From St. Maria Faustina’s Diary it is clear that this Octave Day of Easter is a day chosen by Christ as a day of extraordinary graces — a complete outpouring of His mercy upon alI who approach Him with great trust and expectant Faith. To properly celebrate this great day, we need to prepare well.

Pope John Paul II canonized Sr. Faustina on Divine Mercy Sunday in 2000. He also established Divine Mercy Sunday as a feast day for the entire Church.

At the canonization of St. Faustina on April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II said, “It is important that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word on God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church, will be called ‘Divine Mercy Sunday.’

LENTEN Preparation

We begin to prepare in Lent for our celebration of Easter and Mercy Sunday as the eighth day of thanksgiving (the Octave Day of Easter).

We especially focus on performing works of mercy, spending more time in prayer, as well as doing penances and giving alms.

PERSONAL Preparation

Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent. The faithful are reminded to go to confession as part of their preparation for celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday. Ideally, they should plan to go to confession before the day itself— preferably during Lent.

Other suggested preparations:

• Show mercy to others by doing whatever spiritual and corporal works of mercy we can, depending upon our own personal circumstances;

• Pause for prayer during the 3 o’clock hour,

• Make a continuous novena to The Divine Mercy

• Read the Diary of St. Maria Faustina, or other materials about Divine Mercy and Mercy Sunday (especially read The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion booklet

• Distribute pamphlets about The Divine Mercy

•Tell others about God’s mercy, especially as it has touched you in your own life;

• TRUST in Jesus even more.

GROUP Preparation

We can also join with family members or friends to prepare for Divine Mercy Sunday in groups, trusting in Our Lord’s promise that where two or three are gathered in His name.

Choose some of the following activities or others of your own:

• Encourage each other to TRUST in Jesus;

• Pray together, especially the Chaplet and selected prayers from the Diary,

• Read out loud selections about Divine Mercy — from Sacred Scripture, the Diary, the encyclical Rich in Mercy, or other books and booklets, especially The Divine Mercy Menage and Devotion;

• View videos or DVDs about the Divine Mercy message;

• Discuss the readings to help each other gain new insights and understanding;

• Share your personal experiences of God’s great mercy

• Do some work of mercy as a special group project.

Whether you prepare for Mercy Sunday individually or as a member of a parish or other group, the ABC’s of the Divine Mercy remain the same —

Ask for mercy,

Be merciful to others, and

Completely trust in Jesus.

March 21, 1937. Palm Sunday. During Mass, my soul steeped in the bitterness and suffering of Jesus. Jesus gave me to understand how much He had suffered in that triumphal procession. “Hossana” was reverberating in Jesus’ heart as an echo of “Crucify.” Jesus allowed me to feel this in a special way.

Bytheway, I would like to share some thoughts about Lenten Celebration and the observance of Fasting and Abstinence. Lent starts with Ash Wednesday,(the first of forty-six days of Lenten Fast before Easter) On this day, all the Catholic faithful, according to ancient custom, approach the altar where the priest, dipping his thumb into previously blessed ashes, marks the forehead of each person with the sign of the cross and says these ancient words: “Remember that thou art dust and undo dust thou shall return.” Sa tagalog joke of Bro Zaldy “Mamatay ka rin.”

Fasting and Abstinence are stictly observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The other Fridays of Lent are days of Abstinence. On a day of Fast, only one full meal is permitted. Those between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast. On a day of abstinence, NO MEAT may be eaten. (example karne norte/corned beef)

Those who have reached the age of 14 are obliged by the law of abstinence. The obligation to observe the laws of fast and abstinence “substantially”, or as a whole, is a serious obligation. (Bytheway, wag nyo dayain edad nyo, kasi hindi na tayo mukha under 14 or under 18 except Bobby.) hehehe

The Fridays of the year, outside lent, are designated as days of penance, but individuals may substitute for the traditional abstinence from meat some other practice of voluntary self-denial as penance,or works of mercy, acts of piety and acts of charity.

Bytheway, over age, under age and the sick individuals are exempted to the rules.

What about “The Balut”? Can we eat “Balut” on the days of abstinence? I think this is open for discussion. Is there somebody who like to share his/her thought on the “Balut”?

God bless you all in the family.

Fr. Robert

There is an ancient story about a king who “had everything,” as the saying goes: more gold than he could count, an enormous palace, a multitude of servants, and all the rest. Although he possessed all of the creature comforts imaginable in his time the king felt the need for something more fulfilling in his life. As a result, he developed a passionate desire to find God ……

He read books about God, he consulted the great philosophers of his time about God, and he prayed in his gold-trimmed chapel for more enlightenment about God. But always he came up dry, disappointed - - and the search went on.

One night, as he lay on his royal bed of gold, agonizing over his failure to find God, he heard a noise coming from the palace roof. Quickly, he went to his bedroom balcony and shouted, “Who is up on the palace roof? What are you doing up there?” A voice shouted back down, “I am a hermit from the nearby woods in search of my lost goat.” The king shouted back, “You stupid man, what makes you think you’ll find your goat on the palace roof?” To which came the reply, “And what makes Your Royal Highness think you’ll find God while dressed in your fine silk pajamas and laying on your solid- gold bed?”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples how to find God, “If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all. He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put His arms around him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in My Name, welcomes Me; and anyone who welcomes Me welcomes not Me but the One who sent Me’” (Mk 9:35-37).

It was God’s Will that His love for mankind be revealed to the ultimate degree in and through His Son, Jesus Christ. In obedience to God’s Will, Jesus emptied Himself totally, served Himself up to us on the Cross, gave His life for us, willingly. Jesus on the Cross is God saying to us, “Now do you believe? Now can you see how much I love you?”

Jesus Christ came into the world to personify God — God in Person. And, on the human level, He came into the world to image God. And so it is with you, and with me, and with every other human person born into this world. “Let us make man in our own image,” says the Lord in the Creation Story. And “God created man in the image of Himself,” the story continues, “in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them” (Gen. 1:26,27).

“Try, then, to imitate God, as children of His that He loves,” the Apostle Paul has written (Eph. 5:1).

A mother and father purchased a child’s world globe for their five-year-old son. That evening, in the boy’s bedroom, the father used the globe to take his son on a kind of tour of the world, pointing to continents and oceans and mountain ranges and all the rest. Finally, when it seemed that the child had gone to sleep, the father wanted to tell the boy’s mother what he had been explaining to the child. So he picked up the globe and as he was tip-toeing out of the room, the little boy who wasn’t quite asleep, lifted his head off the pillow and said, “Daddy, what are you going to do with my world?”

Yes, what are we doing for our children’s world? That is the unspoken question of every child to every one of us. Who is Christ, really, for us, and what is He going to do with our world?

We look around and we see the urgent issues that we’re all facing, on all sides — war and peace, economic problems, hunger, poverty, the decline in lasting marriages — and we ask ourselves, “What of our children?” We want to do our utmost to improve the lot of the precious children we bring into this world especially in our church today, but how? What is the key?

The answer, of course, for this Christian Community and for all Christian Communities is Christ. We must allow the Christ Spirit of God to influence and direct our attitude and approach to life and, especially, to the needs and concerns of our children. But How?

Jesus once said, “Let the little children come to Me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mk. l0:14-15).
As we celebrate Parish Catechetical Awareness Week, we are all encouraged to reflect on the very words of Jesus, “”Let the little children come to Me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mk. l0:14-15).
I would like to ask you my dear parishioners, parents and CCD volunteers, let us help our children know Jesus especially in the Holy Eucharist. Let us introduce God and our Catholic Faith into the hearts and souls of our children. Let us show them the way to heaven. And we can do this if we pray for them and if we support our CCD programs.
A pastor was new to a parish. He walked around to look for the post office to mail his letters. He asked a little boy to show him the way to the post office. The boy gladly gave him direction. Then the priest thanked him and invited him to his Sunday service. He said, “If you come to my Sunday service, I will show you the way to heaven.” But the boy responded, “I don’t believe you, Father, because you do not even know the way to the post office?
Let us show our little children the way to Heaven, let us show them the path to Jesus, let us lead them in their journey to God. Ergo, let us support our CCD/Religious Education Program.
Again please be reminded that Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mk. l0:14-15).

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” The Apostle Peter answers, “You are the Christ” (Mk. 8:27,29). Peter was identifying Christ as the Messiah of God, his Lord and Savior. That’s Faith! Then Jesus went on to teach the disciples that He “must suffer many things.” He described His mission on earth as sacrificial. And He made it clear that the same would be true in the mission of the disciples. “If anyone wants to be a follower of Mine, let him renounce himself” Jesus said. Let him “take up his cross and follow Me” (Mk. 8:34).

It is not a matter, on the one hand, of saying “You are the Christ” and on the other hand taking up your cross. Unless you are living your faith, you are going around in circles — faith and works must pull together, in this sense. They are inseparable.

Today’s Gospel Reading is the very core of the Gospel of Mark. The Christian group has perceived, through the action of God among them, the Messiah. Now they learn the cost of such an act of faith. Their faith will bring them not glory and triumph, but the demand to give of themselves.1

Jesus’ question concerning His identity has nothing to do with fingerprints, height, weight, color of skin, hair, eyes or date of birth. Jesus’ question is not addressed to His followers’ senses alone: How do I look? How do I sound? How do I feel? Jesus’ question is addressed to the “heart” which, in Biblical terms, means the “whole” person.

Jesus is asking, “What does My life and presence mean to your life?” “What is your understanding of My mission?” “Why do you follow Me wherever I go?” “Why do you listen to My preaching and teaching?” “What do I mean to you?” “What do you mean to Me?” These are the kinds of questions Jesus implies in those six little words, “Who do you say I am?” And Peter appears to be the only one prepared to answer. Remarkably, he sums up his perfect answer in the simple little phrase, “You are the Christ.”

Peter’s answer expresses not only the Mystery of Jesus’ life, but also the mystery of all our lives. Individually and as community our lives are Graced with such meaning and purpose as only God our Father can bestow, only Jesus our Lord and Savior can redeem, and only our love for one another can express.

Not only is each human being uniquely different from every other human being, but also the entire species is uniquely different from every other species. And this is so precisely because we are members of the only species capable of asking, “Who am I?” The question is built into our very beings. “Who am I?” is the name of the game of life. Everything we do, whether we fully realize it or not, is bound up in our relentless search for identity. We all “want to be somebody.” We all want to follow our creator. We all want to be Identified with Jesus.
As we celebrate Year of the Priest with the theme, “Come and share in the Prophetic, Priestly and Kingly missions of Jesus”, I would like to invite you to reflect and actively participate in the Prophetic Missions of Jesus. By virtue of our baptism, we share in these threefold missions of Jesus. And as Prophets, we are called not only to preach the good news but also to condemn the evils that are lurking in our society today. We should stand up on our faith and on our Christ’s identity and condemn all kind of evil that poisons our world today.
As you all know, the Marriage as a sacred institution and sacrament instituted by Christ is under fire because few but influential people in the government would like to change and alter the definition of Marriage in favor of allowing gay marriages. This is never correct and should never happen.
The Catholic Church teaches today and has always and everywhere taught for 2000 years that marriage is the union of one man and one woman as husband and wife.
In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve. He did not create Adam and STEVE.
“Marriage is not just any relationship between human beings. It was established by the Creator with its own nature, essential properties and purpose. No ideology can erase from the human spirit the certainty that marriage exists solely between a man and a woman, who by mutual personal gift, proper and exclusive to themselves, tend toward the communion of their persons. In this way, they mutually perfect each other, in order to cooperate with God in the procreation and upbringing of human lives.” (CDF)
Now tell me, how could Adam and STEVE procreate? How could MADAM and Eve cooperate with God in procreation?
This great truth about marriage is not some obscure doctrinal fine point but a fact of human nature, recognized from time immemorial by people of virtually every faith and culture. God made us male and female; only men and women cooperating in marital love together can truly become one flesh, and only marital unions further God’s purpose of creating new life that is welcomed, loved, nurtured and educated by their mother and father.
The Church teaches that man and woman are equal. However, man and woman are different from each other but created for each other. This complementarity, including sexual differences, draws them together in a mutually loving union that always should open to the procreation of children. (CCC, nos. 1602-1605)
These truths about marriage are present in the order of nature and can be perceived by the light of human reason and have been confirmed by Divine Revelation in Sacred Scripture.
I tell you most solemnly, if only Christ could appear before us today, he will tell us to do something against “Same-Sex Marriage.”
Therefore, as prophets and as people whose identity is of Christ, let us act now. Let us put into action our faith and our Identity in Christ.
Let us sign up the Petition Letters at the back of the church and let our voices be heard.
God bless you all. Amen

The teacher gathered her Sunday school group around her and exclaimed, “Well, class, all those who want to go to heaven raise your hands.”
Everyone around the circle raised their hands, except one boy.
Don’t you want to go to heaven, Henry?” asked the teacher.
“I can’t, ma’am,” Henry replied, “My mom wants me to come straight home.”
Today’s Gospel describes a brief episode in which Jesus was asked to lay His hands on “a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech … He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, put His fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue with spittle. Then looking up to heaven He sighed; and He said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is ‘Be opened.’ And his ears were opened, and the ligament of his tongue was loosened and he spoke clearly” (Mk. 7:32-35). The people who witnessed this miracle were filled with awe and wonder. In the Gospel writer’s words, “their admiration was unbounded. He has done all things well …” (Mk. 7:37).

Your admiration will be unbounded the day you begin to understand that you are special in God’s creative plan. Each of you is one of God’s “originals” — wonderfully mysterious in your own uniqueness. Like the Universe itself, your life is vast and in motion. You are necessary. You belong. God’s plan for the fulfillment of His creation includes you, needs you.
As we celebrate the “Catechetical Month for September” with the theme: “Year of the Priest; Come and Share in the Prophetic, Priestly and Kingly Missions of Jesus.”, we are all invited to reflect on the importance of every child in our church today. Jesus in the new Testament would always emphasize to his disciples that these little children occupy a special place in his heart. He would say to them that unless you become like these little children you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Truly, these children just like you, are all important before the loving eyes of God our Father. And Jesus wants that all these children will go to heaven.
For years, we have been conducting CCD classes in the parish, trying to bring these children closer to God, teaching them our basic doctrines and faithfully transmitting on them the rich deposit of our Catholic faith.
It is through Catechesis that we echo the very words of Jesus in the Gospel today. “Ephphetha” which means “Be opened.” We open the very heart and soul of every child to the grace and wisdom of God every time we speak to them about God and our faith. We open the very person of every child to become a good child every time we explain to him how much God loves him. We are forming every child to become a good catholic Christian every time we introduce him to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
Let us remember that during the Rite of Baptism, the priest or deacon may whisper into the ear of the newly baptized the word “Ephphetha.” This ritual element holds a prayer that the one who has been baptized will always be open to the life-giving Word of God, the Word that offers direction, meaning and purpose for those who listen to it and put it into practice.
The prayer that Jesus uttered over the deaf man in the Gospel is His ardent desire for all of us, (including the little children in our congregation): that by being open to His Word we might be liberated from our sins and walk in the freedom of the sons and daughters of God. We echo this prayer when we make the sign of the cross over our forehead, lips and heart as the Gospel is proclaimed, praying that God’s powerful Word might always be in our minds and on our lips and in our hearts, and most especially in the hearts, minds and souls of all our children in CCD.
Our sincere gratitude for all those volunteers who joyfully dedicated themselves in the service of God through teaching and helping in our catechetical program. They are instruments in echoing the Word of God and the Love of God to all these little ones. They truly are God’s messengers of Truth here on earth.
For all the parents, we ask your continued support and prayers for our CCD program. Please remember that family as “domestic church” is the most important Christian influence since it is in the home that a child learns their faith first. And formal religious formation classes reinforce the traditions of faith and each student’s Roman Catholic identity while the parish supports students in learning to celebrate that faith in community.
To all parishioners, keep in your heart and mind our little children and our CCD program. The success of our church depends on how deeply rooted is our faith in God. And CCD program and our support as a community play an important role.

The substitute teacher was struggling to open a lock on the Sunday school supply cabinet. She’d been told the combination but couldn’t quite remember it. Finally she went to the pastor’s study and asked for help.
When the minister began to twist the dial, he paused after the first couple of numbers and stared blankly. Finally, he looked heavenward and his lips moved silently, then he looked back at the lock, turned to the final numbers, and clicked open the hasp.
The teacher was amazed. “I’m in awe of your faith, Pastor.”
“It is really nothing,” he responded. “The numbers are on a piece of tape on the ceiling.”
At any rate, for us to successfully echo “Ephphetha” and open the hearts of every special person like you and the little ones and make them closer to God and in the Holy Eucharist, let us also look up heavenward always, because it is only in Him and through Him that we successfully and effectively participate in the prophetic, priestly and kingly missions of Jesus Christ.

My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.

“These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.’ The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy.”

In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:

“On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy … On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls.”

This is prayed along with the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Day 1 (Good Friday)
Day 2 (Holy Saturday)
Day 3 (Easter Sunday)
Day 4 (Easter Monday)
Day 5 (Easter Tuesday)
Day 6 (Easter Wednesday)
Day 7 (Easter Thursday)
Day 8 (Easter Friday)
Day 9 (Easter Saturday)

First Day Today bring Me all mankind, especially all sinners.

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins, but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

Recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet after saying the Novena intention.

Second Day Today Bring Me the Souls of Priests and Religious.

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in us, that we may perform worthy works of mercy, and that all who see us may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company [of chosen souls] in Your vineyard - upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation, and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

Recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet after saying the Novena intention.

Third Day Today Bring Me All Devout and Faithful Souls.

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in the great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely. Eternal Father, turn Your Merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lost the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet after saying the Novena intention.

Fourth Day Today Bring Me The Pagans and Those Who Do Not Know Me

Most Compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of pagans who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gave upon the souls of pagans and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet after saying the Novena intention.

Fifth Day Today Bring to Me the Souls of Heretics and Schismatics

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of heretics and schismatics. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of heretics, and schismatics, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your Own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet after saying the Novena intention.

Sixth Day Today Bring Me The Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said, “Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart.” Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy, and they are the heavenly Father’s favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek and humble souls, and upon the souls of little children, who are enfolded in the abode of the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight you take in them: bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet after saying the Novena intention.

Seventh Day Today Bring Me The Souls Who Especially Venerate and Glorify My Mercy

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your Mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident in Your Mercy. These souls are united to Jesus and carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy and their spirit, overflowing with joy, sings a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them, “I Myself will defend as My own glory, during their lifetime, and especially at the hour of their death, those souls who will venerate My fathomless mercy.”

Recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet after saying the Novena intention.

Eighth Day Today Bring Me The Souls Who Are In the Prison Of Purgatory

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of purifying fire, that in that place, too, the power of Your mercy may be praised. Eternal Father, turn Your most merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded, manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way than through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

Recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet after saying the Novena intention.

Ninth Day Today Bring Me The Souls Who Have Become Lukewarm

Most Compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love let these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love; and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three- hour agony on the Cross: let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen

Recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet after saying the Novena intention.