Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, January 31     Deeds of Mercy - Pray for Your Enemies

My daughter, in this meditation, consider the love of neighbor. Is your love for your neighbor guided by My love? Do you pray for your enemies? Do you wish well to those who have, in one way or another, caused you sorrow or offended you?
Know that whatever good you do to any soul, I accept it as if you had done it to Me (Diary, 1768).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, help me to pray for my enemies and for those who have caused me sorrows. Teach me to live Your word: "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of Mine, you did for Me" (Mt 25:40).

JANUARY 31, 2021

"If you become Christ's you will stumble upon wonder upon wonder, and every one of them true." — St. Brendan of Birr

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, January 30    Deeds of Mercy - Be Always Merciful

[After St. Faustina fed a poor young man a bowl of soup, she writes:]

As I was taking the bowl from him, he gave me to know that He was the Lord of heaven and earth. ... I heard these words in my soul: My daughter, the blessings of the poor who bless Me as they leave this gate have reached My ears. And your compassion, within the bounds of obedience, has pleased Me, and this is why I came down from My throne — to taste the fruits of your mercy (Diary, 1312).
Then I heard the words, I am glad you behaved like My true daughter. Be always merciful as I am merciful. Love everyone out of love for Me, even your greatest enemies, so that My mercy may be fully reflected in your heart (Diary, 1695).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, help me to "be merciful just as Your Father is merciful" (Lk 6:36). May I always be merciful — always, everywhere, and to everyone.

JANUARY 30, 2021

"In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life's different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship but to keep her on her course." – St. Boniface

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, January 29       Deeds of Mercy - Spiritual Mercy

I understand Your words, Lord, and the magnitude of the mercy that ought to shine in my soul. Jesus: I know, My daughter, that you understand it and that you do everything within your power. But write this for the many souls who are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul. If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment (Diary, 1317).\

My Prayer Response:

My Jesus, thank You for teaching us through St. Faustina about "spiritual mercies" when we do not have material goods to give. We can always encourage others by our word, by our prayer, and by our kindness — and especially by sacrifice lovingly accomplished, which You, Jesus, called exercising mercy in spirit (Diary, 1316).

JANUARY 29, 2021

"When we pray, the voice of the heart must be heard more than the proceedings from the mouth." – St. Bonaventure

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, January 28     Deeds of Mercy  -  Our Task

September 6,'37. Today, I begin a new assignment. I go from the garden to the desert of the gate. I went in to talk to the Lord for a while. I asked Him for a blessing and for graces to faithfully carry out the duties entrusted to me. I heard these words: My daughter, I am always with you. I have given you the opportunity to practice deeds of mercy which you will perform according to obedience. You will give Me much pleasure if, each evening, you will speak to Me especially about this task. I felt that Jesus had given me a new grace in relation to my new duties; but, despite this, I have locked myself deeper in His Heart (Diary, 1267).

My Prayer Response:

Jesus, please give me opportunities to practice deeds of mercy. Open my eyes and ears to the needs of those around me. And lead me deeper into Your Heart of love and mercy for all.

JANUARY 28, 2021

"Prayer is the best preparation for Holy Communion. Prayer is the raising of the mind to God. When we pray we go to meet Christ Who is coming to us. If our Creator and Savior comes from heaven with such great love, it is only fitting that we should go to meet Him. And this is what we do when we spend some time in prayer." – St. Bernardine of Siena

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, January 27    Deeds of Mercy   Deeds Done for Me

The doctor did not allow me to go to the chapel to attend the Passion Service, although I had a great desire for it; however, I prayed in my own room. Suddenly I heard the bell in the next room, and I went in and rendered a service to a seriously sick person. When I returned to my room, I suddenly saw the Lord Jesus, who said, My daughter, you gave Me greater pleasure by rendering Me that service than if you had prayed for a long time. I answered, "But it was not to You, Jesus, but to that patient that I rendered this service." And the Lord answered me, Yes, My daughter, but whatever you do for your neighbor, you do for Me (Diary, 1029).

My Prayer Response:     Thank You, Jesus, for teaching us through St. Faustina: Whatever you do for your neighbor, you do for Me (see Mt 25:40). Help us, Lord Jesus, to respond with deeds of mercy whenever You appear in the disguise of the needy, as did Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

JANUARY 27, 2021

"In order to be an image of God, the spirit must turn to what is eternal, hold it in spirit, keep it in memory, and by loving it, embrace it in the will." – St. Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

Tuesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, January 26     Deeds of Mercy A Reminder of the Demands

Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be acts of mercy, and I demand the worship of My mercy through the solemn celebration of the Feast and through the veneration of the image which is painted. By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works (Diary, 742).

My Prayer Response with St. Faustina:

O my Jesus, You Yourself must help me in everything, because You see how very little I am, and so I depend solely on Your goodness, O God (Diary, 742).

JANUARY 26, 2021

"Listen with the ear of your heart." – St. Benedict of Nursia

Monday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, January 25     Deeds of Mercy  The Demand for Deeds of Mercy

My daughter, if I demand through you that people revere My mercy, you should be the first to distinguish yourself by this confidence in My mercy. I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it (Diary, 742).
I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first — by deed, the second — by word, the third— by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy (Diary, 742).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, help me to respond to Your demand for deeds of mercy. Fill me with Your love for my neighbor. Help me then to show my love for You by exercising mercy toward my neighbor in three ways: by deed, by word, and by prayer.

JANUARY 25, 2021

"We find rest in those we love, and we provide a resting place for those who love us." – St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, January 24            Beg for Mercy    Thrice Holy God

Write: I am Thrice Holy, and I detest the smallest sin. I cannot love a soul which is stained with sin; but when it repents, there is no limit to My generosity toward it. My mercy embraces and justifies it. With My mercy, I pursue sinners along all their paths, and My Heart rejoices when they return to Me. I forget the bitterness with which they fed My Heart and rejoice at their return (Diary, 1728).

The Lord said to me, Enter into purgatory often, because they need you there. O my Jesus, I understand the meaning of these words which You are speaking to me, but first let me enter the treasury of Your mercy (Diary, 1738).

My Prayer Response:

O Thrice Holy God, You detest even the smallest sin in souls. Hear my plea for Your mercy on us sinners on earth and those in purgatory. Cleanse us as we repent and return to You. May our return give You joy.

JANUARY 24, 2021

"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love." — St. Basil the Great

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, January 23              Beg for Mercy     Moving Heaven

Good Friday [April 15,'38]. I saw the Lord Jesus, tortured, but not nailed to the Cross. It was still before the crucifixion, and He said to me, You are My Heart. Speak to sinners about My mercy. And the Lord gave me interior knowledge of the whole abyss of His mercy for souls, and I learned that that which I had written is truly a drop (Diary, 1666).

I heard these words: If you did not tie My hands, I would send down many punishments upon the earth. My daughter, your look disarms My anger. Although your lips are silent, you call out to Me so mightily that all heaven is moved. I cannot escape from your requests, because you pursue Me, not from afar but within your own heart (Diary, 1722).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, through the intercession of St. Faustina, teach me how to beg for mercy on the whole world and move all of heaven like she did! Give me Your Heart, Lord, so I can appreciate better the whole abyss of Your mercy for souls.

JANUARY 23, 2021

"What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like." – St. Augustine

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, January 22         Beg for Mercy

A Burning Desire to Save Souls

The Lord said to me, The loss of each soul plunges Me into mortal sadness. You always console Me when you pray for sinners. The prayer most pleasing to Me is prayer for the conversion of sinners. Know, My daughter, that this prayer is always heard and answered (Diary, 1397).

March 25,'38. Today, I saw the suffering Lord Jesus. He leaned down toward me and whispered softly, My daughter, help Me to save sinners. Suddenly, a burning desire to save souls entered my soul. When I recovered my senses, I knew just how I was to help souls, and I prepared myself for greater sufferings (Diary, 1645).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, I want to respond to Your "mortal sadness" caused by the loss of each soul. Give me a "burning desire to save souls" like that of St. Faustina. Give me the graces to even suffer for the conversion of sinners.

JANUARY 22, 2021

"For He became man that we might become divine; and He revealed Himself through a body that we might receive an idea of the invisible Father; and He endured insults from men that we might inherit incorruption." — St. Athanasius of Alexandria

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, January 21             Beg for Mercy

Be Not Afraid

Today, I have heard these words: My daughter, delight of My Heart, it is with pleasure that I look into your soul. I bestow many graces only because of you. I also withhold My punishments only because of you. You restrain Me, and I cannot vindicate the claims of My justice. You bind My hands with your love (Diary, 1193).

Today I heard a voice in my soul: Oh, if sinners knew My mercy, they would not perish in such great numbers. Tell sinful souls not to be afraid to approach Me; speak to them of My great mercy (Diary, 1396).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, fill my heart with love of You like that of St. Faustina, so You may be delighted and grant many graces as I beg for mercy for souls. May many more sinners come to know of Your mercy while it is still time for mercy.

JANUARY 21, 2021

"The Cross is the way to Paradise, but only when it is borne willingly." — St. Paul of the Cross

Tuesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, January 19        Beg For Mercy:

      On the First Friday of the month, before Communion, I saw a large ciborium filled with sacred hosts. A hand placed the ciborium in front of me, and I took it in my hands. There were a thousand living hosts inside. Then I heard a voice, These are hosts which have been received by the souls for whom you have obtained the grace of true conversion during this Lent. That was a week before Good Friday (Diary, 640).

Then suddenly I saw the Lord, who clasped me to His Heart and said to me, My daughter, do not weep, for I cannot bear your tears. I will grant you everything you ask for, but stop crying. And I was filled with great joy, and my spirit, as usual, was drowned in Him as in its only treasure (Diary, 928).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your loving and tender response to St. Faustina's intercession for souls. It encourages us to be loving and tender in our intercession for souls in need of Your mercy.

JANUARY 19, 2021

"The life of the body is the soul; the life of the soul is God." – St. Anthony of Padua

Monday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, January 18            Beg for Mercy

Beg Mercy for Loved Ones

On one occasion, after a person had asked me for prayer, when I met the Lord I said to Him, "Jesus, I especially love those souls whom You love." And Jesus answered, And as for Me, I bestow special graces on those souls for whom you intercede (Diary, 599).

After Holy Communion today, I spoke at length to the Lord Jesus about people who are special to me. Then I heard these words: My daughter, don't be exerting yourself so much with words. Those whom you love in a special way, I too love in a special way, and for your sake, I shower My graces upon them. I am pleased when you tell Me about them, but don't be doing so with such excessive effort (Diary, 739).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, shower with mercy all the people that we love in a special way as we intercede for them and for the whole world. Lord, I especially remember my family members and close friends.

JANUARY 18, 2021

"Humility, obedience, meekness, and love are the virtues that shine through the Cross and the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. O my Jesus, help me imitate you!" – St. Anthony Mary Claret

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, January 16           Beg for Mercy

The Power of a Confident Soul

On one occasion the Lord said to me, My daughter, your confidence and love restrain My justice, and I cannot inflict punishment because you hinder Me from doing so. Oh, how great is the power of a soul filled with confidence! (Diary, 198).

My daughter, for the sake of your sincere and generous love, I grant [certain souls who displease Me] many graces although they are not asking Me for them. But I am doing so because of the promise I have made to you (Diary, 383).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, I join St. Faustina in her great trust and love of You to restrain Your justice and to call down many graces of Your mercy on this world, which is so in need of mercy. I particularly remember the souls of those I know who are far from You.

JANUARY 16, 2021

"And above all, be on your guard not to want to get anything done by force, because God has given free will to everyone and wants to force no one, but only proposes, invites and counsels." — St. Angela Merici

Friday's Mercy Minutes

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, January 15                                A Way to Beg

After Communion, I heard the voice saying, My daughter, look into the abyss of My mercy and give praise and glory to this mercy of Mine. Do it in this way: Gather all sinners from the entire world and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. I want to give Myself to souls; I yearn for souls, My daughter. On the day of My feast, the Feast of Mercy, you will go through the whole world and bring fainting souls to the spring of My mercy. I shall heal and strengthen them (Diary, 206).

My Prayer Response:

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for teaching us a way to beg for Your mercy on souls. As the Church, we, Your Body, immerse them in the ocean of Your mercy — "baptizing" them in Your mercy. We plunge all fainting souls in the world into the abyss of Your mercy.

JANUARY 15, 2021

"We have received baptism, entrance into the Church, and the honor of being called Christians. Yet what good will this do us if we are Christians in name only and not in fact?" – St. Andrew Kim Taegon

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, January 14

Trust/Distrust   Ask for Much

I rejoice that [souls] ask for much, because it is My desire to give much, very much. On the other hand, I am sad when souls ask for little, when they narrow their hearts (Diary, 1578).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, I want to please You and have You rejoice as I ask, seek, and knock for more and more of Your mercy not only for myself but for those who "narrow their hearts" and ask for so little. Expand all of our hearts, so we can trust more and receive more.

JANUARY 14, 2021

"If the heart wanders or is distracted, bring it back to the point quite gently and replace it tenderly in its Master's presence. And even if you did nothing during the whole of your hour but bring your heart back and place it again in Our Lord's presence, though it went away every time you brought it back, your hour would be very well employed." — St. Francis de Sales

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, January 13                  Trust/Distrust

The Vessel of Trust

The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is — trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to Me, because I pour all the treasures of My graces into them (Diary, 1578).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, expand my capacity to trust in You! I and so many souls need and want more of Your mercy. Help us with Your mercy to desire more, to ask for more, so we may receive more graces. Fill our hearts with thanksgiving for Your mercy and help us share the graces we receive.

JANUARY 13, 2021

"He took what is mine in order that He might impart to me what is His. He took it not to overturn it but to fill it." – St. Ambrose

Tuesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, January 12            Trust/Distrust

Boundless Trust in My Mercy

Let souls who are striving for perfection particularly adore My mercy, because the abundance of graces which I grant them flows from My mercy. I desire that these souls distinguish themselves by boundless trust in My mercy. I Myself will attend to the sanctification of such souls. I will provide them with everything they will need to attain sanctity (Diary, 1578).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, I am striving for perfection, but I really need more of Your mercy. I am nothing without You. Teach me and all souls striving for sanctity how to adore Your mercy and to trust in You still more!

JANUARY 12, 2021

"If you learn everything except Christ, you learn nothing. If you learn nothing except Christ, you learn everything." — St. Bonaventure

Monday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, January 11

Trust/Distrust  Hearts Open to My Mercy

Tell souls not to place within their own hearts obstacles to My mercy, which so greatly wants to act within them. My mercy works in all those hearts which open their doors to it. Both the sinner and the righteous person have need of My mercy. Conversion, as well as perseverance, is a grace of My mercy (Diary, 1577).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, help me to be more present to Your presence in my heart. I pray for the grace of Your mercy that I may persevere in keeping my heart open to You. And I pray that the hardened hearts of sinners may be softened for conversion, which is also a grace of Your mercy.

JANUARY 11, 2021

"Love takes up where knowledge leaves off." — St. Thomas Aquinas

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, January 10

Trust/Distrust

Even Chosen Souls Hurt Me

Jesus complained to me of how painful to Him is the unfaithfulness of chosen souls and My Heart is even more wounded by their distrust after a fall. It would be less painful if they had not experienced the goodness of My Heart (Diary, 1532).

My Prayer Response:

Jesus, I confess my unfaithfulness and need for deeper trust in You. May I cry out to You in the words of the father interceding for his son possessed by a mute spirit: "I do believe. Help my lack of trust!" (Mk 9:24).

JANUARY 10, 2021

"As the pilot of a vessel is tried in the storm; as the wrestler is tried in the ring, the soldier in the battle, and the hero in adversity: so is the Christian tried in temptation." — St. Basil the Great

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, January 9

Trust/Distrust     A Living Fountain of Mercy

Today the Lord said to me, I have opened My Heart as a living fountain of mercy. Let all souls draw life from it. Let them approach this sea of mercy with great trust. Sinners will attain justification, and the just will be confirmed in good. Whoever places his trust in My mercy will be filled with My divine peace at the hour of death (Diary, 1520).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, I come to Your open Heart, a living fountain of mercy, an ocean of mercy — with trust in You! I come and appeal to Your mercy both for sinners and for the just that we may all be filled with Your divine peace at the hour of death.

JANUARY 9, 2021

"Christ made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him whom the angels serve." – St. Agnes

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, January 8Trust/Distrust

Appeal to My Mercy

Souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to My compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in My unfathomable and inscrutable mercy (Diary, 1146).

My Prayer Response:

Jesus, I appeal to Your mercy for me a sinner and for mercy on the whole world. Help all of us to appeal to Your great mercy. May we be justified by Your unfathomable and inscrutable mercy!

JANUARY 8, 2021

"Trials, tribulation, anguish, anxiety are permitted by the very One Who gives peace." — Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, January 7Trust/Distrust

Mercy for Tormented Souls

[Let] the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy. My daughter, write about My mercy towards tormented souls (Diary, 1146).

My Prayer Response:
Jesus, may tormented and hardened sinners turn with trust to Your mercy. Reveal to them that Your mercy is forgiveness for the seemingly unforgivable sin. May Your mercy bring them peace, joy, and healing.

JANUARY 7, 2021

"I know now that true charity consists in bearing all of our neighbors’ defects—not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their smallest virtues."

— St. Therese of Lisieux

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, January 6

Trust/Distrust  The Bowels of My Mercy

Write this: Everything that exists is enclosed in the bowels of My mercy, more deeply than an infant in its mother's womb. How painfully distrust of My goodness wounds Me! Sins of distrust wound Me most painfully (Diary, 1076).

My Prayer Response:

Jesus, how deeply and tenderly You love us. Help me to trust in You even more! May my trust in You bring You consolation in the painful wounds You suffer because of sins of distrust.

JANUARY 6, 2021

"Let each of us accept the truth of the following statement and try to make it our most fundamental principle: Christ's teaching will never let us down, while worldly wisdom always will. Christ Himself said that this sort of wisdom was like a house with nothing but sand as its foundation, while His own was like a building with solid rock as its foundation." — St. Vincent de Paul

Tuesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, January 5

Trust/Distrust

Love and Mercy Itself

Tell [all people], My daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls (Diary, 1074).

My Prayer Response:

Jesus, You are Love and Mercy itself. I trust in You! Fill me with so much grace that it radiates out to others. May I be a channel for Your mercy, a means of grace for others.

JANUARY 5, 2021

"If you want God to hear your prayers, hear the voice of the poor. If you wish God to anticipate your wants, provide those of the needy without waiting for them to ask you." – St. Thomas of Villanova