, but in idle talk, where I am never to be found (Diary,  1717).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, help us to look for You within our hearts. Teach us how to be silent and listen for Your voice. May we find You, and live in Your presence with awesome awareness and loving attentiveness.

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, July 8  Lukewarm and Indifferent

The Spirit of Love  March 1, 1937. The Lord gave me to know how displeased He is with a talkative soul. I find no rest in such a soul. The constant din tires Me, and in the midst of it the soul cannot discern My voice (Diary, 1008).

Why are You sad today, Jesus? Tell me, who is the cause of Your sadness? And Jesus answered me, Chosen souls who do not have My spirit, who live according to the letter [cf. 2 Cor. 3:6] and have placed the letter above My spirit, above the spirit of love.

I have founded My whole law on love, and yet I do not see love, even in religious orders. This is why sadness fills My Heart (Diary, 1478).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, help us to discern Your voice within and live according to the spirit of love, so that Your Heart may be filled with joy. We pray for chosen souls who place the letter above Your spirit of love.

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...;

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, July 7   Lukewarm and Indifferent

Do Not Despise God’s Graces

There are souls who despise My graces as well as all the proofs of My love. They do not wish to hear My call, but proceed into the abyss of hell. The loss of these souls plunges Me into deadly sorrow. God though I am, I cannot help such a soul because it scorns Me; having a free will, it can spurn Me or love Me. You, who are the dispenser of My mercy, tell all the world about My goodness, and thus you will comfort My Heart (Diary, 580).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, help all apostles of Divine Mercy to reach souls who despise Your graces and proofs of Your love. Help us to save souls from choosing the abyss of hell — and so comfort Your Heart.

Tuesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, July 6   Lukewarm and Indifferent

Help Us Trust in Your Goodness   Others distrust My goodness and have no desire to experience that sweet intimacy in their own hearts, but go in search of Me, off in the distance, and do not find Me. This distrust of My goodness hurts Me very much. If My death has not convinced you of My love, what will? Often a soul wounds Me mortally, and then no one can    love Me. They use My graces to offend Me (Diary, 580).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, have mercy on distrusting souls and forgive them. Give all of us sinners a fresh desire for intimacy with You. Break through with the power of Your cross and love that we may find You in our hearts and not offend You.

Monday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, July 5    Lukewarm and Indifferent

Give Us Grateful Hearts

On a certain occasion, the Lord said to me, I am more deeply wounded by the small imperfections of chosen souls than by the sins of those living in the world. It made me very sad that chosen souls make Jesus suffer, and Jesus told me, These little imperfections are not all. I will reveal to you a secret of My Heart: what I suffer from chosen souls. Ingratitude in return for so many graces is My Heart’s constant food, on the part of [such] a chosen soul. Their love is lukewarm, and My Heart cannot bear it; these souls force Me to reject them. (Diary, 580).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, forgive the imperfections, the ingratitude, and lukewarm love of souls You have chosen! I beg You have mercy on them and all of us sinners — and bring us to repentance so that we may not continue to make You suffer.

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, July 4  Prayers and Novenas of 

St. Faustina   Novena of Chaplets

The Lord told me to say this chaplet for nine days before the Feast of Mercy. It is to begin on Good Friday. By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls (Diary, 796).

My Prayer Response:

Lord, help us to pray with fervor the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy as we pray the Novena before the Feast of Mercy. Thank You for the gifts of the Novena, the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy, and the Feast of Mercy. What wondrous graces You have promised!

I'm sorry this post is so late today!

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, July 3        Prayers and Novenas of 

St. Faustina  Novena for the Feast of Mercy

Make a novena for the Holy Father's intention. It should consist of thirty-three acts; that is, repetition that many times of the short prayer — which I have taught you — to The Divine Mercy (Diary, 341).

“O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You” (Diary, 309).
[This request of the Lord was in the context of making the Feast of Mercy known (see Diary, 341).]

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, our country, too, needs sustained prayer for mercy. Our homeland has become secularized and materialistic. It no longer pays attention to Your moral law, nor does it seek to know You and trust in You. Lord, have mercy on our nation!

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, July 2      Prayers and Novenas of 

St. Faustina  Joining in Prayer with John Paul II

As I was praying for Poland, I heard the words: I bear a special love for Poland, and if she will be obedient to My will, I will exalt her in might and holiness. From her will come forth the spark that will prepare the world for My final coming (Diary, 1732).

My Prayer Response with Pope John Paul II:

Pope John Paul II on the occasion of the dedication of the Basilica of The Divine Mercy in Krakow, Poland, August 17, 2002, also entrusted the world to The Divine Mercy. In his reflections, he quoted the above text of the Diary of St. Faustina about “the spark” that needs to be lighted by the grace of God — a fire of mercy that needs to be passed on to the world (see John Paul II: The Great Mercy Pope, pp. 211-213). In that light, let us join with John Paul II in praying: “May the binding promise of the Lord Jesus be fulfilled. From here there must go forth the spark that will prepare the world for My final coming.”

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily  Prayers and Novenas of St. Faustina

Prayer for Our Native Country

Once, after an adoration for our country, a pain pierced my soul, and I began to pray in this way: “Most merciful Jesus, I beseech You through the intercession of Your Saints, and especially the intercession of Your dearest Mother who nurtured You from childhood, bless my native land. I beg You, Jesus, look not on our sins, but on the tears of little children, on the hunger and cold they suffer. Jesus, for the sake of these innocent ones, grant me the grace that I am asking of You for my country.” At that moment, I saw the Lord Jesus, His eyes filled with tears, and He said to me, You see, My daughter, what great compassion I have for them. Know that it is they who uphold the world. (Diary, 286).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, give us a great concern for our native country. Hear our prayer for those who attempt to live without You or those afflicted with poverty and injustice. Especially protect the children — the innocent ones — in our secularized nation.