April 11, 2020 Reflection – Holy Saturday, Divine Mercy Novena Day 2

Pray for your shepherds…Our Lady called us to pray for our priests many times!! She often included this call at the end of the 2nd of the month messages. She has a special love for our priests and for the religious as well. They have given their lives for Jesus. And we need them so much. Today we pray for them in the novena.

St. Faustina depended upon her spiritual directors and confessors for clarity in discernment and protection from the devil. She learned to hear the voice of Jesus through them. She understood how necessary the priests and religious are for the Church and the world.

She wrote:

O Jesus, give us fervent and holy priest! Oh, how great is the dignity of the priest, but at the same time, how great is his responsibility! Much has been given you, O priest, but much will also be demanded of you … (Diary, 941)

O my Jesus, I beg You on behalf of the whole Church: Grant it love and the light of Your Spirit, and give power to the words of priests so that hardened hearts might be brought to repentance and return to You, O Lord. Lord, give us holy priests; You yourself maintain them in holiness. O Divine and Great High Priest may the power of your mercy accompany them everywhere and protect them from the devil’s traps and snares which are continually being set for the souls of priests. May the power of Your mercy, O Lord, shatter and bring to naught all that might tarnish the sanctity of priests, for You can do all things. (Diary, 1052)

Such beautiful words of respect and love! Let’s pray today’s novena prayers with great sincerity. We do need our priests so very much! As Our Lady said: “Pray for your shepherds. I pray for them and I desire that they may always feel the blessing of my motherly hands and the support of my motherly heart.”Divine Mercy Novena – Day Two

Today bring to Me THE SOULS OF PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave Me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind.

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service, that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard-upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

Now we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet: Here is a link to directions on how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet (by the Marians of the Immaculate Conception in Stockbridge, Massachusetts:

https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2020

PS. Here is the schedule of Liturgies streamed live from St. James Church for Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday: