Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, September 7

Jesus the Teacher
Remain a Little Child

At that moment Jesus asked me, My child, how is your retreat going? I answered, "But, Jesus, You know how it is going." Yes, I know, but I want to hear it from your own lips and from your heart. "O my Master, when You are leading me, everything goes smoothly, and I ask You, Lord, to never leave my side." And Jesus said, Yes, I will be with you always, if you always remain a little child and fear nothing. As I was your beginning here, so I will also be your end. Do not rely on creatures, even in the smallest things, because this displeases Me. I want to be alone in your soul. I will give light and strength to your soul, and you will learn from My representative that I am in you, and your uncertainty will vanish like mist before the rays of the sun (Diary, 295).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, give me the light and strength to rely on You as a little child, without fear. May I rely on You even for the smallest things, so I may please You.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

"Three things are necessary to everyone: truth of faith which brings understanding, love of Christ which brings compassion, and endurance of hope which brings perseverance." — St. Bonaventure

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, September 6

Jesus the Teacher
Take Graces for Others

And I will tell you one more thing — take these graces not only for yourself, but also for others; that is, encourage the souls with whom you come in contact to trust in My infinite mercy. Oh, how I love those souls who have complete confidence in Me — I will do everything for them (Diary, 294).

My Prayer Response:
Yes, Lord, I take Your graces not only for myself but for souls I meet that they may trust in you even more. May they grow to have complete confidence in You!

September 6, 2020

"Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee." — St. Augustine

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, September 5

Jesus the Teacher
All the Graces I Can Carry

Once the Lord said to me, Act like a beggar who does not back away when he gets more alms [than he asked for], but offers thanks the more fervently. You too, should not back away and say that you are not worthy of receiving greater graces when I give them to you. I know you are unworthy, but rejoice all the more and take as many treasures from My Heart as you can carry, for then you will please Me more (Diary, 294).

My Prayer Response:
Jesus, thank You for teaching me to receive all the graces You offer me with fervent thanksgiving. Knowing that I am unworthy, I rejoice all the more and take all I can carry — to please You!

September 5, 2020

"Mary was the most perfect among the saints only because she was always perfectly united to the will of God." — St. Alphonsus Liguori

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, September 4

Jesus the Teacher
The Essence of Your Lordship

On Friday, after Holy Communion, I was carried in spirit before the throne of God. There I saw the heavenly Powers which incessantly praise God. Beyond the throne I saw a brightness inaccessible to creatures, and there only the Incarnate Word enters as Mediator. When Jesus entered this light, I heard these words, Write down at once what you hear: I am the Lord in My essence and am immune to orders or needs. If I call creatures into being — that is the abyss of My mercy. And at that very moment I found myself, as before, in our chapel at my kneeler, just as Mass had ended. I already had these words written (Diary, 85).

My Prayer Response:
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for teaching St. Faustina about the essence of Your Lordship and the abyss of Your mercy in creating us. May these mysteries at the Throne of God evoke my praise and worship.

September 4, 2020

"If then we have angels, let us be sober, as though we were in the presence of tutors; for there is a demon present also." — St. John Chrysostom

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, September 3

Jesus the Teacher
Strength for the Task at Hand

One time during the novitiate, ... I was very upset because I could not manage the pots, which were very large. The most difficult task for me was draining the potatoes, and sometimes I spilt half of them with the water ... . I complained to God about my weakness. Then I heard the following words in my soul, From today on you will do this easily; I shall strengthen you.

That evening, when the time came to drain off the water from the potatoes, I hurried to be the first to do it, trusting in the Lord's words. I took up the pot with ease and poured off the water perfectly. But when I took off the cover to let the potatoes steam off, I saw there in the pot, in the place of the potatoes, whole bunches of red roses, beautiful beyond description ... . [Then] I heard a voice within saying, I change such hard work of yours into bouquets of most beautiful flowers, and their perfume rises up to My throne (Diary, 65).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, when the work before me is overwhelming thank You for teaching me through St. Faustina that You give me the strength needed for the task.

September 3, 2020

"There are in truth three states of the converted: the beginning, the middle, and the perfection. In the beginning they experience the charms of sweetness; in the middle the contests of temptation; and in the end the fullness of perfection." — Pope St. Gregory the Great

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, September 2

Confession
An Abundance of Graces

Know that as often as you come to Me, humbling yourself and asking My forgiveness, I pour out a superabundance of graces on your soul, and your imperfection vanishes before My eyes, and I see only your love and your humility. You lose nothing but gain much ... (Diary, 1293).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, I want to receive an abundance of Your graces in confession as I humble myself and ask for forgiveness. Thank You, Jesus, for seeing only my love and humility.

September 2, 2020

"I am sent not only to love God but to make Him loved. It is not enough for me to love God, if my neighbor does not love Him." — St. Vincent de Paul

Tuesday's Mercy Minutes...

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, September 1

Confession
This Small Imperfection

It so happened that I fell again into a certain error, in spite of a sincere resolution not to do so — even though the lapse was a minor imperfection and rather involuntary — and at this I felt such acute pain in my soul that I interrupted my work and went to the chapel for a while. Falling at the feet of Jesus, with love and a great deal of pain, I apologized to the Lord, all the more ashamed because of the fact that in my conversation with Him after Holy Communion this very morning I had promised to be faithful to Him. Then I heard these words: If it hadn't been for this small imperfection, you wouldn't have come to Me (Diary, 1293).

My Prayer Response:
Help me, Lord Jesus, to humble myself in confession and ask for forgiveness, even for imperfections that they, too, may vanish. May I bring even the smallest imperfection to You.

September 1, 2020

"It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes." — St. Thomas Aquinas