FEAST OF THE DAY
SUNDAY, 11 APRIL, 2021
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY*
SAINT GEMMA GALGANI**
_
HAPPY FEAST OF DIVINE MERCY*
“I desire that the Feast of Mercy…be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter….The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion (in a state of grace on this day) shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary, 699)
CONCERNING THE FEAST OF MERCY
JESUS SAID TO ST. FAUSTINA:
Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. (Diary 300)
I want the image solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it. (Diary 341)
This Feast emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of my tender mercies. (Diary 420)
"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. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy". (Diary 699)
Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to our neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to absolve yourself from it. (Diary 742)
Pray the "DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET"
HOW TO PRAY THE "DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET?"
'Step 1' – Using a regular set of Rosary beads, you begin at the cross by making the SIGN OF THE CROSS.
OPENING PRAYER
''You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.''
Repeat three times
''O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!''
'Step 2' – On the three beads of the Rosary pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Apostles Creed.
'Step 3' – You begin each decade with the Our Father beads by praying this prayer:
''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.''
'Step 4' - Complete the decade on the 10 Hail Mary beads by praying this prayer:
''For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.''
Repeat 'Steps 3 and 4' for each decade on the rosary beads
'Step 5' – Once you have prayed all 5 decades, you end the Chaplet by praying the following prayer 3 times:
''Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.''
CLOSING PRAYER
''Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us, and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments, we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence, submit ourselves to Your Holy Will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen.''
THE DIVINE MERCY PRAISES (Diary: 948-949)
The Love of God is the flower-Mercy the fruit.
Let the doubting soul read these considerations on Divine Mercy and become trusting.
Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the bosom of the Father,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, fountain gushing forth from the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed by any intellect, human or angelic,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, from which wells forth all life and happiness,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, better than the heavens,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, source of miracles and wonders,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, descending to earth in the Person of the Incarnate Word,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, which flowed out from the open wound of the Heart of Jesus,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, enclosed in the Heart of Jesus for us, and especially for sinners,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in the institution of the Sacred Host,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, in the founding of Holy Church,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, in our justification through Jesus Christ,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, accompanying us through our whole life,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, embracing us especially at the hour of death,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, accompanying us every moment of our life,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, shielding us from the fire of hell,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, in the conversion of hardened sinners,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, astonishment for Angels, incomprehensible to Saints,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in all the mysteries of God,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, lifting us out of every misery,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, source of our happiness and joy,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingness to existence,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, embracing all the works of His hands,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, crown of all of God's handiwork,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, in which we are all immersed,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, only hope of despairing souls,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, repose of hearts, peace amidst fear,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, delight and ecstasy of holy souls,
I Trust in Thee.
Divine Mercy, inspiring hope against all hope,
I Trust in Thee.
SAINT FAUSTINA KOWALSKA'S HEALING PRAYER: Jesus, may Your pure and healthy blood circulate in my ailing organism, and may Your pure and healthy body transform my weak unhealthy body, and may a healthy and vigorous life flowing within me, if it is truly Your Holy will. Amen.
_
SAINT GEMMA GALGANI**
MYSTIC
(12 MARCH 1878 - 11 APRIL 1903)
Gemma was born on March 12, 1878 in Camigliano, Italy, and soon after her birth her family moved to Lucca, Italy, where she remained the rest of her life. Her mother Aurelia, a holy woman, died when Gemma was only 8 years old. The loss of her mother at such a young age was a sword of suffering upon her little heart. Eleven years later, at age 19, she would lose also her father, leaving her and her brothers and sisters orphans. Not long after this, she became gravely ill with spinal meningitis, becoming bedridden and on the verge of death. It was at this point that began the extraordinary graces in her life.
MIRACULOUS CURE
The Passionist St. Gabriel Possenti began appearing to her in a series of visions, encouraging her and helping her to make a Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in hopes for a cure. It was at this time that the attending Doctors resigned her to die. On March 3, 1899, Jesus appeared to Gemma and cured her on the last day of the Novena, which coincided with the First Friday of the month (which is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus). It was at this time also that Gemma began receiving inner locutions (interior words) from Jesus, and she begins to see her guardian Angel who inspires and instructs her in the practice of virtues.
ST. GEMMA IS GIVEN THE STIGMATA
A few months later, on the morning of June 8, 1899, Gemma is enlightened during Holy Communion that she would soon be receiving a great grace from Jesus. That evening, the Blessed Mother appeared to her, along with her guardian Angel. The Blessed Virgin told her: "Jesus my Son loves you very much and He wishes to give you a grace. Do you know how to make yourself worthy of it?” In my misery I did not know what to answer. She continued “I will be your Mother. Will you be a true daughter?” She then spread her mantle and covered me with it. At that moment Jesus appeared with all His wounds open, but blood no longer came out of those wounds. Rather, flames of fire issued forth from them and in an instant these flames came to touch my hands, my feet and my heart. I felt as if I would die. I fell to the floor, but my Mother supported me, keeping me covered in her mantle. I had to remain several hours in that position. Finally she kissed me on my forehead, and all vanished, and I found myself kneeling on the floor. But I still felt an intense pain in my hands, feet and heart. I arose to go to bed, and I then noticed that blood was flowing from those parts where I felt pain. I covered them as well as I could, and then with the help of my angel, I was able to go to bed. These sufferings and pains, although they afflicted me, filled me with perfect peace. The next morning I was able to go to Communion only with great difficulty, and I put on a pair of gloves in order to hide my hands. I could hardly stand on my feet, and I thought I would die at any minute. The sufferings continued until 3pm on Friday afternoon, the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus."
VICTIM SOUL
It was at this point that Gemma began suffering as a victim soul for the conversion of sinners. She continued this extraordinary mission until the end of her life. At times accompanying the Stigmata were also the Crown of Thorns and also the Scourging which is well documented by her Spiritual Director, Venerable Father Germanus C.P.
ECSTASIES OF LOVE
Along with suffering in union with Jesus for the conversion of souls, she was also drawn into the most remarkable and sublime ecstasies where she conversed and often pleaded with Jesus for sinners, for the souls in Purgatory, for love and for mercy upon humanity, always telling Jesus of her love for Him, and offering herself as a holocaust and victim to obtain these graces.
THE HOLY DEATH OF ST. GEMMA
In September 1902, Gemma became severely ill with Tuberculosis. By that time the fever of disease had begun to consume the innocent victim of divine Justice. Early in September she became very sick and vomited blood in quantities. One who watched by her bed wrote to her Director: "She is reduced to skin and bones; she suffers excruciating pains. One cannot bear the torment of not knowing what to do to relieve her. Gemma feels great need of you. Come quickly and tell us what to do."
"On receiving other pressing requests," he wrote, "I determined to go and reached Lucca in the month of October. The poor child showed the greatest joy when she was told that I had come, and wished to get up to welcome me. Imagine my grief at finding her in such a state, added to my fear that God this time would act indeed. I blessed her and bade her go back to bed; then sitting by her side I said: 'Well Gemma, what are we to do?' 'Go to Jesus, Father,' she answered, in a tone of inexpressible joy. 'But really?' I added. 'Yes, Father, this time Jesus has told me clearly, so clearly. To Heaven, my Father, to Jesus, with Jesus in Heaven!' 'But,' I rejoined, 'our sins, how are we to atone for them? You would make it an easy matter!' And she answered, 'Jesus has thought of that. He will let me suffer so much in the short time I have to live, that, sanctifying my poor pains by the merits of His Passion, He will be satisfied and will take me with Him to Paradise.' 'But,' I said, 'I do not wish you to die yet.' And she, in her spirited way, replied- 'And should Jesus wish it, what then?'
She then gave him all the particulars of her death and burial with the calmness of one discussing an ordinary affair. In the Confession she made that evening, she accused herself of the sins of her whole life with such compunction that he could not restrain his tears at seeing such lively sentiments of sorrow in one who had never stained the spotless robe of baptismal innocence by a deliberate sin. In the morning dressed as a bride with a white veil on her head she received Holy Viaticum, "looking," says Father Germano, "like an Angel in adoration before the Majesty of God." Afterwards she said to him: "If you wish, Father, you can leave, as I shall not die now. This illness will certainly finish me, but not yet; at least, that is what Jesus has told me."
Thus the months dragged on with Gemma living in the closest union of love and suffering with Jesus Crucified. Through the offering of her sufferings in union with Jesus, the Victim Soul was obtaining countless graces each day for the conversion of sinners. Holy Week arrived and now the victim of Jesus was to be made conformable to His Death. On Good Friday, April 10, 1903 she said to Cecilia Giannini who was attending her: "Don't leave me until I am nailed to the Cross. I must be crucified with Jesus. He has said to me that His children must be crucified." She then went into ecstasy and gradually extending her arms, she remained in that posture for about three hours - an image of Jesus dying on the Cross. All that day and night her agony continued.
On the morning of Holy Saturday, April 11, 1903, at about 8:00am she received Viaticum and the Last Anointing. At around 1:30pm, with the crucifix in her hands she said: "Jesus, now it is indeed true that nothing remains for me. If it be Thy will, take me." Glancing at the picture of Mary, she added: "My Mother, I recommend myself to You. Ask Jesus to have mercy on me." Then, in a feeble voice: "Jesus, I commend to You this poor soul of mine. Jesus." These were her last words. She kissed the crucifix, placed it over her heart, folded her hands over it, and closed her eyes. Then, after a few moments, she turned her head on the pillow and ceased to breathe, and thus her holy soul took flight to be forever united with the God whom she loved with all the strength of her heart.
The priest who was reading the last prayers of the Church never knew the moment of her passing. "I have assisted many sick people," he said, "but I never knew one to die in that way, without a tear or a sigh. She died with a smile and the smile remained on her lips so that I could hardly convince myself that she was really dead." And one of the Nursing Sisters from the order of St Camillis de Lellis who was caring for Gemma in her last days attested: "We have cared for a great many sick people, but we have never seen anything like this."
THE INSCRIPTION PLACED ON HER TOMB READ
"Gemma Galgani of Lucca, a most innocent virgin, while in her 25th year, consumed rather by the fire of Divine Love than by the violence of disease, flew into the arms of her Heavenly Spouse on Holy Saturday, the eleventh of April, 1903. Peace be to Thee, O sweet soul, in company with the Angels"
PATRON: Pharmacists; students; people struggling with temptation; people seeking greater spiritual purity; people who are grieving the deaths of parents; and people suffering from headaches, tuberculosis, or back injuries.
PRAYER OF ST. GEMMA GALGANI TO OBTAIN A DESIRED GRACE: Behold me at Your most holy feet, O dear Jesus, to manifest to you my gratitude for the continual favors which You have bestowed upon me, and still wish to bestow upon me. As many times as I have invoked You, O Jesus, You have made me content; I have often had recourse to You and You have always consoled me. How shall I express myself to You, dear Jesus? I thank you! Yet one more grace I desire of you, O my God, if it would be pleasing to You (here mention your request). If you were not omnipotent, I would not make this request. O Jesus, have pity on me. May your most holy will be done in all things. Amen.