The Message and Devotion of Divine Mercy

The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us – all of us. And, he wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.

The ABC of Divine Mercy Message

The Divine Mercy message is one we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC:

  • A – Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.
  • B – Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.
  • C – Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.

Origins and Church Teachings

This message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercy is based on the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska, an uneducated Polish nun who, in obedience to her spiritual director, wrote a diary of about 600 pages recording the revelations she received about God’s mercy. Even before her death in 1938, the devotion to The Divine Mercy had begun to spread. The message and devotional practices proposed in the Diary of Saint Faustina are completely in accordance with the teachings of Church and are firmly rooted in the Gospel message of our Merciful Savior. Properly understood and implemented, they will help us grow as genuine followers of Christ.

Divine Mercy Sunday Schedule

During the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday, the following services are typically offered:

  • Adoration: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Confessions: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Recitation of the Rosary: 2:30 p.m.
  • Chaplet: 3:00 p.m.

Divine Mercy Healing Retreat

The Divine Mercy Retreat team follows the spirit and methodology of John Paul II Healing Center, and the content of this retreat is based on the book, Be Healed, by Dr Bob Schuchts. This is not a silent retreat. The interaction both with team members and retreatants has proven to be a powerful way for the Holy Spirit to work through the community of believers, although there are dedicated times of silence for prayer and reflection.

The themes unfold one day at a time: Encountering Jesus on Friday, Facing Our Brokenness on Saturday, and Healing Our Wounds on Sunday. These themes are exposed through a total of seven dynamic talks illustrated by personal testimonies, followed by an exercise for personal application. Throughout the event, we offer the Celebration of the Eucharist each day of the retreat, as well as an opportunity for confession and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. On Sunday we offer the inner healing prayer for each retreatant. Spend time to learn more about the mercy of God, learn to trust in Jesus, and live your life as merciful to others, as Christ is merciful to you.