I quietly and invisibly
live my faith,
and accept life’s
incessant curveballs;
I am obedient to my
Manager’s wish for
bunt singles
instead of home runs.
The people of the world
are sitting in the box seats,
busied with food
and other amusements;
living in another world,
they have no idea
what I’m doing
in the batter’s box.
But Our Lord, Our Lady,
and the heavenly court
happily cheer me on
from the upper deck;
I live my life in the
shadow of the cross,
living in the dark night
of the unseen.
Dearest Jesus,
King of Divine Mercy,
During this Hour of Mercy,
Help me to slow down my life,
To let go all of my worries,
And to give them to Our Lady,
So that she can gently lay them
At the foot of your cross;
And so I humbly place myself,
Lovingly and wholeheartedly,
In your most holy presence —
Help me to recall your passion,
Your painful bloody passion,
And how much you suffered,
In the agony in the garden,
In the scourging at the pillar,
In the crowning of thorns,
In the carrying of the cross,
And in the crucifixion,
So that I may better understand
How much I have wounded you
With all my sins!
And so, as I stand at Golgotha,
Watching the blood and water
That flow from your side,
I approach this Sea of Mercy
With great trust —
Please fill my heart
To overflowing measure
With your unfathomable mercy.
Amen.
I always wanted to be a starter
and have all the glory, but,
instead, the Divine Manager is
wisely asking me to be a
good and faithful pinch hitter
in the dark night;
Our Lady explains to me
that as a pinch hitter
my priority should be
to wait for the interruptions —
to look forward to the interruptions —
because that’s a way that
I can make God first in my life;
she reminds me that
through the powerful
Prince of Patience
I will have the time
for whatever God wills --
then, when my time
finally comes, I’ll be ready:
as the opposing pitcher
fires a fastball right down
the middle of the plate,
I will steadily stride forward
with holy strength,
and with a swing that is
smooth and confident,
yet filled with humility,
I will line a single to center field;
I will look at Our Lady,
who will be cheering me on
from the dugout and
as I stand on first base,
I will cheerfully smile at her,
and my heart will be rhyming
to the rhythm of the Spirit.
My heart is ready, O God:
Tuus totus ego sum;
I take batting practice,
and the crisp crackle of
my maple-wood bat echoes
throughout the stadium.
Then, leading off the game, I hear a soft
sweet voice: “Do whatever He tells you”;
therefore, when I see the Spirit signal,
I gently lay down a regal bunt that
humbly dies to itself in the grass as I run
to first base like a strong driving wind.
As I stand on first base, with a
smile on my face from ear to ear,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for in my surrender I start to love;
however, The Beast, seething in hot
anger, already plans his revenge.
When I return to home plate,
The Beast strikes me out
over and over and over again
with the flaming fastballs of fear,
and I fall, carrying a heavy cross,
dizzy with discouragement.
My Manager benches me in the chapel,
but lovingly teaches me to fast from fear
and leave my worries in His loving hands,
so for three days I return to the chapel,
for ten minutes daily, to ask for His guidance,
and receive the Spirit's gift of Divine Mercy.
When I return to the lineup, The Beast
scornfully glares at me from the mound
with his mean menacing black eyes;
but I hear a papal voice encourage me:
“Non abbiate paura,” and again,
louder, “Non abbiate paura!”
By God's grace, I stand with great trust in
the batter’s box, and I hit a shooting star
whose sparkling trail is red and white,
quickly shattering the dark night,
and as the ball soars high over the wall,
the angels playfully dance around it.
My Merciful Manager
hands me the ball,
and I take the mound
in the ninth inning
since our team is
ahead by one run.
After going to confession,
I devoutly pray Lectio Divina
for thirty minutes, and then,
free from all affection for sin,
I say an Our Father and Hail Mary
for the Holy Father’s intentions:
thus, I pitch a supersonic fastball
that crisply crackles in my
All-Star catcher’s glove --
the first hitter strikes out,
with an aggressive
swing and a miss.
Next, during the Offertory
at Holy Mass, I offer up the
intention for a plenary indulgence —
for a specific individual, or for
whomever Our Lady chooses:
I swiftly snap off a
knee-buckling curveball --
the second hitter in the lineup
strikes out, frozen
like a cement gargoyle
as he watches the baseball
bend over the strike zone.
Finally, I receive Holy Communion
and, in a total gift of self, I devoutly
seek union with Our Lord and King:
and so, I release a knuckleball
that dives through the air
like the Dove of Divine Mercy --
the third hitter in the lineup
strikes out, waving his bat
helplessly, hopelessly,
missing it by a foot.
Suddenly a happy soul
speeds across the dark sky
like a bright shooting star,
streaming red and white
in unimaginable exhilaration,
escaping the pains of Purgatory
and finding the pleasures of Paradise;
then my All-Star catcher,
the sweet Lady of Love,
leaps into my waiting arms,
joyfully embracing me
with the kiss of peace,
to celebrate yet another
heavenly save in the
Kingdom of Divine Mercy.
San Padre Pio: “Lord, give me my weapon.”
When I squeezed the rosary beads with
My tense fingers, my soul was bone dry;
I pitched too fast, in a hurry to get the
Game over with as soon as possible.
I pitched my prayers with fear, and they
Wildly eluded the spiritual strike zone;
I needed you, Madonnina, to teach me how to
Pray the Holy Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet.
You taught me to pray more passionately,
Through the loving power of the Holy Spirit:
Sweet spiraling curveballs in holy meditation,
Swift sparkling fastballs in holy contemplation.
So I’m learning to pitch my prayers with
Sincere love, for all nine innings,
And you, my darling catcher, faithfully
Bring my prayers to The Divine Mercy.
As I serenely sit in front of St. Peter’s
Basilica, I soak in the beauty of the piazza,
I look about my peaceful surroundings,
Drinking in the delicious glory of God;
Clusters of clouds casually waft by, so low
That they almost brush the top of the dome,
They pass by like eager pilgrims, Eucharistic
White against the bright blue sky.
Fresh flowers flow down on the white steps in front
Of the altar, like a colorful cascading waterfall,
I inhale the perfume of their sweet scent,
And I breathe in the Lord’s love;
The elegant church bells powerfully and
Rhythmically ring out God’s grandeur,
While the balmy breeze swirls around me
And compassionately caresses me.
Inspired by Michelangelo’s masterpiece
As I look up at the statue, I see Santa Maria,
as white as virgin milk, holding her Jesus;
She is the elegant embodiment of humble
Obedience and selfless compassion.
The Savior lay in the stately surrender of
Sacrificial love, in His mother’s majestic arms;
He is crushed, the weight of the world’s
Sin heavy upon His wounded body.
On the surrounding walls, the magnificent
Marble is a multicolored whirlwind;
The Holy Spirit beautifully swirls and
Soars through it in grace-ful agape.
Reflecting on God’s grandeur, I marvel
At the beauty that surrounds me,
The statue of the Pietà vibrantly reflects
The sweet sublimity of God’s mercy;
The nave floats in the swirling, variegated,
Multi-colored waves of a marble ocean,
And massive pillars of magnificent marble
Stand at attention like the Swiss Guards.
As the doors silently open, the Holy Father’s
Vehicle slowly rolls down the aisle,
And in rushes a breeze of heavenly hope
That placidly fills the sails of our souls;
I stand on my chair and see the saint whose
Faith defeated the dreary dark night,
As he kisses a babe, love ripples through
The crowd and rhymes in our hearts.
As I struggle up the steep path,
My legs now feel much heavier,
And I wonder if the view will really
Be worth the arduous journey;
I see a sage old man approach,
Bearded like one of the prophets,
When I ask if I should continue,
He winks at me and nods yes;
Finally, when I reach the summit,
I behold the Valley of Heaven --
I breathe the Holy Spirit into my
Soul, and then exhale a smile;
The snow-capped mountains
Glisten in the warm soothing Light,
As the teal-colored lake glimmers in
The Divine Mercy rays of the Son.
It is a bright beautiful morning in the
crisp clean air of the Canadian Rockies,
We ascend as I drive up a wonderfully
windy road past babbling brooks,
The two of us are together, in the car that
we affectionately refer to as the “Tin Can”;
After reaching the sunny summit,
we gently roll into the Valley of the Ten Peaks;
We finally arrive at the large lake and
look up at the regal ring of mountains,
Yet I feel slightly saddened because
somehow it’s less than I expected;
A lodge that looks like a big log cabin
stands silently like a sentinel near the water,
We decide to dine there and enjoy a
delightful bit of roast beef for lunch;
The savory flavor of my sandwich lingers
in my mouth, as I think about my morning,
I try to cunningly convince myself that
I’m not disappointed, but I know that I am.
Departing for our next destination,
I wistfully walk towards our little car,
But as I look to the right, I see a
tar-black hill with a winding trail upon it;
The people look like pilgrims as they
make their way up the mysterious mound,
Curiosity gradually grows within me as I
ponder, puzzled, where the path leads;
So I investigate and struggle up the steep
trail, tripping occasionally on rock and rubble,
But when I get to the top, I am frozen
with fascination as I behold the view;
Above me is a diadem of snow-tipped peaks,
gleaming with the glory of God,
Below me is the pristine lake, and it is
shimmering and sparkling like a gemstone;
It appears as if millions of emeralds
and sapphires have melted into liquid,
And the teal-green color of the
lovely lake is luminous in the sunshine.
My senses are suddenly soaked in the
Holy Spirit’s lasting love, and I feel Your beauty,
At this moment, nothing else matters,
and I only long to be close to You;
At this moment, I am oblivious to my past,
and I am oblivious to my future,
I am living in the eternal and
mystical present of the great I AM;
You are Holy Humility, You are
Magnificent Mercy, You are Limitless Love,
And with Your divine sense of humor,
You really are the God of surprises.
As I gradually look up,
I see luminous rose petals
Fall gently and delicately
From the sky like snow,
Eucharistic-white
In the deep dark night.
My mission is prayer
In the dark night of the unseen,
My mission is surrender
In the dark night of unknowing,
My mission is love
In the dark night of the cross.
The path before me is
Strewn with radiant roses that
Glow like glorious lamps,
So I faithfully travel it and find
The Eucharistic Light
That transfigures the dark night.
The Holy Spirit,
The Light of the Universe,
Travels at the speed of eternity,
And when He passes through
The Sacred Heart of Jesus,
The Dove of Divine Mercy is
Transfigured into dazzling rays
Of red and white that pierce
My soul and energize it with
The Holy Lightning of Love.
When I scourge you with my sins
But then ask you for forgiveness,
Your most treasured blood
Trickles like tears into my heart;
When my thorny sins crown you,
But then I tell you that I’m sorry,
Drops of your royal red blood
Sink soothingly into my spirit;
I fail you again and again and again,
Yet when I sincerely surrender
My whole heart and soul to you,
Your beautiful blood and water
Spill from your open wound
Into the Chalice of Divine Mercy,
And my thirsty soul drinks in the
Sweet new wine of the Spirit.
I hesitantly open the door
of the confessional
and to my utter surprise
I see a sandy beach:
as I approach the waters
of gentle aquamarine,
I see Jesus before me;
He looks at my feet,
crusty and blackened
with all my sins,
so He washes them
with His holy hands;
then He leads me into the ocean,
whose welcoming waves
of delightful divine mercy
kiss and caress my soul,
cooling and refreshing me;
peace and joy
rush through me,
and as love ripples and rhymes,
sweetening my soul,
I am born again.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: INTRODUCTORY PRAYERS
SACRED ART: "The Coronation of the Virgin" by Pedro de Calabria
The Our Father
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
Amen.
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, Full of grace, The Lord is with thee, Blessed art thou among women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, Now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead.
On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE FIRST DECADE
SACRED ART: "Jesus in the House of Annas" by José de Madrazo y Aged
(For optimal viewing, click once on the minus sign to the right and then once on the plus sign)
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE SECOND DECADE
SACRED ART: "Mocking of Christ" by Carl Bloch
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE THIRD DECADE
SACRED ART: "Christ Falls on the Way to Calvary” by Raphael
(For optimal viewing, click twice on the minus sign to the right, then once on the plus sign)
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE FOURTH DECADE
SACRED ART: "Crucifixion" by Frans Francken II
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frans_Francken_II#/media/File:Frans_Francken_d._J._003.jpg
(For optimum viewing, click once on the painting)
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE FIFTH DECADE
SACRED ART: "The Supper at Emmaus" by Peter Paul Rubens
(For optimal viewing, click once or twice on the minus sign to the right)
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
CONCLUDING DOXOLOGY & CONCLUDING PRAYER
SACRED ART: "Divine Mercy" by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski
https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/divine-mercy-original.jpg
(Left-click once on the painting to get a closer view)
Recite the following prayer three times:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy on us, And on the whole world.
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal God, In whom mercy is endless, And the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, Look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, That in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, But with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, Which is Love and Mercy itself.
I stagger and stumble
and struggle through life,
my brain twisted into knots
by perplexing problems,
by a delirium of doubts,
by a flurry of fickle fears;
so Our Lady of Love
takes me by the hand
and gently leads me to
The Divine Mercy,
where He is enthroned in His
regal monstrance of gold,
and I pour out my heart
before His Holy Majesty;
from His Most Precious Body
two beams of bright light,
both red and white,
burn through the darkness,
illuminating my mind,
and the Truth has set me free.
SACRED ART: "Divine Mercy" by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski
https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/divine-mercy-original.jpg
(Left-click once on the painting to get a closer view)
PRAYER INTENTION
“Today bring to Me souls who have become lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: ‘Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.’ For them the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy.”
Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love let these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg you by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy.
Amen.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: INTRODUCTORY PRAYERS
SACRED ART: "The Coronation of the Virgin" by Pedro de Calabria
The Our Father
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
Amen.
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, Full of grace, The Lord is with thee, Blessed art thou among women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, Now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead.
On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE FIRST DECADE
SACRED ART: "Christ Carrying the Cross" by Tiziano Vecellio
(For optimum viewing, click once on the minus sign to the right)
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE SECOND DECADE
SACRED ART: "The Raising of the Cross" by Peter Paul Rubens
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE THIRD DECADE
SACRED ART: "Crucifixion" by Frans Francken II
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frans_Francken_II#/media/File:Frans_Francken_d._J._003.jpg
(For optimum viewing, click once on the painting)
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE FOURTH DECADE
SACRED ART: "The Crucified Christ" by Diego Velázquez
(For optimal viewing, click twice on the minus sign to the right, then once on the plus sign)
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE FIFTH DECADE
SACRED ART: "The Supper at Emmaus" by Peter Paul Rubens
(For optimal viewing, click once or twice on the minus sign to the right)
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
CONCLUDING DOXOLOGY & CONCLUDING PRAYER
SACRED ART: "Divine Mercy" by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski
https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/divine-mercy-original.jpg
(Left-click once on the painting to get a closer view)
Recite the following prayer three times:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy on us, And on the whole world.
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal God, In whom mercy is endless, And the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, Look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, That in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, But with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, Which is Love and Mercy itself.
When I wave the white flag
in the serene surrender of prayer,
I allow the water of my soul
to be poured freely into
His chalice of gold;
there I am baptized by Love
and born again,
transformed by the Transfigured,
changed forever by the sweet
new wine of the Spirit.
SACRED ART: "Divine Mercy" by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski
https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/divine-mercy-original.jpg
(Left-click once on the painting to get a closer view)
PRAYER INTENTION
“Today bring to Me the souls who are detained in Purgatory, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice.”
Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg you, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His Most sacred Soul was flooded: manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion.
Amen.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: INTRODUCTORY PRAYERS
SACRED ART: "The Coronation of the Virgin" by Pedro de Calabria
The Our Father
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
Amen.
The Hail Mary
Hail Mary, Full of grace, The Lord is with thee, Blessed art thou among women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, Now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead.
On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE FIRST DECADE
SACRED ART: "Christ Carrying the Cross" by Tiziano Vecellio
(For optimum viewing, click once on the minus sign to the right)
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE SECOND DECADE
SACRED ART: "The Raising of the Cross" by Peter Paul Rubens
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE THIRD DECADE
SACRED ART: "Crucifixion" by Frans Francken II
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frans_Francken_II#/media/File:Frans_Francken_d._J._003.jpg
(For optimum viewing, click once on the painting)
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE FOURTH DECADE
SACRED ART: "The Crucified Christ" by Diego Velázquez
(For optimal viewing, click twice on the minus sign to the right, then once on the plus sign)
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: THE FIFTH DECADE
SACRED ART: "The Supper at Emmaus" by Peter Paul Rubens
(For optimal viewing, click once or twice on the minus sign to the right)
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins, and those of the whole world.
Recite the following prayer ten times:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
CONCLUDING DOXOLOGY & CONCLUDING PRAYER
SACRED ART: "Divine Mercy" by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski
https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/divine-mercy-original.jpg
(Left-click once on the painting to get a closer view)
Recite the following prayer three times:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy on us, And on the whole world.
Recite the following prayer once:
Eternal God, In whom mercy is endless, And the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, Look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, That in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, But with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, Which is Love and Mercy itself.