I can clearly remember the first time I was introduced to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. I was spending the afternoon with a friend and she asked me if I wanted to pray this prayer that she loved. It was 3pm. Once she taught me the order and the call and response, we began to pray. I remember thinking “Wow! I love this prayer! It’s like the rosary but shorter!” Just what I needed. Then I heard this prayer sung on Catholic radio. “I can sing this thing, too?!” I thought. Yep, it was the perfect prayer. It was long enough to make me holy but short enough to enjoy.

My intentions were good but I was missing the whole point. I wasn’t really capturing the beauty and depth of this prayer. To be honest, I needed a better understanding of God’s mercy. As it turned out, this prayer brought me into a long period of seeking out the answers to a lot of my questions and seeking out the truths to a lot of lies I believed.

I used to think that diving into God’s mercy was almost unfair. I knew I didn’t deserve it. I felt like I was taking advantage of His love. In shame, I’d hide my face from Him. I wouldn’t talk to Him as much and twice, it caused me to stay home from Mass because I didn’t feel worthy to go.

Why Divine Mercy Sunday?

Even if this blog were a million pages long, I could never come close to describing the mercy of Jesus. This coming Sunday is a feast all about diving into the mercy of our Lord. In a statement made on May 23, 2000, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments declared that “Throughout the world the Second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that mankind will experience in the years to come.”

Divine Mercy Sunday was granted as a feast to the whole Church by Bl. Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000. That’s the same day St. Faustina was canonized. St. Faustina was a young Polish nun who lived a very simple, humble life of service. Jesus appeared to her and spoke to her about His mercy. In many of Jesus’ revelations to St. Faustina, He urged that there be a day dedicated to the Divine Mercy. The following quote is from the diary of St. Faustina, quoting Jesus.

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 Feast of Mercy emerged from the very depths of My tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. (Diary 699)

We are encouraged to perform deeds of mercy, stemming out of a love for God. Maybe it’s being merciful to a friend or family member who may have upset us. We are also encouraged to go to the sacrament of Reconciliation, receive Holy Communion, and recite an Our Father and the Creed on this day to obtain the graces of the plenary indulgence.

Mercy Means Freedom

Over the years I’ve come to love this day. What an amazing opportunity to receive grace! God offers us His grace and mercy every day, especially through the Eucharist. Because the tomb is empty, we have freedom. When Jesus descended into Hell he took sin and shame with Him. He left them there, where they belong. It is because Jesus rose that we are free. God’s mercy is so big.

St. John Vianney put it beautifully when he said, “Our sins are nothing but a grain of sand alongside the great mountain of the mercy of God.”

Reflect on the song “Christ is Risen” by Matt Maher. The first lines in the song are my favorite because I can almost feel the chains breaking off of me: “Let no one caught in sin remain, inside the lie of inward shame.”

Brothers and sisters, embrace the mercy of Christ. Feel His hand lift up your head. Feel His light hit you. Remember, this great love and mercy calls for a response. God doesn’t pour out His mercy so that we can continue to sin. He pours it out so we can come back to Him. Let’s strive to be holy! Happy Easter!

This past Sunday my day started with a run. I don’t know if you’ve ever gone for a run or not, but you kind of get in this “zone.” It was just me, the sun, the pavement … my gasping breath (but that’s embarrassing to talk about) and my thoughts. I didn’t want to miss this quiet opportunity to chat with God, so I let Him know I was listening to whatever He wanted to tell me.

I began praying about what I should write this week and the simplest thing came to me. I felt like God was telling me to let you know that I’m praying for you. I honestly thought the idea was kind of lame (sorry, God). It seemed too basic. But we all need to hear it once in awhile, don’t we?

Who Are You?

It doesn’t matter if you’re reading this the day I post it, or two years from now.

I don’t even know you personally or what you need prayers for. That’s okay though because prayer is cool like that. God knows you very well – He knows everything. So when I pray for you, God takes that prayer and gives you grace wherever you need it.

No! … vena

Do you know what a novena is? That’s how I’m praying for you right now. It’s a traditional prayer of the Church where you pray for nine days in a row. There are a lot of different kinds of novenas. You can pray certain prayers to a saint nine days before their feast day, or nine rosaries, nine chaplets, etc.

I’m doing a novena of Masses. I’m going to Mass nine days in a row and offering it up for you!

Novena Number One

The first novena ever was when the Apostles and the Blessed Mother prayed together for nine days between when Jesus ascended into heaven and when the Holy Spirit descended upon them at Pentecost. It’s a powerful prayer.

I love praying a novena because as an old Tradition of the Church, it reminds me what a huge “story” we’re a part of.

You know what? You don’t even know my middle name (or all three of my middle names), and I don’t know your first name – but it doesn’t matter. We’re all brothers and sisters in this community of the Church, so none of us ever has to feel alone.

As your sister, I got your back … in the prayer realm.

A: Man, that is so cool! From what I have seen at schools where prayer groups of Bible studies have been formed there is always a growth in the presence of the Holy Spirit that flows all over the school campus. If you and your friends truly feel called to do this…go for it!

There are a couple of steps I would do first though. You need to get it cleared with someone in your school’s administration, like the principle or somebody and find out what guidelines they would like you to follow. This is kind of important because most public schools are nervous about the whole “separation of Church and State” stuff, but I have found that if they know you will follow there rules they tend to let this kind of prayer stuff fly a bit easier.

I think you also need to leave it open to anybody who want to join you, but don’t lose your identity as a Catholic at prayer. If you ever attended a prayer service held by another religion you can always tell that they are praying the way their tradition has taught them…y’all (pardon my Southern speak) need to let everybody know that you’re Catholic and proud of it. Also, if you can, get a teacher and maybe your youth minister to kind of sponsor your prayer…it looks good to adults if other adults are involved.

I’ll be praying for you.

A: That is so cool! I love my times when I can be in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. As far as what you should do, in some churches there are guide books for Adoration (you should ask your church to see if they’ve got some), in other churches you might find a list of things to do on a plaque on the wall as you go into the Adoration room or chapel, some places don’t really give any directions. No matter what your situation is, try this…pray! I know that sounds like a short answer, but you shouldn’t have to worry so much about doing it “right”, just enjoy your time with the Lord and pray. I’m proud of you for taking this step in letting God be more in your life…keep it up!

So here we are, in the week that brings us Christmas. Even though we’ll be at Mass twice in three days, this is a week where it’s easy to forget to actually pray. I’m no sage of spirituality but as my Christmas gift to all of you, I’ll share a prayer exercise that’s been tremendously fruitful in my own life. It’s called ‘Lectio Divina,’ which literally means ‘Divine Reading.’ Although it’s a way to pray with Scripture that’s ancient, Pope Benedict has said it “will bring to the Church… a new spiritual springtime.”

Before you get started, you need to find a place to pray. Hopefully there’s a perpetual Adoration chapel somewhere near your house – I mean, where better to pray than next to Jesus? If that doesn’t work out, find a spot where you won’t be distracted. You’re going to need to spend some time in silence. It seems awkward at first, when you realize just how loud it is inside your head… but after a while (for me it’s usually half an hour) you’re actually in a place where you can listen to God as much as you talk.

Quiet enough? Okay, now it’s time to read your Bible… yes, dust it off and crack it open. Read the Nativity story in Luke 2:1-20. Don’t just skim through it because you know the story, but read through and linger on each sentence. Maybe read it a few times, and try to notice different words or phrases as the jump out to you. This is the first step, called ‘Lectio.’

What does it feel like in that stable? What are your senses? Is it cold? Stuffy? Can you hear the animals, or are they quiet in the presence of the Creator? What about Mary and Joseph? A manger wasn’t their first choice for a place to stay tonight.

Take a few minutes to sit and be in that moment. Pray through what you experience and let God speak to you. It’s a lot more about listening than about talking, and about seeing what God wants to show you. There – in that stable – is God Himself. What is he like as a newborn? How does creation itself react at the Incarnation? How do you react? What goes through your heart as you look into the manger and look at Jesus? What are your emotions? What prayer is on your heart? As we place ourselves in this moment, we are in the second step called ‘Meditatio.’

Now – that prayer that’s on your heart? It’s time to pray it, to turn it towards God and respond. The emotions and thoughts that have come out of meditation easily move us into authentic prayer – conversation with God. This is ‘Oratio.’

Finally, it’s time to contemplate… a heavy word that really just means to sit and think. Take a few closing minutes to sit with God. What did He show you? What did you say to Him? Something I like to do is journal in this time so that my thoughts don’t get lost once I’m back out in daily life. ‘Contemplatio’ is the last step.

I’m going to challenge myself to take some time for these four steps during the holidays. If you’re looking for a new prayer experience, I’d encourage you to try it too.