Hour of Mercy: 3:00 p.m, Thursday, October 5, 2023

DEVOTION TO THE DIVINE MERCY

Daily Reflections, Supplications and Prayers

Translator SPANISH ENGLISH: Mrs. Mari Campos-Waite

Thursday, October 5, 2023

Every October 5, the Catholic Church celebrates Saint Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), Polish Catholic nun and mystic. She witnessed the apparitions that inspired devotion to Jesus of Divine Mercy. For this reason, Saint Faustina bears the title “Apostle of Divine Mercy.”

“To the souls who spread devotion to my Mercy, I protect them during their life like a loving mother to her newborn child and at the hour of death I will not be the judge for them, but the Merciful Savior,” the LORD said to your servant, Saint Faustina.

A SIMPLE AND LOVING GIRL:

Saint Faustina was born in Lodz, Poland, in 1905. From a young age she showed a special sensitivity to spiritual realities, something that her parents – pious and disciplined Catholics – helped to forge.

The day she received her First Communion, Faustina was so moved by the gift she had received that she expressed her gratitude by kissing the hands of her parents, thanking them for raising her in the love of CHRIST and asking their forgiveness for having offended them.

Helena Kowalska – by her given name – was the third of eight siblings, so she quickly learned to help with family chores. At home, she was either helping her mother in the kitchen or taking care of her siblings; in the stable, she was busy milking the cows.

She attended school but was only able to complete three years of study because the Kowalska family did not have enough money to pay for her education and she had to work.

NO ONE WHO PUTS HIS HAND TO THE PLOW AND LOOKS BACK IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD (LK 9, 62)

At the age of 15 he began to have concerns about religious life. However, she knew that she would not be accepted into a convent without having some money. Therefore, she began working as a domestic worker to help herself financially and, at the same time, continue supporting her family.

When she told her parents of her desire to be religious, they opposed it. That discouraged her for a while, until one day, while praying, she felt that Jesus was asking her to leave everything and go to Warsaw and enter one of the convents in the City.

Without saying goodbye to her parents, she traveled to the Polish capital with only the dress she was wearing. There she spoke with a priest, who found her lodging with a friendly family.

Later, to support herself, she returned to work as a domestic worker. It was a time of great uncertainty for her, in which she felt strongly tested, given that no house of nuns could welcome her despite her attempts. (See ACIPRENSA: October 5, 2022 / 12:01 AM)

REFLECTION OF THE DAY:

“What am I and what are You, LORD, King of glory, immortal glory. Oh my heart, do you realize who comes to visit you today? Yes, I know, but it is funny that I cannot understand it. Oh, yes was only a king, but this is the KING of kings, LORD of lords. Before He trembles all power and authority. Today He comes to my heart. I hear Him approaching, I go out to meet Him and invite Him. When He entered the dwelling from my heart, my soul was filled with such great respect that she fainted in fear, falling at his feet. JESUS gave her his hand and kindly allowed her to sit next to Him. He reassured her: – You see, I have left the throne of heaven for join you. What you are seeing is just a small sample and your soul faints with love. How amazed your heart will be when you see Me in all the fullness of glory! I want to tell you, however, that eternal life must begin already here on earth through Holy Communion. Each Holy Communion makes you more capable of Communion with God for all eternity”. (Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska, The Divine Mercy in my soul, Diary, 1810).

SUPPLICATIONS:

– Let us ask for the Grace of living in permanent Communion with the King of Mercy.

– Let us pray for marriages in crisis and broken families, so that they allow themselves to be loved by the King of Mercy and experience his presence in their homes.

– For our suffering humanity.

– For the souls in Purgatory.

– For the intentions of the Virgin Mary.

– For our Holy Catholic Church.

– For our personal intentions.

PURPOSE OF THE DAY:

– Feeling accompanied by the King of Mercy during all our activities this day.

– Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

– Respect the Hour of Mercy.

– Read the Biography of SANTA FAUSTINA.

CLOSING PRAYER:

“Oh Mary, my Mother, I humbly beg You, cover my soul with Your virginal mantle at this very important moment of my life, so that it may make me more pleasing to Your Son and I may worthily glorify the Mercy of Your Son before the world.” whole and for all eternity”. (Diary, 220).

Oh My Good Merciful JESUS, King of Mercy, I trust in You and only in You I hope. Amen. JESUS I TRUST IN YOU!