By Julia Rose
ShrineofDivineMercy.org
Did someone say "blizzard"? And "snow day"? Yes, indeed!
Earlier this week, Eden Hill was closed due to the snowstorm that dumped a lovely 2 foot white blanket on the Northeast. There was a state of emergency here in the Berkshires, and Kelly Palmer, our HR manager, said this was only the second snow day we’ve had in the past five years! Wow! But absolutely lovely, too. Thanks to my photographer "angels," Chris, Nate, and John!
Relics of the Passion
As we enter the second week of Lent, the National Shrine is hosting a very special event tomorrow: the Relics of the Passion. The Apostolate for Holy Relics will be displaying nine amazing relics in the St. Faustina Center — even a piece of the Crown of Thorns!
If you're in the area, please join us at 10:30 a.m. Aggie Bourque, volunteer and events coordinator, says to arrive early for a seat, as it is a very popular event. They'll be a prayer service led by Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, as well as Eucharistic Adoration. At around 12:30 p.m, veneration of the relics will begin. Details here.
Don't miss the live, in-person talk by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, tomorrow at 11 a.m. (ET) when he will answer the question, "Is Lying Ever Acceptable?" Watch here on TheDivineMercy.org, on YouTube at our channel Divine Mercy (Official), and on our Facebook page Divine Mercy (Official). You can also watch on our streaming site, DivineMercyPlus.org.
During Lent, please join the Marians every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after the 2 p.m. Mass and Chaplet to pray St. Faustina’s Way of the Cross. Details here.
Our Lady of Mercy Oratory in the Marian Helpers Center also offers the Stations of the Cross every Friday at 2 p.m. All are welcome!Please note: The front doors of the Shrine are closed as they are being refurbished. Please use the exterior side doors or the Shrine Reception entrance.
"WOW! What's this?"
I was delighted to talk to Lorraine from Our Lady of Peace Parish in North Brunswick, New Jersey, who was making her fourth trip to the National Shrine with her son.
Here's a fun story. The photo of Lorraine and her then 10-month-old son (above left, and right, today) was taken on her first trip to the Shrine, 34 years ago. She was thrilled to see the statue of her namesake, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, in the alcove to the left of the altar. When the Founder of the Marians, St. Stanislaus Papczyński, was canonized in 2016, his statue replaced St. Thérèse's, and she was moved next door to the St. Joseph Chapel.
“I can still remember the sense of awe and a 'WOW! What's this?'’” she recalls of that first visit. “I encourage anyone to make the trip. The Shrine is just so beautiful and peaceful and so well worth it."
Ten years later, after experiencing a traumatic health scare, Lorraine discovered the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. “I fell in love with the prayer immediately,” she says. She carries a typed list of daily prayer intentions for loved ones and strangers, especially all of those who have died.
“Can you imagine how God forms you?” Lorraine says. "No matter what, God is always there in small, silent ways. He gives us that inner fortitude to be able to stick with it and say, ‘No matter how terrible and egregious this situation is, somehow God’s going to bring good out of it through His mercy.’” He sure does!
Asking for Mercy
Several Marian priests, brothers, and seminarians live on Eden Hill, as well as a few Marian Helpers. Meet Andrew Yantis, who works in the Print Shop.
Andrew joined the Marians in 2023 as a postulant. His discernment ultimately led him away from religious life, but not away from the Marians. As a lay member of the community, he lives with the Marians and serves at Mass. Primarily, he works in the Print Shop, where he assists in folding over a million brochures on "How to Pray the Rosary" and the "Divine Mercy Chaplet" as well as (above) Mother's Day cards! For him, this is his way of evangelizing.
Originally from Indiana, Andrew was raised Catholic, but found himself hiding from God for many years of his life as he suffered from alcohol addiction. By the grace of God, and with the help of the Blessed Mother, frequent Confession, the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, and the message of Divine Mercy, he turned his life around.
“I’ve come to realize that when God asks us to do something, He will grant us the graces necessary to do it," he says. "It’s so difficult, but we simply have to trust Him." Andrew implores everyone to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet daily, offering it up for their specific intentions.
“We ALL have need of God’s mercy," Andrew concludes. "Jesus desperately wants to have mercy on us. He only waits for us to ask.” Amen!
God bless and have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
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