A Day in the Life of a Divine Mercy Devotee

I was calling on a customer. Her name was Luwanna. It seemed like everyday business in my life as an insurance salesman. But I soon realized that this was not just "another" day with "another" business call.

I had to take a picture of Luwanna's house in order to write her insurance policy. During our conversation she confided to me about her son, who had recently died. He had suffered from alcoholism, a disease that eventually killed him. Luwanna was having a very difficult time coming to grips with his death. I told her about the Divine Mercy prayer group I'm in and how we would pray for her and her son. She was not Catholic so I was not sure if she understood the idea of praying for those who have passed away.

Because of certain circumstances regarding her policy, I realized I would have to go back to the office to get the correct form and come back out to her house. I told her that I would bring her some information on the Divine Mercy message and devotion and an image of The Divine Mercy.

Before I left, I went to take a picture of her house, but my digital camera wouldn't work. I assumed that the batteries were dead, and since I had to come back anyway, I told her I would bring fresh batteries.

I went back to the office and got the correct form and headed back out. I had forgotten to grab the prayer card with the image of The Divine Mercy as well as other Divine Mercy information. Luwanna and I talked again. We finished our business, and I told her I would mail the Divine Mercy information to her. She said OK.

Then, when I went to take a picture with the newly charged batteries the camera read "dead batteries" yet again. What was gong on? I told Luwanna that I would go get new batteries again and try to take the picture the next day.

On the third time out, I discovered how distraught Luwanna was and how it was necessary to talk to her more about our Lord's Divine Mercy. This time, I brought the image of The Divine Mercy and a booklet about the devotion. She was deeply hurting over her son's death, and even though she was not Catholic she was happy that we could pray for the souls of those who die. As a mother, she was concerned about her son's soul.

I was able to get her to focus on our Lord's mercy and not on the sins of her son. I told her how God is merciful and that Jesus died for all our sins. She listened and was very open to the mercy of God. It gave peace to her soul.

I recall from the how Jesus tells St. Faustina: "Tell them that no soul that has called upon My mercy has been disappointed or brought to shame. I delight particularly in a soul which has placed its trust in My goodness" (1541).

Our Lord also told St. Faustina to urge "all souls to trust in the unfathomable abyss of My mercy, because I want to save them all. On the cross, the fountain of My mercy was opened wide by the lance for all souls - no one have I excluded!" (1182).

The greater the sinner the greater the right to His mercy!

Funny, but after I spoke to her about Divine Mercy the camera worked just fine!

I realize how important it was for me to stop my busy day and comfort a soul with God's message of goodness and mercy. Divine Mercy transcends denominations and religions, gives witness to truth and brings peace to the soul. We have Catholics and Protestants praying in our prayer group as we all journey in God's truth.

Spreading Divine Mercy is a great way to evangelize. If you do nothing but leave the image with a person, that's a lot, indeed. The image is a vessel of grace.

Saint Faustina writes abnout the image: "Then I heard these words: Not in the beauty of the color, nor of the brush lies the greatness of this image, but in My grace" (Diary, 313).

Jesus said to St. Faustina:

I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: "Jesus, I trust in You" (327).

My daughter, encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given to you. It pleases Me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying this chaplet. When hardened sinners say it, I will fill their souls with peace, and the hour of their death will be a happy one (1541).



Jay Hastings, of Bartlett, Tenn., is the founder of a growing group of Divine Mercy devotees who ensure that the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy is being prayed every hour of the day. The 24-Hour Chaplet members now consist of more than 500 people from across the United States, as well as from Mexico, Canada, Australia, the Philippines, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Belize, India, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Japan and Iraq, who are assigned an hour each day in which to pray. They pray for three things: the promotion of the Divine Mercy devotion; the sick and dying in the hour that they pray; and people about to commit mortal sin. To join the 24-Hour Chaplet, contact Jay via e-mail, pj7772@msn.com or via phone, 901-438-7772.

CSDEA

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