Monday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Monday, 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).

Sunday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Sunday, 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.

Saturday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Saturday, 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).

Friday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Friday, 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.

Thursday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Thursday, 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.

Wednesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Wednesday, 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).

Tuesday's Mercy Minutes...

 

Divine Mercy Daily

Reflections from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Tuesday, 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.