Mercy Meditations

This is part six of the series. View part five.

In her Diary, on Feb. 12, 1937, St. Faustina wrote a beautiful poem entitled “God’s Love is the flower — Mercy the fruit.” Saint Faustina wrote, “Let the doubting soul read these considerations on Divine Mercy and become trusting” (949). This month, we continue our series looking at this poem line by line so that we might become more trusting of Jesus, the Divine Mercy.

By Melanie Williams

By Chris Sparks

In my recent columns, I’ve been discussing the many panicked or hostile reactions to Pope Francis I’ve seen from far too many otherwise orthodox, faithful Catholics. I’ve discussed the historical context for the present pontificate, and indicated some paths forward for those who are truly alarmed by the present Holy Father.

I’d like to highlight one path in particular — answering the calls of the Holy Father, particularly when they are clearly in line with Scripture, Tradition, and tradition. Take the current Mission Month, for example.

On Oct. 5, 2019, eight buses containing hundreds of pilgrims descended upon the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, the Polish mystic who received visions of Christ the Divine Mercy in the 1930s. 

By Terry Peloquin

How can you glorify God at all times? What if you’re doing household chores? What if you’re gardening? What if you’re cooking?

Saint Faustina — whose feast day is Oct. 5 — was tasked at different times with each of these jobs, as recorded in her Diary.

Today, because we’re approaching Oct. 8, which is National Pierogi Day (Polish stuffed dumplings that St. Faustina likely prepared), let’s look at a miraculous instance that happened when St. Faustina was assigned to kitchen work (see her Diary, 65-66).