Showing posts with label Divine Mercy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Divine Mercy. Show all posts
Friday, April 3, 2015
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
Monday, April 8, 2013
He that came by water and blood - The miraculous deluge
From http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.ie/2013/04/he-that-came-by-water-and-blood.html
Sunday
of Divine Mercy
But
after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did
not break his legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side: and
immediately there came out blood and water. (John 19:33-34)
This is
he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only but by water
and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth that Christ is the truth. (1
John 5:6)
The image of the Divine Mercy recalls
the blood and water which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a fount of
mercy for us. It was after his death, as his lifeless and inanimate body hung
upon the Cross, that his holy side and Sacred Heart were opened by a lance,
which released upon the earth the flood of God’s mercy.
We may ask: What really
happened when the blood and water flowed? Was it natural or miraculous? Just
how much blood and how much water came forth? Finally, we do well to consider
what was the significance of this blood and water?
Hypovolemic
shock and pericardial effusion
There is some biblical evidence
to suggest that our Savior had entered into hypovolemic shock after his
scourging. Due to the great brutality of the scourging, in which the sacred
flesh of our Savior was so torn that his skeletal muscles, veins, sinews, and
even his bowels were exposed, our Lord had literally begun to run out of blood
in his body. This extreme blood-loss may well have set him into a state of
hypovolemic shock which would be occasioned by low blood pressure.
Those in this state of shock
will experience dizziness and fainting (and our Lord fell several times as he
carried his Cross) as well as extreme thirst and a desire to drink liquids to
replenish all the lost fluids (and Jesus said I thirst).
What is particularly pertinent
to our discussion is that hypovolemic shock causes a rapid heart-rate which in
turn causes a great deal of fluid to gather in the sack around the heart and
the lungs. Thus, some suggest that the “blood and water” which came forth could
have been this pericardial effusion of fluid.
If such were the case, the
blood and water would be mixed together, flowing out as one. Further, the event
would not be a miracle, but would be a medically and scientifically explainable
phenomenon – something natural.
The
miracle
However, St. John refers to the
blood and water coming forth not merely as a natural phenomenon which demonstrates
our Lord’s bodily death, but even further (especially in 1 John 5:6), as a
proof of our Savior’s divinity. Pericardial effusion and hypovolemic shock do
very little to prove the divinity of Jesus, thus the “scientific” and “medical”
explanation seems contrary to the plain sense of the holy and inerrant Scriptures.
Furthermore, a pericardial
effusion does not pertain to the flowing of blood and water, but rather to the
pouring forth of various fluids which had built up around the heart. However,
St. John does not say that “fluids” poured forth, but that there came out blood and water.
And we are to understand that
the blood and water came out separately, not mingled. For, if they had come
forth mingled, then the Beloved would not be able to say blood and water, but only blood
or fluid – just as we do not say that
there is “wine and water” consecrated at the Mass, but only “wine”, since the
water is mingled with the wine.
Now, St. John states that there came out blood and water, and this
must needs be miraculous for it was not serum, but rather pure blood and pure
water which came forth so as to be distinguished one from the other.
It is well worth noting that
our Savior himself confirms this interpretation through his Image of Divine
Mercy, in which the blue and the red rays are clearly distinct.
A
total gift
It is further worth noting that
this miraculous pouring forth of blood and water was total and complete.
Indeed, the tradition is that our Savior gave forth in this miraculous deluge
all the blood and all the water which was in his body. There is no reason why
this could not be accomplished by a miracle.
Further, this total gift of
blood and water symbolized the total gift of himself, and also the abundance
and infinite depths of divine mercy.
The
water, the blood, and the Spirit
In his first Epistle, St. John states
that the three – the water, the blood, and the Spirit – give testimony. The
Fathers and Doctors recognize a spiritual meaning to these three.
First, the literal sense. The “water”
and “blood” refer, of course, to the blood and water which poured forth from
his sacred side. The “spirit” may refer to the Holy Spirit, but perhaps more
likely refers to the Savior’s breath/spirit which he gave up on the Cross.
Just as it was by a miracle
that all the blood and water of our Lord’s body immediately gushed forth with great
force and yet remained unmingled and most pure, so too it was by a miraculous
last breath that our Savior cried out in a loud voice as he gave forth his
spirit. For, indeed, those who are dying (especially those dying upon the
Cross, which is a quasi-suffocation) are not naturally able to cry out in such
a loud voice.
The spiritual sense follows.
The water symbolizes baptism. The blood, the Eucharist. And the spirit, the
sacrament of Penance – for it was this spirit which Jesus breathed upon his
disciples after his resurrection when he gave them the power to absolve sin.
Oh
Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy
for us, I trust in you!
Friday, April 6, 2012
Divine Mercy Novena starts today
For the Novena Prayers and Chaplet, including latin and polish translations for the chaplet, please see: http://www.fisheaters.com/divinemercy.html
Friday, April 22, 2011
Friday, April 2, 2010
Novena for Divine Mercy begins today
From 1931 to 1938 Our Lord revealed the secrets of His great mercy to St. Faustina. He designated the first Sunday after Easter as the Feast of the Divine Mercy of God. In preparation of this Feast, He asked that a Novena be started on Good Friday, a Novena which asks for prayers each of the nine days for a different group of souls in order to immerse them in the sea of God’s Mercy! Mass, Confession, Communion are required on Mercy Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter. Our Lord promised to the souls who follow these requests a complete remission of sin and punishment! Our Lord thus instructed Sister Faustina: “My daughter, speak to the whole world of My incomprehensible Mercy. I desire that the Feast be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, especially for poor sinners. The very depths of My Mercy will be opened on that day. I will pour out a sea of graces upon those souls that will approach the font of My Mercy. Those who go to confession and receive Holy Communion on Mercy Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter, will obtain complete remission of sins and punishment. Let no soul fear to come to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. Tell ailing mankind to draw close to My Merciful Heart and I will fill it with peace. Mankind will not find peace until it turns with confidence to My Mercy.”FIRST DAY - Good Friday, April 2, 2010
Let us pray that God may deign to show His Mercy to all mankind.
O Most Merciful Jesus, for Whom it its most proper to be merciful unto us and to forgive us, look not upon our sins, but upon the hope which we have in Thy infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Thy Most Merciful Heart and do not permit anyone to depart there from for all eternity for the love which unites Thee with the Father and the Holy Spirit. “Show us Thy mercy, O Lord, just as we trust in Thy Holy Name, for Thou art all powerful, most kind, patient, faithful, good and merciful.” Eternal Father, view all mankind with a merciful eye, and especially the poor sinners, whose only hope is the Most Merciful Heart of Thy Son and Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through His sorrowful Passion stretch Thy mercy over us, that together we may glorify Thy omnipotence for all eternity. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....
SECOND DAY - Holy Saturday, April 3, 2010
Let us pray for the clergy of all ranks, through whom the Mercy of God is poured out on all mankind.
Most Merciful Jesus, from Whom all good proceeds, increase Thy graces in the souls of Thy priests and religious, that they may worthily and fruitfully accomplish their tasks in Thy Vineyard, and that they may lead all by words and example to a rightful cult of Divine Mercy for all eternity. The Font of Mercy and Love Divine Resides in the hearts of the humble and the innocent, Till, bathed in the wavelets of God’s Mercy, They sparkle like the stars and the morning dew. Eternal Father, cast Thy Merciful glance upon the laborers in Thy Vineyard—on the souls of priests, nuns and brothers, who are the special beloved of Thy Son and Our Lord Jesus Christ. Adorn them with the power of Thy blessing and grant them special light, that they may consistently lead others along the path of salvation and may obtain for them all the graces of Thy Mercy. Amen. Our Father ... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....
THIRD DAY- Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010
Let us pray for all the faithful Christians.
O most Merciful Jesus, who dost bestow Thy graces upon all in abundance from the treasure of Thy Mercy, receive all faithful Christians into the abode of Thy Most Merciful Heart and do not abandon them for all eternity. We beg this of Thee through the love that unites Thee to the Father and the Holy Ghost. The marvels of Mercy are unexplored, Nor sinner nor just can plumb it’s deep. God views us all with Mercy’s eye. And of His love would have us reap. Eternal Father, cast Thy Merciful Eye upon the souls of the faithful, who are the loving heritage of Thy Son, and through His sorrowful Passion grant them Thy blessings and encompass them with Thy unceasing care, that they may never lose their love and treasure of divine faith, but that they may glorify Thy boundless Mercy with the multitude of angels and saints for all eternity. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ...
FOURTH DAY- Easter Monday, April 5, 2010
Let us pray for pagans and infidels who are still in ignorance of the Mercy of God.
Most Merciful Jesus, light of the world, receive into the abode of Thy Merciful Heart the souls of pagans and infidels who have not yet acknowledged Thee. Let the rays of Thy grace enlighten them, that they too may praise the wonders of Thy Mercy with us for all eternity. May the light of Thy boundless Love Enlighten the darkling infidels. May they acknowledge and may they praise Thy goodness for all eternity! Eternal Father, cast Thy Merciful glance upon the souls of pagans and infidels, who still remain in ignorance of the Most Merciful Heart of Thy Son and Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Draw them near to the light of Thy Gospel that they may recognize how great a happiness it is to love Thee and to glorify Thy Mercy for all eternity. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....
FIFTH DAY - Easter Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Let us pray for heretics and schismatics, who rend the Mystical body of Christ, that they may return to the unity of the Church.
O Most Merciful Jesus, who are goodness itself and who dost not refuse divine light to those who humbly seek, receive into the abode of Thy Most Merciful Heart the souls of heretics and schismatics. Attract them by Thy light into unity with Thy Church, that they may praise the liberality of Thy Mercy with us for all eternity. May those who have rent the cloak of Thy unity Draw from Thy Heart a surging torrent of Mercy. For Thy Mercy alone, O Lord, Can lead these souls out of error. Eternal Father, look down with Mercy, we implore Thee, upon the souls of heretics and schismatics, who have abused and squandered Thy graces and who stubbornly persist in their errors: look not upon their evil, but upon the love and the bitter Passion of Thy Son, who, about to suffer His Passion, so ardently begs of Thee: “That they all may be one” (John 17,21) -- and grant, that they may return to that unity as quickly as possible and that they may praise Thy Mercy with us for all eternity. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....
SIXTH DAY - Easter Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Let us pray for little children and those souls, that have become like to them in their purity and simplicity.
Most Merciful Jesus, Who hast said: “Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Math. 11,29), receive into the abode of Thy Most Merciful Heart the souls of little children, and those who, like little children, have become meek and humble and have thereby graced heaven with the most pleasant delight and are a fragrant crown before the throne of Thy Heavenly Father. Grant that they may constantly dwell within Thy Sacred Heart and may continually praise the Mercy of God. A truly humble soul and meek Foretaste on earth the bliss of Paradise: The odor of a chaste and simple heart Delights all heavenly spirits and their Maker. Eternal Father, look down with Mercy upon the souls of little children and upon the souls of all those who are meek and humble and who have thereby become especially like unto Thy Son, and the fragrance of whose virtues rises up to Thy throne. O Father of Mercy, we beg of Thee, through the love and the delight which Thou hast in these souls, bless the entire world that all may unite in rendering eternal praise to Thy Mercy. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....
SEVENTH DAY - Easter Thursday, April 8, 2010
Let us pray for all adorers of Divine Mercy, that they may become the living image of the most Merciful Heart of Jesus.
O Most Merciful Jesus, Whose Heart is love itself, receive into the abode of Thy Heart those souls which especially venerate and give praise to the greatness of Divine Mercy and which, though cruelly tormented for the sins of mankind, strive to make known Thy infinite goodness and abundant mercy to the entire world, Enfold them with Thy ever increasing Mercy and strengthen them always with the grace of perseverance, fortitude and patience. Praising the goodness of its Master, The soul is especially loved by Him; It is privileged to stand close to the living font To draw continual graces from Divine Mercy. Eternal Father, cast Thy Merciful Eye upon those souls which are especially devoted to the veneration and praise of Thy infinite Mercy and which glorify Thee by word and deed and are merciful towards their fellowmen in imitation of Thee. We humbly beseech Thee, show them even grater mercy according to the hope which they placed in Thee and in accordance with Thy promises. Protect them always and especially in the hour of death. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....
EIGHTH DAY- Easter Friday, April 9, 2010
Let us pray for the souls in purgatory, that the stream of Christ’s Blood may diminish and shorten their suffering.
Most Merciful Jesus, Who hast said: “Be merciful, as your Heavenly Father is merciful” (Luke 6,36): receive into the abode of Thy Most Merciful Heart the souls suffering in purgatory to pay their old debt to Divine Justice. May the stream of blood and water which gushed forth from Thy Heart quench the flames of purgatorial fire, that there too the power of Thy mercy may be glorified. From the horrible heat of purgatory’s fire A suppliant sigh seeks Thy Mercy’s throne. Grant these souls a cooling, solace and relief In the soothing stream of blood and water from Thy Side. Eternal Father, look down with mercy upon the suffering souls in purgatory and through the sorrowful passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the bitterness with which His Most Sacred Heart was filled, show pity to those who are now paying their debt to Thy justice. We beg of Thee, behold them through the wounds of Thy Most Beloved Son and Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose mercy surpasses His justices. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....
NINTH DAY - Easter Saturday, April 10, 2010
Let us pray for lukewarm and indifferent souls.
O Most Merciful Jesus, lead into the abode of Thy Most Merciful Heart all lukewarm souls, which like decaying corpses filled Thee with aversion and loathing in the Garden of Olives. Plunge them into the fire of Thy most pure love, that they may become inflamed with an ever increasing fire of love and may ever praise Thy boundless Mercy. Fire and ice will never unite: Either the fire must die or the ice must vanish. Only the fathomless Mercy of God Can change the ice of tepid hearts into a flame. Eternal Father, cast Thy merciful glance upon lukewarm souls. We beseech Thee through the bitter passion of Thy Most Beloved Son and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and through His agony upon the Cross, inflame these souls with a new zeal for Thy glory and pour a true love into their hearts. Thus quickened may they perform deeds of mercy and may they glorify the Mercy of God for all eternity. Amen. Our Father .... Hail Mary .... Glory be to the Father ....
TENTH DAY - Mercy Sunday, April 11, 2010
Go to confession, attend Mass, and receive Holy Communion and all your sins for your whole will be forgiven and the punishment due to them will be wiped away.
Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.
Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).
Conclude with (three times):
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
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