Dear Marian Helpers and Friends,
We have before us a wonderful time of spiritual experience: Holy Week and the Novena to Divine Mercy (from April 15 to 23). It is a time of renewal and strengthening of our communion with God and our neighbour. It is a time of special recourse to the sources of grace in the Paschal Mysteries of Christ. It is a time of renewing God’s image in ourselves.
„God of unfathomable mercy, embrace the whole world and pour Yourself out upon us through the merciful Heart of Jesus”. ( Diary of St. Faustina, 1183)
Recent years have brought us much suffering, uncertainty and worry. The world is still in the grip of the constraints of the COVID 19 pandemic. Many of us mourn their family members who have unexpectedly departed this world, sometimes separated from loved ones, alone and without the comfort of receiving the sacraments of the Church. Confrontations between world powers continue, and the spectre of new conflicts looms on the horizon. There is a lack of openness and trust between nations because love and forgiveness are lacking in human hearts. Everyone lacks the peace that the world cannot give.
In the face of such facts, faith and trust in human hearts disappear. Some have lost the habits of attending the Eucharist in their churches and chapels. Even when it is possible, they do not make the effort to leave their homes, to take their eyes off the television or computer screen, in order to encounter the celebration of the living God in the Eucharist, present among his people.
In this difficult time we need to renew the image of the Merciful God in our hearts, families and communities. A help in this renewal, especially during the Paschal season, will be the enthronement of the Merciful Jesus image in our homes. St. Faustina gave us an important promise of Jesus in this matter:
“I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: “Jesus, I trust in You.” (D.327) … By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls” (D.742).
May the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, the performance of works of mercy and the enthronement of the Divine Mercy Image be the best preparation for us to experience Holy Week and the Novena and Divine Mercy Sunday.
The Enthronement of the Divine Mercy Image in the home is the recognition and honouring of the existence of God our Creator by the family. Those who give themselves to trusting in the wonderful love and mercy that His Son, Jesus, brings to us through this Image. This Image which was first made known to Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska in 1931.
May this time of Easter bring us a strengthening of faith in the risen Christ, kindle an active love of our neighbour and strengthen our hope that Divine Mercy will prevail over sin and death.
Fr. Mario
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To send intentions of prayer for the Novena to Divine Mercy click on : https://marians.asia
To celebrate enthronement of the Image of Divine Mercy in your family click on : https://www.divinemercy.org/elements-of-divine-mercy/image/98-the-enthronement-of-the-image.html