Monday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, May 31   Eucharist   The Most Tender of Mothers

In order that you may know at least some of My pain, imagine the most tender of mothers who has great love for her children, while those children spurn her love. Consider her pain. No one is in a position to console her. This is but a feeble image and likeness of My love (Diary, 1447).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, I pray that my fervent and loving reception of You in Holy Communion may be a consolation to You. I cannot begin to imagine Your pain when souls receive You indifferently. Help me to love You more deeply and tenderly.

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, May 30    Eucharist   I Wait for Souls

Oh, how painful it is to Me that souls so seldom unite themselves to Me in Holy Communion. I wait for souls, and they are indifferent toward Me. I love them tenderly and sincerely, and they distrust Me. I want to lavish My graces on them, and they do not want to accept them. They treat Me as a dead object, whereas My Heart is full of love and mercy (Diary, 1447).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, help me and all who receive You in Holy Communion to grow in greater trust and love, so we may receive You more tenderly. Lavish Your graces out upon us. May our communion with You truly be a "common — union — in — Christ" and give You great joy.

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, May 29    Eucharist   Present in Its Fullness

What you see in reality, these souls see through faith. Oh, how pleasing to Me is their great faith! You see, although there appears to be no trace of life in Me, in reality it is present in its fullness in each and every Host. But for Me to be able to act upon a soul, the soul must have faith. O how pleasing to Me is living faith! (Diary, 1420).

My Prayer Response:

Jesus, I do believe, but increase my faith that I may please You even more in each reception of Holy Communion. May I see with the eyes of faith that You are truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, May 28    Eucharist  Stir up a Living Faith

I am the same under each of the species, but not every soul receives Me with the same living faith as you do, My daughter, and therefore I cannot act in their souls as I do in yours (Diary, 1407).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, stir up a living faith in me, so You are free to act in my soul as You desire. I want You to be free to act in my soul as You did in St. Faustina's.

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina 

Eucharist   As a Dead Object

I desire to unite Myself with human souls; My great delight is to unite Myself with souls. Know, My daughter, that when I come to a human heart in Holy Communion, My hands are full of all kinds of graces which I want to give to the soul. But souls do not even pay any attention to Me; they leave Me to Myself and busy themselves with other things. Oh, how sad I am that souls do not recognize Love! They treat Me as a dead object (Diary, 1385).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, I desire to unite myself with You in every Holy Communion and receive all Your graces with fervor. I want to be attentive to You. May my fervor compensate for those who treat You as a dead object!

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, May 26   Eucharist  Indifferent and Lukewarm Souls

My daughter, write that it pains Me very much when religious souls receive the Sacrament of Love merely out of habit, as if they did not distinguish this food. I find neither faith nor love in their hearts. I go to such souls with great reluctance. It would be better if they did not receive Me (Diary, 1288).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, may my love, faith, and fervor in receiving You in the Eucharist be an ardent prayer for indifferent and lukewarm souls — that You may not be pained. May their hearts be set aflame with love for You.

Tuesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, May 25    Eucharist    The Ardor of Your Heart

Know, My daughter, that the ardor of your heart is pleasing to Me. And just as you desire ardently to become united with Me in Holy Communion, so too do I desire to give Myself wholly to you; and as a reward for your zeal, rest on My Heart (Diary, 826).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, set my heart on fire to receive You with greater desire and fervor. May Your Eucharistic presence be my reward. Let me rest on Your Heart.

Monday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, May 24     Eucharist     My Power

In the Host is your power; It will defend you (Diary, 616).

From the ciborium came a voice: These hosts have been received by souls converted through your prayer and suffering (Diary, 709).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, may the Eucharist be my power in the battle of life and the power of my intercession for souls. As I receive You in Holy Communion, help me to offer my little sufferings to You for the sake of souls.

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, May 23    Eucharist  I Am Always with You

I am always in your heart; not only when you receive Me in Holy Communion, but always (Diary, 575).

Know, My daughter, that you caused Me more sorrow by not uniting yourself with Me in Holy Communion than you did by that small transgression (Diary, 612).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your constant presence in my heart, even when my heart is veiled with darkness. May I not grieve You by doubting that You are with me always.

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, May 22     Eucharist     The Same Love

Approach each of the sisters with the same love with which you approach Me; and whatever you do for them, you do it for Me (Diary, 285).

I am your patron. Read. I looked at once at the inscription and read, "Patron for the Year'35 — the Most Blessed Eucharist" (Diary, 360).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, help me with Your grace to approach each of my brothers and sisters with the same love I approach You in the Holy Eucharist. What a marvel of grace that would be.

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, May 21  Eucharist    Unite Yourself with Me

My daughter, do not omit Holy Communion unless you know well that your fall was serious; apart from this, no doubt must stop you from uniting yourself with Me in the mystery of My love. Your minor faults will disappear in My love like a piece of straw thrown into a great furnace. Know that you grieve Me much when you fail to receive Me in Holy Communion (Diary, 156).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, may my minor faults disappear in the fire of Your love when I receive You in Holy Communion. In no way, do I want to grieve You.

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, May 20  Eucharist   Jesus with Me

[One time when St. Faustina received Holy Communion, a second Host fell into her hand.]
I desired to rest in your hands, not only in your heart. And at that moment I saw the little Jesus. But when the priest approached, I saw once again only the Host (Diary, 160).
One morning after Holy Communion, I heard this voice, I desire that you accompany Me when I go to the sick (Diary, 183).

My Prayer Response:

Thank You, Jesus, for Your desire to come into my heart in Holy Communion. Increase my desire for You that I may receive You with more fervor. I also pray that the sick would be strengthened by receiving You in Holy Communion.

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, May 19    Meditate upon My Passion In All Its   Immensity    During adoration, Jesus said to me, My daughter, know that your ardent love and the compassion you have for Me were a consolation to Me in the Garden [of Olives] (Diary, 1664).

My daughter, today consider My Sorrowful Passion in all its immensity. Consider it as if it had been undertaken for your sake alone (Diary, 1761).

My Prayer Response:    Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You would even undergo Your sorrowful Passion for my sake alone  :I have been crucified with Christ, yet, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; in so far as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given Himself up for me (Gal 2:19-20).

  

Tuesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, May 18    Meditate upon My Passion           Enter into My Passion  Holy Thursday [April—,'38]. Today I felt strong enough to take part in the ceremonies of the Church. During Holy Mass, Jesus stood before me and said, Look into My Heart and see there the love and mercy which I have for humankind, and especially for sinners. Look, and enter into My Passion. In an instant, I experienced and lived through the whole Passion of Jesus in my own heart. I was surprised that these tortures did not deprive me of my life (Diary, 1663).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, as I contemplate Your Passion, I see the love and mercy that You have for mankind and especially for sinners. Help me to pause and enter into Your Passion throughout my day.

Monday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, May 17    Meditate upon My Passion              A Painful Echo in His Sacred Heart   April 10,'38. Palm Sunday. I attended Holy Mass, but did not have the strength to go and get the palm. I felt so weak that I barely made it till the end of Mass. During Mass, Jesus gave me to know the pain of His soul, and I could clearly feel how the hymns of Hosanna reverberated as a painful echo in His Sacred Heart. My soul, too, was inundated by a sea of bitterness, and each Hosanna pierced my own heart to its depths. My whole soul was drawn close to Jesus. I heard Jesus' voice: My daughter, your compassion for Me refreshes Me. By meditating on My Passion, your soul acquires a distinct beauty (Diary, 1657).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, may my meditating on Your Passion refresh You and call down Your great mercy on a world that "so needs to understand and accept Divine Mercy" ( John Paul II, posthumous Divine Mercy Sunday message, April 3, 2005).

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, May 16  Meditate upon My Passion          Disciple of a Crucified Master    Jesus said to me today, You often call Me your Master. This is pleasing to My Heart; but do not forget, My disciple, that you are a disciple of a crucified Master. Let that one word be enough for you. You know what is contained in the cross (Diary, 1513).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, my crucified Master, help me to be Your disciple. Help me with Your mercy to offer my daily cross and join it with Your cross and follow You (see Lk 9:23).

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, May 15  Meditate upon My Passion  Infinite Value for Souls     Today, during Mass, I saw the Lord Jesus in the midst of His sufferings, as though dying on the cross. He said to me, My daughter, meditate frequently on the sufferings which I have undergone for your sake, and then nothing of what you suffer for Me will seem great to you. You please Me most when you meditate on My Sorrowful Passion. Join your little sufferings to My Sorrowful Passion, so that they may have infinite value before My Majesty (Diary, 1512).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, may I meditate frequently on the sufferings of Your Passion. May I join my little sufferings to Your sorrowful Passion that they may have infinite value for souls.

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, May 14  Meditate upon My Passion With True Feeling

Although I was ill, I made up my mind to make a Holy Hour today as usual. During that hour, I saw the Lord Jesus being scourged at the pillar. In the midst of this frightful torture, Jesus was praying. After a while, He said to me, There are few souls who contemplate My Passion with true feeling; I give great graces to souls who meditate devoutly on My Passion (Diary, 737).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, may I meditate devoutly on Your Passion. May I contemplate Your Passion with true feeling. May the graces that I receive by meditating on Your Passion be dispensed to hardened sinners who are most in need of Your mercy.

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, May 13      Meditate upon My Passion

Seek Light and Strength

When the confessor started talking to me, I did not understand a single word. Then I saw Jesus Crucified and He said to me, It is in My Passion that you must seek light and strength (Diary, 654).

My Prayer Response with St. Faustina:

After the confession, I meditated on Jesus' terrible Passion, and I understood that what I was suffering was nothing compared to the Savior's Passion, and that even the smallest imperfection was the cause of this terrible suffering. Then my soul was filled with very great contrition, and only then I sensed that I was in the sea of the unfathomable mercy of God. Oh, how few words I have to express what I am experiencing! I feel I am like a drop of dew engulfed in the depths of the bottomless ocean of divine mercy (Diary, 65

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, May 12   Meditate upon My Passion       Sharing in My Pain

Then I saw the Lord Jesus nailed to the cross. When He had hung on it for a while, I saw a multitude of souls crucified like Him. Then I saw a second multitude of souls, and a third. The second multitude were not nailed to [their] crosses, but were holding them firmly in their hands. The third were neither nailed to [their] crosses nor holding them firmly in their hands, but were dragging [their] crosses behind them and were discontent. Jesus then said to me, Do you see these souls? Those who are like Me in the pain and contempt they suffer will be like Me also in glory. And those who resemble Me less in pain and contempt will also bear less resemblance to Me in glory.

Among the crucified souls, the most numerous were those of the clergy. I also saw some crucified souls whom I knew, and this gave me great joy (Diary, 446).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, may I daily embrace the cross You give me with joy and thanksgiving for the sake of souls. Help me to unite my pain and miseries with Your Passion.

Tuesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, May 11   Meditate upon My Passion            See the Human Race

Then Jesus said to me, Look and see the human race in its present condition. In an instant, I saw horrible things: the executioners left Jesus, and other people started scourging Him; they seized the scourges and struck the Lord mercilessly. These were priests, religious men and women, and high dignitaries of the Church, which surprised me greatly. There were lay people of all ages and walks of life. All vented their malice on the innocent Jesus. Seeing this, my heart fell as if into a mortal agony. And while the executioners had been scourging Him, Jesus had been silent and looking into the distance; but when those other souls I mentioned scourged Him, Jesus closed His eyes, and a soft but most painful moan escaped from His Heart. And Jesus gave me to know in detail the gravity of the malice of these ungrateful souls: You see, this is a torture greater than My death. Then my lips too fell silent, and I began to experience the agony of death ... (Diary, 445).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, see the human race in our present condition! We have continued to scourge You. May the pain in my heart over Your pain bring solace to Your Heart.

Monday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, May 10     Meditate upon My Passion           Even Greater Pain   When I came for adoration, an inner recollection took hold of me immediately, and I saw the Lord Jesus tied to a pillar, stripped of His clothes, and the scourging began immediately. I saw four men who took turns at striking the Lord with scourges. My heart almost stopped at the sight of these tortures. The Lord said to me, I suffer even greater pain than that which you see. And Jesus gave me to know for what sins He subjected Himself to the scourging: these are sins of impurity. Oh, how dreadful was Jesus' moral suffering during the scourging! (Diary, 445).

My Prayer Response:

St. Faustina, through your words, we "see" the Lord Jesus stripped and scourged so cruelly! I'm amazed that Jesus said He suffered even greater pain than what you saw because of our sins of impurity. Lord Jesus, have mercy on us sinners for the pain we have caused You.

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, May 9     Meditate upon My Passion

More Merit to One Hour   I received permission for one hour of meditation on the Passion of the Lord Jesus and for a certain humiliation. But I was a little dissatisfied at not receiving permission for everything I had asked. When we returned home, I dropped into the chapel for a moment, and then I heard this voice in my soul: There is more merit to one hour of meditation on My sorrowful Passion than there is to a whole year of flagellation that draws blood; the contemplation of My painful wounds is of great profit to you, and it brings Me great joy (Diary, 369).

[Then Jesus went on to admonish St. Faustina very kindly:]
I am surprised that you still have not completely renounced your self-will, but I rejoice exceedingly that this change will be accomplished during the retreat (Diary, 369; see also Diary, 371-73).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, may I grow in humility and surrender to Your divine will by meditating on Your Passion. Your will be done and not mine!

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, May 7  Meditate upon My Passion

My Mercy on Behalf of Sinners

Today Jesus said to me, I desire that you know more profoundly the love that burns in My Heart for souls, and you will understand this when you meditate upon My Passion. Call upon My mercy on behalf of sinners; I desire their salvation. When you say this prayer, with a contrite heart and with faith on behalf of some sinner, I will give him the grace of conversion. This is the prayer: (Diary, 186).

"O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You." (Diary, 187).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, may I fulfill Your desire and come to know more deeply Your burning love for souls in Your Passion by meditating on it. Thank You for the Blood and Water, which gushed forth from Your Heart as a fount of mercy for us.

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

 I'm sorry these are so late today:

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, May 6The Three O'clock Hour of Mercy

Ways to Pray at Three O'clock

My daughter, try your best to make the Stations of the Cross in this hour, provided that your duties permit it; and if you are not able to make the Stations of the Cross, then at least step into the chapel for a moment and adore, in the Blessed Sacrament, My Heart, which is full of mercy; and should you be unable to step into the chapel, immerse yourself in prayer there where you happen to be, if only for a very brief instant. I claim veneration for My mercy from every creature, but above all from you, since it is to you that I have given the most profound understanding of this mystery (Diary, 1572).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, You so desire that we take advantage of the Hour of Great Mercy that You offer us a variety of ways to venerate Your mercy. Help us to draw down all the available graces for a world in desperate need of Your mercy.

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, May 5  The Three O'clock Hour of MercyAt That Moment, Mercy Was Opened Wide

I remind you, My daughter, that as often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners; for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every soul. In this hour you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world — mercy triumphed over justice (Diary, 1572).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, remind me to immerse myself in the ocean of Your mercy at the three o'clock hour, adoring and glorifying Your great mercy and invoking Your mercy on the whole world so very much in need of mercy. May I and all apostles of Divine Mercy "get the three o'clock habit"!

Tuesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, May 4

The Three O'clock Hour of Mercy           Immerse Yourself in My Passion  At three o'clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to enter into My mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion ... (Diary, 1320).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, help me to take good advantage of the Hour of Great Mercy and remember Your passion. I desire to immerse myself in Your Passion. I beg for Your mercy upon the whole world, especially sinners.

Monday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, May 3

The Three O'clock Hour of Mercy

You Are My Solace

At three o'clock, I prayed prostrate, in the form of a cross, for the whole world. Jesus' mortal life was coming to an end. I heard His seven words; then He looked at me and said, Beloved daughter of My Heart, you are My solace amidst terrible torments (Diary, 1058).

My Prayer Response with St. Faustina:

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us (Diary, 1319).

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, May 2  Proclaim My Mercy  No Terror at the Hour of Death

January 28, 1938. Today the Lord said to me, My daughter, write down these words: All those souls who will glorify My mercy and spread its worship, encouraging others to trust in My mercy, will not experience terror at the hour of death. My mercy will shield them in that final battle ... (Diary, 1540).

My Prayer Response:

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your repeated promise to those who glorify Your mercy and encourage others to trust in Your mercy — that You will shield them with Your mercy in the final battle. I pray that all those who are apostles of Divine Mercy would claim this powerful promise.

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, May 1  Proclaim My Mercy                      Refresh This Heart of Mine   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 Jesus, I want to refresh Your Heart by unfailingly proclaiming Your mercy. Thank You for empowering Your priests with anointed words of mercy that touch the hearts of the people. Remind me, Lord, to pray for priests that they would not stint in proclaiming Your mercy.