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| Novena prepares way
for Divine Mercy Sunday
Parishioners dedicated to the devotion of the Divine Mercy are encouraged to take part in a novena starting Good Friday in preparation of the Feast of the Divine Mercy that is celebrated on the Sunday following Easter. Trinity Heights Queen of Peace, Inc. in Sioux City will hold its second annual prayer service on April 7 to mark the special feast day. "The novena is a wonderful way to spiritually prepare for the feast of the Divine Mercy," said Roxanne Lohr, a board member of Queen of Peace, Inc.She pointed out that people are asked to pray the first three days of the Divine Mercy Novena on their own at home. People living in the Siouxland area, on the fourth through ninth days of the novena may opt to gather at 7:30 p.m. at Queen of Peace to recite the novena intention and prayer along with the chaplet. The participating priest or deacon will give a prepared reflection. The schedule of prayer leaders is as follows: Day 4, April 1, Deacon Fred Karpuk; Day 5, April 2, Father Paul Kelly; Day 6, April 3, Father Gary Snyder; Day 7, April 4, Father Dennis Meinen; Day 8, April 5, Father Dave Hogan and Day 9, April 6, Father Raymond Weiling. "For people who live outside of the Sioux City area, they can do the nine days of the novena at home," noted Lohr. Jesus revealed his message of mercy to Sister Faustina Helena Kowalska of Poland in the 1930s. She was asked to become the apostle of God's mercy, a model of how to be merciful to others, and an instrument for reemphasizing God's plan of mercy for the world. In 1934 she began to keep a diary. It became a 600-page recording of the revelations she received about God's Mercy. Her diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul became a handbook for devotion to The Divine Mercy. The devotion began to spread even prior to Sister Faustina's death in 1938. The devotion focused on asking for God's mercy, being merciful to others and trusting completely in Jesus. She wrote in her diary, "I feel certain that my mission will not come to an end upon my death, but will begin. O doubting souls, I will draw aside for you the veils of heaven to convince you of God's goodness." Pope John Paul II canonized her on April 30, 2000. The pope granted a universal feast to be known as Divine Mercy Sunday on the Second Sunday of Easter. Regina Ratino pointed out that Jesus taught his followers how to pray the Our Father and he is teaching people once again how to pray through his revelations to St. Faustina. Jesus has requested that people pray the novena prayer and chaplet. "By praying in this way, we will be bringing needy souls to his merciful heart and will be helping them gain whatever graces they have need of. These prayers will help our own hearts be properly prepared to receive the extraordinary graces Jesus so freely wants to pour out on the Feast of Divine Mercy, among them being the complete remission of sin and punishment," she said. "We are to be merciful to others as he is merciful to us." Msgr. L.M. Ziegmann, spiritual director, will lead the Divine Mercy Sunday celebration April 7 that starts at 1:30 p.m. with Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration. The Chaplet of Divine of Mercy, Benediction and the blessing of religious articles is slated for 3 p.m. Lohr pointed out that she and others pray the chaplet on a daily basis. "The reason I'm doing this is to bring a different group of souls to the heart of Divine Mercy," she explained. The chaplet, which is a prayer to the heart of Jesus, uses the beads of the rosary. "People may obtain a copy of the chaplet from the Queen of Peace and we've placed brochures containing the information in the back of Sioux City parishes." Lohr said, "We hope to make this an annual celebration." |
