Divine Mercy flows out like rays from the heart of our Lord Jesus shines on the whole world in full agreement to Our Mother's intersession. She has draw me into the arms of His eternal Love. The same arms His Mother Mary witnessed once stretched out upon the cross for the sins of the whole world.
This picture speaks volumes to me, because the first time I came across it was over seven years ago online attached to some one's profile. My life was full of darkness then, and self-righteous deception. Oh, I thought, I had life figured out, and I didn't need to be apart of a Church to be told otherwise, because I thought, I knew things the average person setting in the pew didn't have a clue about. Woe is me a man undone! Pride sure goes before a fall. How true, because I fell hard and tried to end my life though immorality and drugs. My heart was hardening at a fast pace with anger, hatred, and bitterness toward myself, family, and friends. I started having sleepless nights fearing for my life, knowing I was living in hypocrisy, and to die in that state I would face extreme torment. Each morning after being in and out of restless sleep, I would put everything I had into my work. I was a workaholic believing that the increase of wealth would take away my pain and loneliness. I could prove to the world by its standards, I was living the good life. Greed and materialism had a big hold on my life goals. Life was all about pleasing myself and worshiping the creation.
The picture came to my attention one day after I saw one
like it on a prayer card that could be purchased
from a Catholic website. Suddenly the picture caught my
attention, so I ordered about a dozen cards not knowing
at the time a prayer written on the back of it would be
used to help me cry out for Divine Mercy. Once the cards
arrived in the mail I started praying the Divine Mercy
chaplet. In the January of 2006 I started returning to the
Charismatic Episcopal Church where I had left off on my
journey in Christ over 8 years ago. I heard the Lord direct
me to thank many brothers and sisters who been praying
for me over the years.
Yet, I continued praying the Divine Mercy chaplet and
hearing the Lord direct me to study the Church Fathers
and Saints though out the ages. Reading their letters
and documented teaching I began to question the type
of Church I was in. I was hearing about their life
stories of faith grounded in the Catholic Church where
courage to face even death was not an obstacle for
being a Christian.
I had to ask myself the following questions:
Why don't I embrace the Virgin Mary as my Mother
like these saints have throughout the ages?
Was not Mary who listened to Gabriel announcing that
she would conceive of the Holy Spirit and bring
forth a Son who's name is "Jesus"?
Was not Mary who carried Jesus nine months in
her womb while being reticulated for immoral
relations with a man prior to marriage?
Do you see how Mary never abandoned Jesus
even all the way to the cross? Did she not fully embrace
Divine Mercy through out her whole life?
All my stubborned arguments failed me after answering
those questions. Now my heart responds with a continual
"Yes Lord" as He responds back in asking;" Will you pray
daily the chaplet?" I accepted with celebrated joy to
embrace His request.
The Divine Mercy chaplet was birthed out of devotion to
Mary In 1931 by Sister Faustina who received the
devotion through hearing His voice and seeing visions of
the image of Jesus. " On the 22nd of February,
1931,she had a vision of Jesus while she
was in Plock, Poland. Jesus appeared to
her and said,"paint an image according
tothe pattern you see with the signature:
JESUS I TRUST IN YOU.
I promise that the soul that will venerate
this image will not perish. I also promise
victory over (its) enemies already here on
earth, especially at the hour of death.
I Myself will defend it as My own glory"
(Diary 47,48)."
My heart began to change more and more everyday
as conviction of conscience to love and put away
judgmental attitudes towards people in the world
and the Church. In October of 2006 I called Sacred
Heart Catholic Parish to ask what steps I needed to
take to become a practicing Christian Roman Catholic?
I was told about their class for adults interested in
learning more about the Catholic Church with no
pressure in joining. I agreed to take the class and was
quickly surrounded by other people hungry to embrace
our Lord Jesus in the historical roots of the Catholic faith.
The hunger to embrace devotion to the Sacred Heart of
Jesus seen through the eyes of Mary and all the Saints
throughout history has opened up my heart as a flood
gate to receive Divine Mercy without fear.
My hostile view of God to hold back mercy was ending.
The covering like a veil over my heart is suddenly taken
away by His Mercy, so I sense His heart for others.
The stubbornness of heart effecting my relationships like
a wall separating heaven from earth soon vanished like
an unreal deception. Thank you Lord for giving me this
continual devotion of praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
You are opening my heart to bring healing like a specialist
doing major open heart surgery. When the Holy Spirit
exposed my heart, I cried out to the Lord for His mercy
and He heard the cry of my heart and I began to hear
His voice. Thank God for the witness of Saints in heaven
who interact with us as we ask for their continual prayers
on our behalf, as described in Revelation 19 and the
Church Fathers. This mercy encouraged a
transformation of heart knowing my Father in heaven
encourages me to interact by asking intersession from
Virgin Mary, our Mother and all the Saints in Heaven.
I'm free to pray with all the Saints on earth and in
heaven, what a wonderful joy it is to be in this Holy Family.
Thank you Eternal Father,
for calling me into a new life
of virtue and chastity sharing
in Your Loving Kindness through
the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
I bow my heart in amazement
and wonder with all your children
on earth and in heaven birthed into
Your Divine Mercy.
Now to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
I give you praise, glory, and dominion
with the Virgin Mary our Mother,
Saint Ambrose Bishop of Milan,
Saint Francis of Assisi,
and all the Saints and Martyrs
in intersession with your Divine Mercy
for the whole world.
AMEN
