Over the years, the lives of innumerable people have changed through praying a simple prayer that our Lord gave to St. Faustina in the 1930s. Maria Faustina Kowalska, was a Young nun in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland, during that time.

In the pages of her diary, we find many spiritual gems of extraordinary revelations she had received from our Lord Jesus Like this one which compels us to trust in Jesus’ endless Mercy

I remind you, My daughter, that as often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners, for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every soul. In this hour you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world – mercy triumphed over justice” (Diary, 1572)

The Canonization of Maria Faustina Kowalska took place on April 30, 2000 It was on this day that the second Sunday of Easter was officially designated as the Sunday of the Divine Mercy (Dominica 11 Paschae seu de divine misericordia) This devotion was actively promoted by Pope John Paul II and is now widely celebrated by Catholics across the world.

The Chaplet of Devine Mercy is attached with extraordinary promises to those who recite it with deep trust. It also calls on us to pray for the conversion of sinners. It is significant that Jesus spoke to St. Faustina about this ‘hour of grace for the whole world’. During this hour, Mercy triumphed over justice at the Cross when Jesus died for the salvation of mankind. We often implore Christ to be with us during our hour of death. Why shouldn’t He want us to also be with Him during His own?

Here at St. Sebastian Church, the Devotion of Divine Mercy is observed each day at 3:00 pm by a group of dedicated parishioners, Let us also try to join them or be with Jesus in spirit if only for a moment in our hectic lives

– Nancy Fernandes