Easter Sunday – Divine Mercy Novena Day 3

This is the day we’ve been looking forward to all this Lenten Season. This is our reason for hope. Jesus rose from the dead, conquered death, and prepares a place for all of us in heaven if we choose to join him.

And it is a choice. I once had a reader scream at me that heaven was open to everyone and that hell didn’t exist. But that would mean that there was no free will. How can we be truly free if there’s no choice in how we proceed to live our lives? Maybe that’s why the world feels so messed up right now – people have forgotten that at any time they can choose to repent, believe, and lean on God’s mercy and forgiveness to change their lives.

The Divine Mercy

Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. He gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena.

This is such an appropriate day for this particular intention – all the devout and faithful souls.  In any regular year, the devout, faithful, regular churchgoers would know to show up early for mass today in order to find a parking space, because the Easter/Christmas Catholics would be there in all of their Easter fineries, messing up the usual order in the church parking lot!!  

Yet the truly devout and faithful endured it because they were glad to see everyone there and hope sprang eternal that maybe, just maybe, some of them will keep coming back regularly!

This is particularly true for parents who might have kids that have strayed from the faith. Keep hoping, keep praying, and pray today’s novena to strengthen yourself.

And yet, today is the day we remember what everything is all about anyway – that Jesus Christ was crucified. he died and was buried. And on this day, Easter Sunday, he rose from the dead. 

Phil Rousin via Flickr licensed cc

Third Day
“Today bring to Me all Devout and Faithful Souls, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were a drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness.”


Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.


Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Daniel Zanni via Flickr  licensed cc

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