In this Jubilee Year of Mercy I would like to encourage everyone to actively participate in Divine Mercy Sunday which is the Sunday after Easter. I have prepared a Rosary meditation with an emphasis on God's Mercy. Please prayerfully consider celebrating this special feast day. Jesus promised extraordinary graces to those who are in a state of grace (recently participated in the sacrament of Reconciliation) and receive the Holy Eucharist. The Divine Mercy message is really quite beautiful and simple. Jesus asks us to trust Him completely, perform acts of mercy, and venerate the Divine Mercy Image. Take a chance and fall in love in love with God and His merciful embrace.
Praying the Rosary for Divine Mercy
- The Resurrection
When Jesus was on the cross, the fountain of His Mercy was opened wide when a lance pierced His heart. God’s love flowed from His heart so that we could be forgiven and redeemed. After His Resurrection, Jesus encounters the apostles in the upper room. He does not judge them for abandoning Him, instead He offers them His peace and gives them the power to forgive sins. Jesus wants to heal us with His merciful love. We must turn away from our sins and bathe in His Mercy while there is still time.
II. Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven
Before He ascended into the heavens, Jesus told us “I will be with you always until the end of time.” We must put our complete trust in Jesus and know that He will never leave us alone. Trusting in Jesus is the very heart of Divine Mercy. Jesus told St. Faustina that “mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My Mercy.”
III. The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles
Mary led the apostles and holy woman in prayer beseeching the Holy Spirit to come. We too must pray with Mary so that we are filled with the Holy Spirit and go out into the world and be the Body of Christ to all we encounter. Filled with God’s merciful love, we can go out and be merciful to others.
IV. Mary’s Assumption into Heaven
With eyes of mercy, Mary watched the soldiers crucify her son. With hands of mercy, Mary embraced Jesus’ body from the cross and prepared His body for burial. With arms of mercy, she embraced the frightened apostles and strengthened them with prayer. With lips of mercy she continues to prayer for the salvation of each of us. And her heart of mercy is given to all who ask for it. It is no wonder that our merciful Lord and Savior brought her body and soul into His Heavenly Kingdom.
V. Mary is Crowned Queen of Heaven
As we continue to consider devoting ourselves to Divine Mercy ask Mary for her guidance. While we are here on earth let us raise our eyes, minds, and hearts to the Queen of Heaven and ask her to help us to completely trust in God’s merciful love, His healing forgiveness and His promise of a Kingdom of Peace. In a moment we will pray, “Hail Holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope” let us place ourselves into her hands and allow her to show us the Way.
--Susan
