By Chris Sparks
The Marian Fathers are calling on you to pray nine Divine Mercy Chaplets starting at 3 p.m. for:
- all those suffering physically, economically, and emotionally as a result of the coronavirus;
- all those healthcare professionals, first responders, and emergency personnel on the front lines serving the sick, all those workers keeping our stores stocked, the lights on, and the necessities of life flowing; and
- God to bring a swift end to this pandemic; and heal our world with His grace so that the culture of life overcomes the culture of death, bringing about a true civilization of love in our global community.
This one-day novena — also called a "flying novena," "emergency novena," or "express Novena" — will employ some of the most powerful spiritual weapons at our disposal: the devotions to the Divine Mercy, given to the Church by Jesus through St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), the Secretary and Apostle of Divine Mercy.
Jesus promised to St. Faustina, “Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will” (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1731).
He also promised, “By this Novena, [of Chaplets] I will grant every possible grace to souls.” (Diary, 796).
And Jesus said, “As often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners; for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every soul. In this hour you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world — mercy triumphed over justice” (Diary, 1572).
We agree with St. John Paul II’s diagnosis: “[T]he limit imposed upon evil, of which man is both perpetrator and victim, is ultimately the Divine Mercy” (Memory and Identity).
So let’s put a limit on this evil. Let’s turn with trust to the Divine Mercy of God and pray for mercy on us, and on the whole world. If you have a Divine Mercy Image, place it before you and venerate it as you pray nine Chaplets at the 3 p.m. Hour of Great Mercy to put a limit on this evil. Before each Chaplet, please pray the following prayer:
Jesus, Divine Mercy Incarnate, I trust in You! I trust in the promises You made to me and to all the world through St. Faustina Kowalska. I trust that You love us all and only want the best for us.
Jesus, I ask you now: bring a swift end to this pandemic.
Protect and help the most vulnerable in our society, especially those already suffering from this terrible disease and all those who are helping them. Protect and help our healthcare professionals, our emergency first responders, and everyone else risking daily exposure to this pandemic disease in order to help the sick and maintain our society.
Establish in our families, our homes, our countries, and our world a culture of life and a civilization of love.
Jesus, help us all in this hour of need. Amen.
