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Post by StellaMaris on Sept 1, 2021 23:33:48 GMT
I've noticed a strange 'vibe' about many who promote and pray the Divine Mercy devotion. While happy to pray, there is a hesitancy to allow it to infuse the faith and life. Even some clerics don't teach about the breadth of mercy as a lived tenet. Here are some of St Faustina's dictations from Jesus Himself.
“You will prepare the world for My final coming.” Diary, 429
“Write this: before I come as the just Judge, I am coming first as the King of Mercy.”
“(My daughter) Speak to the world about My mercy; let all mankind recognize My unfathomable mercy. It is a sign for the end times; after it will come the day of justice. While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fount of My mercy; let them profit from the Blood and Water which gushed forth for them.” Diary, 848
“Write: before I come as a just Judge, I first open wide the door of My mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice…” Diary, 1146
“…I am prolonging the time of mercy for the sake of sinners. But woe to them if they do not recognize this time of My visitation. My daughter, secretary of My mercy, your duty is not only to write about and proclaim My mercy, but also to beg for this grace for them, so that they too may glorify My mercy.” Diary, 1160
“I demand from you deeds of mercy which are to arise out of love for me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse yourself from it.” (742)
These messages are incredible supplements to the Scripture teachings about Gods mercy for us. What do others experience when reading these dictations from Jesus?
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Post by homeschooldad on Sept 2, 2021 0:03:40 GMT
I've noticed a strange 'vibe' about many who promote and pray the Divine Mercy devotion. While happy to pray, there is a hesitancy to allow it to infuse the faith and life. Even some clerics don't teach about the breadth of mercy as a lived tenet. Here are some of St Faustina's dictations from Jesus Himself. “You will prepare the world for My final coming.” Diary, 429
“Write this: before I come as the just Judge, I am coming first as the King of Mercy.”
“(My daughter) Speak to the world about My mercy; let all mankind recognize My unfathomable mercy. It is a sign for the end times; after it will come the day of justice. While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fount of My mercy; let them profit from the Blood and Water which gushed forth for them.” Diary, 848
“Write: before I come as a just Judge, I first open wide the door of My mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice…” Diary, 1146
“…I am prolonging the time of mercy for the sake of sinners. But woe to them if they do not recognize this time of My visitation. My daughter, secretary of My mercy, your duty is not only to write about and proclaim My mercy, but also to beg for this grace for them, so that they too may glorify My mercy.” Diary, 1160
“I demand from you deeds of mercy which are to arise out of love for me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse yourself from it.” (742)These messages are incredible supplements to the Scripture teachings about Gods mercy for us. What do others experience when reading these dictations from Jesus? Is it an approved private revelation? If so, no worries. You can believe it or not, or you can believe parts of it (that's kind of where I am WRT Divine Mercy), that's up to you. No private revelation binds in conscience to believe. There are even some of the finer points of the Fatima message that I'm not so sure about, nor do I have to be, to be a faithful Catholic.
(Not the Miracle of the Sun, obviously something happened, that's not open to debate --- even if it was a freak atmospheric disturbance that caused the illusion of a gyrating sun, and strong warm winds that dried everyone's clothes, how could the children have known the exact time and date it would happen?) |
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Post by po18guy on Sept 2, 2021 3:12:49 GMT
As much as the Divine Mercy is loved; as much as Fatima has its fans, as much as Garabandal, Medjugorje, this seer, that visionary et al have their fervent devotees, they are 100% private revelations. They are outside of the deposit of the faith and are not binding upon any of the faithful. I speak here only of those tested and approved by the Church. Catholics today have enough trouble keeping the 5 precepts of the Church! If anything, I think we tend to take our faith to casually. |
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Post by homeschooldad on Sept 2, 2021 4:21:07 GMT
As much as the Divine Mercy is loved; as much as Fatima has its fans, as much as Garabandal, Medjugorje, this seer, that visionary et al have their fervent devotees, they are 100% private revelations. They are outside of the deposit of the faith and are not binding upon any of the faithful. I speak here only of those tested and approved by the Church. Catholics today have enough trouble keeping the 5 precepts of the Church! If anything, I think we tend to take our faith to casually. Agreed. I think it's the by-product of an era when faith is in eclipse, for those "thirsty" for the things of God, to go chasing off after this revelation or that apparition. Perfectly understandable.
As far as Fatima is concerned, something happened there. But even with this said, all of the prophecies, good as they are, do not bind in faith. I have heard enough of the "Triumph of the Immaculate Heart" being contingent upon the consecration being done this way, or that way, to "the annihilation of several nations" referring to the Baltic States being swallowed up by the USSR --- this is really stretching it, I have had to wonder if it refers to the Holocaust (that makes far more sense to me, were not the various nationalities of Jewry "nations"?) --- and so on, enough that I long ago got a certain "fatigue factor" over it. "Conversion of Russia"? Perhaps the return of the Orthodox Church as the main moral and spiritual force in the Russian nation, something that has pretty much happened? People have been speaking almost-dogmatically about this aspect of Fatima, or that one, very often at loggerheads with one another, for over 75 years now. I'm content just to wait and see, and accept Our Lady's plea to say the Rosary, wear the Scapular, make the five First Saturdays, and offer one's daily duty. (I could be more assiduous about saying the Rosary than I am, long story, personal thing.)
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Post by po18guy on Sept 2, 2021 5:59:39 GMT
I have no doubt. But, being addictive beings - at least habitual beings - I find many that hang on every blurb, every minute detail associated with certain sites. Bear in mind that I did not ask for or expect it, but have come to have an attachment to Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Bernadette. A succession of miracles related to logistics as well as healing came together for me to be Catholic and to be alive. Medically, I had a 0% chance of survival before things got worse. However, I try to keep all in perspective.
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Post by pianistclare on Sept 2, 2021 14:02:27 GMT
No doubt there is wonderful advice there. The thing I notice more often, is that some people tend to use these things as "magical thinking". We recently resumed the First Friday devotions and listed the promised of Our Lady regarding this devotion. But it NOT to say that you can live as you want, and you somehow get a "get out of jail free card" on the last day.
It's an unfortunate opinion so that our youth tend to say "prove it to me, or I won't believe it." Well heck. The Lord is merciful. Check.
Fatima happened. Video footage exists. Decades later, some of the "quotes" seem odd. I think the spirit of our prayer is more to the point. Devotions do help people. Scripture reading is warning enough though sometimes.
I pray that Chaplet now and then. I think a varied prayer regimen is good for the soul. Keeps us humble.
I'll be interested to read other posts......
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Post by katy777 on Sept 2, 2021 18:36:16 GMT
I'm a Rosary girl myself. I have St. Faustina's diary, I should read it.
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Post by tisbearself on Sept 4, 2021 20:00:55 GMT
As much as the Divine Mercy is loved; as much as Fatima has its fans, as much as Garabandal, Medjugorje, this seer, that visionary et al have their fervent devotees, they are 100% private revelations. They are outside of the deposit of the faith and are not binding upon any of the faithful. I speak here only of those tested and approved by the Church. Catholics today have enough trouble keeping the 5 precepts of the Church! If anything, I think we tend to take our faith to casually. I'm not really disagreeing with you here, but would like to note a few things: 1) The Divine Mercy Revelations and Fatima are both Vatican-approved private revelations. Catholics still don't have to believe them, but they are NOT in the same category as Garabandal (unapproved - not established as supernatural), Medjugorje (approved for faith expression only, meaning that Catholics may visit the site and participate in devotions, but the revelations are not approved) or "this seer, that visionary" who are not approved and in some cases have their private revelations actually condemned by the Church. 2) Divine Mercy Sunday is on the Universal calendar, to my knowledge. Even if one doesn't believe a word of St. Faustina's revelations (which is okay), and doesn't participate in any Divine Mercy devotions on that day (also okay), one is still called to reflect upon and celebrate Christ's divine mercy at Sunday Mass that day. 3) St. Faustina (Divine Mercy seer) and Sts. Francisco and Jacinta Marto (Fatima seers) are saints. As such, they are models for our holiness even if one doesn't believe a word of the private revelations, or thinks they maybe made mistakes, got a few things wrong etc. They certainly abided by all the precepts of the Church posted, plus they showed virtues such as charity, obedience, humility, and following the 10 Commandments. This level of holiness is not something that the seers of Garabandal, Medj, or "this seer or that seer" have generally attained. 4) When St. Pope John Paul II and other Popes have shown themselves to be "fans" of certain private revelations such as Fatima and the Divine Mercy, that says something. Again, it doesn't mean Catholics are required to believe, but I'm not quick to cast aside something that a saintly Pope, who even has the suffix "the Great" appended to his name (an honor given to very few sainted Popes), found to have value. It is especially interesting that for all his love of Mary, St. Pope John Paul II was not a huge fan of Fatima until he was shot. His attitude towards it completely changed after that. I note these things because I think it is quite easy for Catholics who are not "into" private revelations, even approved private revelations, even Vatican-approved private revelations, even Vatican-approved private revelations embraced by sainted Popes, to just lump all these private revelations together and consider everyone who follows them to be a bunch of flighty flibbertigibbets who don't practice their faith. Yes, there are some Catholics who get way too into private revelations, even approved private revelations, in a negative or unhelpful way. But there are many, many other Catholics who do practice their faith and have a genuine devotion based on one or more of the approved revelations. And these revelations also do lead many to a better practice of the faith. I am not in love with Medj myself and i don't believe in the revelations, but at the same time, I understand many thousands of people have been moved to go to confession there, to the point where the apparition site is called "the confessional of Europe". Although I am wondering why they didn't just go to confession at their local parish church back home, still it's a good thing wherever and whenever they go. And sometimes those conversions that happen due to these revelations are very genuine. |
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Post by tisbearself on Sept 4, 2021 20:04:47 GMT
And with respect to the original question, "Are we too cautious about the Divine Mercy?"
I tend to think some people are. I personally am not, because for one thing, St. Therese, a Doctor of the Church, taught much the same thing as St. Faustina.
The two of them never met, did not live during the same time period, and it's highly doubtful that St. Faustina, given where she was and what she was doing and when she lived, was deeply aware of the teachings of St. Therese. The Lord was trying to make much the same point through both of these great saints. That's my opinion.
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Post by katy777 on Sept 7, 2021 16:24:27 GMT
I think some people think this takes away from the Sacred Heart devotion. Alot of Polish people enjoy praying this. I listen to it to music as I go around cleaning at times..
I'm not Polish. I have a blessed photo 8x10 that was given to me from a priest..
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Post by pianistclare on Sept 8, 2021 1:08:02 GMT
I don't see how it could detract from the Sacred Heart. the 9 first Fridays has nothing to do with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
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Post by katy777 on Sept 8, 2021 2:58:45 GMT
I would think worshipping Jesus' Sacred Heart is the root of both.
I did not yet read the Diary.
First Friday is different.
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Post by katy777 on Sept 11, 2021 23:29:11 GMT
I did have a framed picture of Divine Mercy my priest gave me on entrance table. It was blessed and when I put up the manger in it's place last year I can't find it.
Now I have St. Michael statue there.
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