Diaconate

So, again, it's been awhile. Here is the short version of an update: I was ordained a Deacon by Bishop Paprocki on Saturday, April 30th at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield alongside my classmate Albert Allen. (Ordination Article) Since then my 14 classmates have been ordained deacons in their respective dioceses all across the Midwest. I was able to attend most of those ordinations.

The semester ended rapidly and all of us at Kenrick-Glennon moved everything out of 5200 Glennon Drive as the building is being gutted and renovated over the next 18 months. Next year my last year of seminary will take place at the former St. Mary's Convent, near St. Mary's Hospital at Clayton & Big Bend in St. Louis. That will be a big adaptation for all of us. I've decided to travel light, books and all, after moving everything from my seminary room back to Vandalia. KGS in it's former form will always remain with me. The time in formation there these last 5 years has been a true blessing.

The last two weekends in May saw travel to 3 deacon ordinations (my classmates in Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO; Peoria, IL; & Omaha, NE), 1 priestly ordination (our own, in Springfield), a graduation Mass (Cardinal Glennon College '11), and 2 First Masses (Fr. Brian Alford @ Mother of Perpetual Help in Maryville, IL & Fr. Henry Purcell @ St. Gabriel's in South St. Louis).

The first days of June saw me deacon in the Extraordinary Form for the first time (Ascension Thursday at St. Aloysius in Springfield), with travel to Memphis, TN, for the Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr. James Clark. After Memphis, it was back to Springfield to travel to Steubenville, OH with over 40 teens from Sacred Heart Griffin High School in Springfield for their summer mission trip. On J.O.S.H.U.A. (Journeys of Service Helping Upper Appalachia) we helped fix, repair, and renew several houses in the dying neighborhoods of SE Ohio. After those great five days, it was back to Springfield and straight into my own car again heading westbound for the wedding of two good friends in rural Nebraska on Saturday, June 11. That was a great time, alongside my good friends who are members of Easter Rising. One of them was kind enough to put me up for the weekend in Omaha. Pentecost Sunday brought be to the FSSP Parish in Omaha, where I subdeaconed as a cleric for the first time. After that, it was home for a few peaceful days.

The ordination circuit resumed on June 18 in Overland Park, KS with the ordination of the 5 men in the male branch of the Apostles of the Interior Life. 4 new priests, and 1 new deacon. I was finally able to meet their founder, Fr. Salvatore, that weekend. It's always good to spend time with Sr. Susan and the AVIs. The next day I was able to return to St. Al's in Springfield, and preach at the Masses there on Trinity Sunday. Mom, Dad, and Hannah were able to come up too, and we started our Father's Day there.

Finally, there was North Dakota. My last classmate to be ordained, Kregg Hochhalter, was ordained at his home parish, Queen of Peace in Dickinson, ND. A short 1100 mile jaunt from home. I was able to assist in the singing of Solemn Vespers at his parish the night before his ordination, and spend a couple of days with the good folks of the Bismarck Diocese. I stayed at a beautiful monastery in nearby Richardton, ND. From Bismarck southward, the Missouri River flooding was incredible all the way back home. My pit stop was again in Omaha, where I was able to go to the city's Corpus Christi procession with Abp. Lucas, and visit the Kenrick men who are at Creighton for the summer. I was also able to return to ICC and deacon the Solemn Mass there for the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost. Before coming home, I spent a day in the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese at a soon-to-be retreat house in Springfield, MO, with one of my brother seminarians from that diocese.

Yep. That's the short version. 40 days. 10,300 miles. 12 states.

Now I'm settling in here at St. Paul's in Highland with Fr. Chuck Edwards and Fr. Paul Kala. I'm already getting to know our home-bound parishioners, preached at all 4 weekend Masses, and yes, have taken the giant Wicks organ for a spin. I greatly look forward to the next 10 months here at St. Paul's.

Stop by our famous parish festival, Kirchenfest, August 27 & 28. It's In-Tents (like camping).

Keep up those prayers out there!

- Deacon Edgar

8.VII.2011

Ash Wednesday

Hello, again

So, much has happened since last June 1. Fr. Donovan and I had a successful move last summer from Ss. Mary & Joseph parish in Carlinville to St. Aloysius parish in Springfield's north-end. I greatly enjoyed the people of both parishes and got see what a transition is really like in the life of a priest as he leaves one flock to take up another. Saying good byes, learning new names and faces, oh - and MOVING. Wow, moving is a pain - all the more incentive to live simply, for sure.

It's been a busy 3rd year of Theology classes here in St. Louis this academic year, not to mention the thesis work that I am presently undertaking (prayers appreciated).

Back in September, my parents celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary, and they continue to be my center of support in my vocation.

Last fall I received my last seminary-assigned parish - to St. Joseph's in Imperial, MO in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. About 25 minutes south of the seminary, I serve at the Sunday Masses at St. Joe's and, once a week, come into the 2nd grade classroom to help the students prepare for First Confession (which was Jan. 6) and First Holy Communion (which is in May). They are great kids, I am so blessed! It has been a great experience there. Msgr. Brennell and Fr. Nemeth have been great mentors to me. St. Joe's is as vibrant and young a parish as I have come across - lots of baptisms, praise the Lord. It will be sad to leave there in April.

In November, my greatest spiritual father, then-Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke was created a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church on Christ the King weekend in Rome. In December, I was blessed with the opportunity to act as his master of ceremonies as he made his first trip 'home' to the Diocese of La Crosse, WI and to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which he founded. After assisting His Eminence for a few days, I remained and made my silent retreat that all deacon candidates must make sometime in the 6 months prior to ordination. My quiet week at the Friary at the Shrine was wonderful. Fr. Jacinto Mary, Fr. John Lawrence, Fr. Peter Damien, and Br. Joseph, all Friars of the Immaculate, were wonderful hosts and I am grateful to count them as friends.

Christmas at home was great (and it was a White Christmas!) - likely my last one as I will begin receiving, God-willing, assignments to other parishes within the diocese from here on out. Fr. Havrilka and I pulled out all the bells and smells, as they say, for 2 glorious Christmas Masses at Mother of Dolors. I am also happy to report that Vandalia now boasts 3 diocesan seminarians. Myself, Braden Maher, and now Wayne Stock joins our ranks with Braden at Bishop Brute College Seminary in Indianapolis. Praise God! Our little parish has had no diocesan vocations (that we know of) in her 156-year existence. Hopefully this is a good start in making up for lost time.

Also over Christmas I had 7 of my St. Louis seminarian brothers over to Vandalia for a couple days to hang out, pray, play Beatles Rock Band, etc. It was great. I again also took up the mic at the alma mater, VCHS, for our 39th annual Holiday Boys Basketball Tournament. A crazy four days as always, but ones I still look forward to. Got to spend a day with the bishop, our guys, and some potential prospects for the seminary in the week after Christmas as well. Keep praying and encouraging vocations! We are starting to head in the right direction. I also was able to visit some good friends in Cincinnati over New Years with one of my classmates and sing some good Irish tunes with some great folks, who know who they are. Definitely the most fun I've had on New Years - with great Catholic folks to boot! (even if some of them are Reds fans)

January saw the return of Cardinal Burke to St. Louis, and I was blessed to see and speak with him on multiple occasions during his week-long stay. We here at Kenrick-Glennon were thrilled, to say the least, to have him 'home' for even a brief time. Please pray for him as he undertakes some weighty tasks on a daily basis in Rome.

Due to a couple of issues, I was unable to make the March for Life in Washington this year. But our diocese was well-represented as always, and I saw some great pictures of Bishop Paprocki with our large contingency there. Please pray that hearts will continue to be converted to the pro-life movement. They are vital. A number of us continue to pray on Saturdays in Granite City outside the Hope(less) Abortion Mill alongside Daniel and Angela Michael and Small Victories ministries (http://www.smallvictoriesusa.com/).

February is always a busy time as the stretch-run gets going here at the seminary. I have written my petition asking to be Ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons this coming April 30, and have my final evaluation meeting in the upcoming week. All your prayers for me are needed and appreciated.

There have also been many deaths in recent days, both back home at Mother of Dolors and in the larger extended-prayer-request family here at the seminary. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

So that's about as quick a catch-up as I can give... God-willing, ordination is just over 2 months away. Final details to come later.

May Mary, Our Mother, continue to guide and protect us all, and lead us in all things to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus her Son.

Pax et bonum,
Zach

23.II.2011

Live from Carlinville

Hello, Goodbye.

Yes, that is the title of one of my favorite Beatles songs, but in actuality it's a pretty applicable summary of my time here at Ss. Mary & Joseph parish in Carlinville.

This is my first full summer living in a parish, and now I can say parishes - since I'll be moving to Springfield with the pastor when he assumes his new office at St. Aloysius in Springfield on July 1.

But for now it's make the most of the present situation. There are wonderful people here at Ss. Mary & Joseph, and I have only met 'the tip of the iceberg' between Mass in the cemetery yesterday for Memorial Day and morning Mass at the parish today.

Fr. Tom Donovan, the pastor, has been great as I'm trying to hit the ground running and, at the same time, do what I can to help with his transition to his new parish in Springfield. So this will be an unusual summer, but one with plenty of unique opportunities to learn about various aspects of the priesthood - especially during a time of transition such as this.

This is a fine town, and I'm reminded it's the hometown of two of my favorite diocesan priests - Fathers Anthony & Carl Schmidt - who just celebrated their 60th Jubilee last week. I go to school with their nephew at Kenrick. He is a classmate and studies for the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Carlinville is also home to my friend Fr. Jeff Stone, who I was able to visit at his parishes in Liberty, Mendon, and Quincy last summer around this time. I had the honor of meeting Fr. Jeff's mother this morning after Mass.

After I return from an Ordination in Des Moines this Friday and Saturday, I will be meeting the greater parish community on Sunday. Looking forward to it!

Fiat voluntas tua, hodie et semper. 1.VI.2010

Ordination season

In your charity, please join me in praying for the following men who will be ordained either transitional deacons or to the Holy Priesthood.

These are the men that I know from my time in formation who are being (or have been) ordained so far this year. Thanks for your prayers!

Mary, Mother of all Priests, pray for us!
St. John Vianney, pray for us!
St. Lawrence, pray for us!
St. Stephen, pray of us!

These men are now or soon will be deacons:

Dcn. Tim Foy

Dcn. Anthony Gerber

Dcn. Mike Grosch

Dcn. Henry Purcell

Dcn. Joseph Jaskierny

Dcn. Johnson Lopez

Dcn. Brian Alford Dcn. Carlos Gallardo Dcn. Barry Clayton Dcn. Anthony Onyango Dcn. Gregory Lies Dcn. Andy Syring Dcn. Kevin Vogel Dcn. James Weeder Dcn. Marco De Lorea Dcn. John Fogliasso Dcn. Jason Signalness These men will be or already have been Ordained to the Priesthood: Fr. Erich Weiss Fr. Joseph Oganda Fr. Dale Maxfield Fr. Francis Doyle Fr. Dylan Schrader Fr. Craig Holway Fr. Jim Holbrook Fr. Anthony Yates Fr. Anthony Ochoa Fr. Jason Schumer Fr. Nicklaus Winker Fr. Timothy Noelker Fr. Matthew Benjamin Fr. Evan Harkins Fr. Steve Thompson Fr. Paul Kala Fr. Max Biltz Fr. Yancey Burgess Fr. Zach Kautzky Fr. Michael Voithofer

Springfield welcomes Bishop Paprocki

Lex cordis caritas

“The law of the heart is charity” – Episcopal motto of Most Rev. Thomas Paprocki

Presenting the 9^th bishop of Springfield in Illinois:

Most Reverend Thomas John Joseph Paprocki

Titular Bishop of Vulturaria
Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Chicago

Canon lawyer …and avid Chicago Blackhawks fan

http://www.archdiocese-chgo.org/thearchdiocese/bishop_thomas_paprocki.shtm

On June 3^rd of last year, Archbishop Lucas was appointed to the See of Omaha, Nebraska. Over 10 months later, the See of Springfield in Illinois is no longer vacant. Let us pray for our new bishop (as well as pray in thanksgiving for Msgr. Kemme’s guidance in these recent months):

O dearest Jesus, look down with love on Thy priests, especially our bishop, Thomas. Fill him with burning zeal for the conversion of sinners, keep unstained his anointed hands which daily touch Thy immaculate Body, keep unsullied his lips purpled with Thy Precious Blood, keep pure and unearthly his heart sealed with the sublime marks of Thy glorious Priesthood; bless his labors with abundant fruit, and may those to whom he has ministered on earth be one day his joy and consolation in heaven. Amen.

This good news for our diocese comes one day shy of the year anniversary of Archbishop Robert Carlson’s appointment to St. Louis, where I am in seminary. While this “rumor watch” wasn’t anything like that one, I am certainly grateful that our wait is over. May God abundantly bless Bishop Paprocki as he transitions to his new home. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

Personal Information (from the link above)

• Date of Birth: August 5, 1952, Chicago, IL.
• Date of Priesthood Ordination: May 10, 1978, Chicago, IL.
• Date of Episcopal Consecration: March 19, 2003, Chicago, IL.

Education

• Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome
  J.C.D. - 1991
• Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome
  J.C.L. (Licentiate in Canon Law) - 1989
• DePaul University College of Law, Chicago
  J.D. - 1981
• St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Illinois
  S.T.B. (Bachelor in Sacred Theology) 1976
  M.Div. - 1978
  S.T.L. (Licentiate in Theology) - 1979
• Niles College of Loyola University, Chicago
  B.A. - 1974
• Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, Chicago - 1970
• St. Casimir School, Chicago - 1966

Patoral Assignments
Other Positions

• Episcopal Vicar, Vicariate IV; Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago - 2003-
• Pastor, St. Constance Parish, Chicago - 2001- 2003
• Chancellor, Archdiocese of Chicago - 1992- 2000
• Vice Chancellor, Archdiocese of Chicago - 1985-1992
• President, (South) Chicago Legal Clinic - 1981-1986; 1991-
• Administrator, St. Joseph Parish, Chicago - 1983-1986
• Associate Pastor, St. Michael Church, Chicago - 1978-1983

His Excellency will take canonical possession of the diocese on Tuesday, June 22, 2010.

Happy birthday, Pope Benedict!

Today, Pope Benedict celebrates his 83rd birthday. Let us remember his health, his intentions, and pray in thanksgiving for the blessings his pontificate has shared with the Church.

Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Benedicto.
Dominus conservet eum et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.

Divine Mercy Novena: Day 9

Tomorrow, Saturday, is the Deacon Ordination for Springfield's Brian Alford. Please keep him in your prayers, and, due to this, here is tomorrow's post a day early:

I fly to Your Mercy, Compassionate God, Who alone are good. Although my misery is great and my offenses are many, I trust in Your Mercy because You are the God of Mercy, and it has never been heard of in all ages, nor do Heaven or Earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your Mercy has been disappointed.

(State your intentions)

Jesus, Friend of a lonely heart, You are my haven. You are my peace. You are my salvation. You are my serenity in moments of struggle and amidst an ocean of doubts. Amen.

Ninth Day

“Today bring to Me the 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.

Opening Prayer

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Here pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy:

Sign of the Cross / Our Father / Hail Mary / Apostles’ Creed/ 1 Eternal Father / 10 For the sake… (repeat the last two steps 4 additional times) / 3 Holy God… / 3x "Jesus I Trust in You" / Sign of the Cross

Closing Prayer

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.

Divine Mercy Novena: Day 8

I fly to Your Mercy, Compassionate God, Who alone are good. Although my misery is great and my offenses are many, I trust in Your Mercy because You are the God of Mercy, and it has never been heard of in all ages, nor do Heaven or Earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your Mercy has been disappointed.

(State your intentions)

Jesus, Friend of a lonely heart, You are my haven. You are my peace. You are my salvation. You are my serenity in moments of struggle and amidst an ocean of doubts. Amen.

Eighth Day

“Today bring to Me the Souls who are in the prison of 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.

Opening Prayer

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Here pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy:

Sign of the Cross / Our Father / Hail Mary / Apostles’ Creed/ 1 Eternal Father / 10 For the sake… (repeat the last two steps 4 additional times) / 3 Holy God… / 3x "Jesus I Trust in You" / Sign of the Cross

Closing Prayer

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.

Divine Mercy Novena: Day 7

I fly to Your Mercy, Compassionate God, Who alone are good. Although my misery is great and my offenses are many, I trust in Your Mercy because You are the God of Mercy, and it has never been heard of in all ages, nor do Heaven or Earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your Mercy has been disappointed.

(State your intentions)

Jesus, Friend of a lonely heart, You are my haven. You are my peace. You are my salvation. You are my serenity in moments of struggle and amidst an ocean of doubts. Amen.

Seventh Day

”Today bring to Me the Souls who especially venerate and glorify My Mercy, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.”

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God:

Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

Opening Prayer

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Here pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy:

Sign of the Cross / Our Father / Hail Mary / Apostles’ Creed/ 1 Eternal Father / 10 For the sake… (repeat the last two steps 4 additional times) / 3 Holy God… / 3x "Jesus I Trust in You" / Sign of the Cross

Closing Prayer

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.

Divine Mercy Novena: Day 6

I fly to Your Mercy, Compassionate God, Who alone are good. Although my misery is great and my offenses are many, I trust in Your Mercy because You are the God of Mercy, and it has never been heard of in all ages, nor do Heaven or Earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your Mercy has been disappointed.

(State your intentions)

Jesus, Friend of a lonely heart, You are my haven. You are my peace. You are my salvation. You are my serenity in moments of struggle and amidst an ocean of doubts. Amen.

Sixth Day

“Today bring to Me the Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.”

Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Opening Prayer

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Here pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy:

Sign of the Cross / Our Father / Hail Mary / Apostles’ Creed/ 1 Eternal Father / 10 For the sake… (repeat the last two steps 4 additional times) / 3 Holy God… / 3x "Jesus I Trust in You" / Sign of the Cross

Closing Prayer

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.

Divine Mercy Novena: Day 5

I fly to Your Mercy, Compassionate God, Who alone are good. Although my misery is great and my offenses are many, I trust in Your Mercy because You are the God of Mercy, and it has never been heard of in all ages, nor do Heaven or Earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your Mercy has been disappointed.

(State your intentions)

Jesus, Friend of a lonely heart, You are my haven. You are my peace. You are my salvation. You are my serenity in moments of struggle and amidst an ocean of doubts. Amen.

Fifth Day

“Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion."

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Opening Prayer

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Here pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy:

Sign of the Cross / Our Father / Hail Mary / Apostles’ Creed/ 1 Eternal Father / 10 For the sake… (repeat the last two steps 4 additional times) / 3 Holy God… / 3x "Jesus I Trust in You" / Sign of the Cross

Closing Prayer

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.

Divine Mercy Novena: Day 4

I fly to Your Mercy, Compassionate God, Who alone are good. Although my misery is great and my offenses are many, I trust in Your Mercy because You are the God of Mercy, and it has never been heard of in all ages, nor do Heaven or Earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your Mercy has been disappointed.

(State your intentions)

Jesus, Friend of a lonely heart, You are my haven. You are my peace. You are my salvation. You are my serenity in moments of struggle and amidst an ocean of doubts. Amen.

Fourth Day

“Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not know Me, I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.”

Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Opening Prayer

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Here pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy:

Sign of the Cross / Our Father / Hail Mary / Apostles’ Creed/ 1 Eternal Father / 10 For the sake… (repeat the last two steps 4 additional times) / 3 Holy God… / 3x "Jesus I Trust in You" / Sign of the Cross

Closing Prayer

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.

Divine Mercy Novena: Day 3

I fly to Your Mercy, Compassionate God, Who alone are good. Although my misery is great and my offenses are many, I trust in Your Mercy because You are the God of Mercy, and it has never been heard of in all ages, nor do Heaven or Earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your Mercy has been disappointed.

(State your intentions)

Jesus, Friend of a lonely heart, You are my haven. You are my peace. You are my salvation. You are my serenity in moments of struggle and amidst an ocean of doubts. Amen.

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.

Opening Prayer

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Here pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy:

Sign of the Cross / Our Father / Hail Mary / Apostles’ Creed/ 1 Eternal Father / 10 For the sake… (repeat the last two steps 4 additional times) / 3 Holy God… / 3x "Jesus I Trust in You" / Sign of the Cross

Closing Prayer

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.

Divine Mercy Novena: Day 2

I fly to Your Mercy, Compassionate God, Who alone are good. Although my misery is great and my offenses are many, I trust in Your Mercy because You are the God of Mercy, and it has never been heard of in all ages, nor do Heaven or Earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your Mercy has been disappointed. (State your intentions) Jesus, Friend of a lonely heart, You are my haven. You are my peace. You are my salvation. You are my serenity in moments of struggle and amidst an ocean of doubts. Amen.

Second Day of Novena:

"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.

Opening Prayer

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Here pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy:

Sign of the Cross / Our Father / Hail Mary / Apostles’ Creed/ 1 Eternal Father / 10 For the sake… (repeat the last two steps 4 additional times) / 3 Holy God… / 3x "Jesus I Trust in You" / Sign of the Cross

Closing Prayer

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.

The Hour of Mercy

Divine Mercy Novena: Day 1

Over the coming days, I will re-post last year's writings for each day of the Divine Mercy Novena:

Good Friday begins the annual Divine Mercy Novena - which ends on Divine Mercy Sunday, the last day in the Octave of Easter.

Today, on the Cross, we see blood and water pour forth from the side of Christ. In this Paschal Sacrifice, the Church is born: in His Blood we receive His very self in the Eucharist, by the waters of rebirth we die to sin and rise to new life in Christ.

Each Day of this novena, brought to us by St. Faustina, has its own intention. If you've never prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy before, all you need is a Rosary and about 10 minutes of meditation time.

Here then are the prayers that surround the Chaplet on Day One:

I fly to Your Mercy, Compassionate God, Who alone are good. Although my misery is great and my offenses are many, I trust in Your Mercy because You are the God of Mercy, and it has never been heard of in all ages, nor do Heaven or Earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your Mercy has been disappointed. (State your intentions) Jesus, Friend of a lonely heart, You are my haven. You are my peace. You are my salvation. You are my serenity in moments of struggle and amidst an ocean of doubts. Amen.

First Day of Novena:

"Today bring to Me All Mankind, especially all sinners and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me."

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins, but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

Opening Prayer

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Here pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy:

Sign of the Cross / Our Father / Hail Mary / Apostles’ Creed/ 1 Eternal Father / 10 For the sake… (repeat the last two steps 4 additional times) / 3 Holy God… / 3x "Jesus I Trust in You" / Sign of the Cross

Closing Prayer

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.

Holy Thursday from Rome

The Holy Father offered The Mass of the Lord's Supper at his cathedral, St. John at the Lateran, this evening.

Here follows his homily: (source)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In his Gospel, Saint John, more fully than the other three evangelists, reports in his own distinctive way the farewell discourses of Jesus; they appear as his testament and a synthesis of the core of his message. They are introduced by the washing of feet, in which Jesus’ redemptive ministry on behalf of a humanity needing purification is summed up in a gesture of humility. Jesus’ words end as a prayer, his priestly prayer, whose background exegetes have traced to the ritual of the Jewish feast of atonement. The significance of that feast and its rituals – the world’s purification and reconciliation with God – is fulfilled in Jesus’ prayer, a prayer which anticipates his Passion and transforms it into a prayer. The priestly prayer thus makes uniquely evident the perpetual mystery of Holy Thursday: the new priesthood of Jesus Christ and its prolongation in the consecration of the Apostles, in the incorporation of the disciples into the Lord’s priesthood. From this inexhaustibly profound text, I would like to select three sayings of Jesus which can lead us more fully into the mystery of Holy Thursday.

First, there are the words: “This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (Jn 17:3). Everyone wants to have life. We long for a life which is authentic, complete, worthwhile, full of joy. This yearning for life coexists with a resistance to death, which nonetheless remains unescapable. When Jesus speaks about eternal life, he is referring to real and true life, a life worthy of being lived. He is not simply speaking about life after death. He is talking about authentic life, a life fully alive and thus not subject to death, yet one which can already, and indeed must, begin in this world. Only if we learn even now how to live authentically, if we learn how to live the life which death cannot take away, does the promise of eternity become meaningful. But how does this happen? What is this true and eternal life which death cannot touch? We have heard Jesus’ answer: this is eternal life, that they may know you – God – and the one whom you have sent, Jesus Christ. Much to our surprise, we are told that life is knowledge. This means first of all that life is relationship. No one has life from himself and only for himself. We have it from others and in a relationship with others. If it is a relationship in truth and love, a giving and receiving, it gives fullness to life and makes it beautiful. But for that very reason, the destruction of that relationship by death can be especially painful, it can put life itself in question. Only a relationship with the One who is himself Life can preserve my life beyond the floodwaters of death, can bring me through them alive. Already in Greek philosophy we encounter the idea that man can find eternal life if he clings to what is indestructible – to truth, which is eternal. He needs, as it were, to be full of truth in order to bear within himself the stuff of eternity. But only if truth is a Person, can it lead me through the night of death. We cling to God – to Jesus Christ the Risen One. And thus we are led by the One who is himself Life. In this relationship we too live by passing through death, since we are not forsaken by the One who is himself Life.

But let us return to Jesus’s words – this is eternal life: that they know you and the One whom you have sent. Knowledge of God becomes eternal life. Clearly “knowledge” here means something more than mere factual knowledge, as, for example, when we know that a famous person has died or a discovery was made. Knowing, in the language of sacred Scripture, is an interior becoming one with the other. Knowing God, knowing Christ, always means loving him, becoming, in a sense, one with him by virtue of that knowledge and love. Our life becomes authentic and true life, and thus eternal life, when we know the One who is the source of all being and all life. And so Jesus’ words become a summons: let us become friends of Jesus, let us try to know him all the more! Let us live in dialogue with him! Let us learn from him how to live aright, let us be his witnesses! Then we become people who love and then we act aright. Then we are truly alive.

Twice in the course of the priestly prayer Jesus speaks of revealing God’s name. “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world” (v. 6). “I have made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them” (v. 26). The Lord is alluding here to the scene of the burning bush, when God, at Moses’ request, had revealed his name. Jesus thus means to say that he is bringing to fulfilment what began with the burning bush; that in him God, who had made himself known to Moses, now reveals himself fully. And that in doing so he brings about reconciliation; that the love with which God loves his Son in the mystery of the Trinity now draws men and women into this divine circle of love. But what, more precisely, does it mean to say that the revelation made from the burning bush is finally brought to completion, fully attains its purpose? The essence of what took place on Mount Horeb was not the mysterious word, the “name” which God had revealed to Moses, as a kind of mark of identification. To give one’s name means to enter into relationship with another. The revelation of the divine name, then, means that God, infinite and self-subsistent, enters into the network of human relationships; that he comes out of himself, so to speak, and becomes one of us, present among us and for us. Consequently, Israel saw in the name of God not merely a word steeped in mystery, but an affirmation that God is with us. According to sacred Scripture, the Temple is the dwelling-place of God’s name. God is not confined within any earthly space; he remains infinitely above and beyond the world. Yet in the Temple he is present for us as the One who can be called – as the One who wills to be with us. This desire of God to be with his people comes to completion in the incarnation of the Son. Here what began at the burning bush is truly brought to completion: God, as a Man, is able to be called by us and he is close to us. He is one of us, yet he remains the eternal and infinite God. His love comes forth, so to speak, from himself and enters into our midst. The mystery of the Eucharist, the presence of the Lord under the appearances of bread and wine, is the highest and most sublime way in which this new mode of God’s being-with-us takes shape. “Truly you are a God who is hidden, O God of Israel”, the prophet Isaiah had prayed (45:15). This never ceases to be true. But we can also say: Truly you are a God who is close, you are a God-with-us. You have revealed your mystery to us, you have shown your face to us. You have revealed yourself and given yourself into our hands… At this hour joy and gratitude must fill us, because God has shown himself, because he, infinite and beyond the grasp of our reason, is the God who is close to us, who loves us, and whom we can know and love.

The best-known petition of the priestly prayer is the petition for the unity of the disciples, now and yet to come: “I do not ask only on behalf of these – the community of the disciples gathered in the Upper Room – but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me, and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (v. 20ff.; cf. vv. 11 and 13). What exactly is the Lord asking for? First, he prays for his disciples, present and future. He peers into the distance of future history. He sees the dangers there and he commends this community to the heart of the Father. He prays to the Father for the Church and for her unity. It has been said that in the Gospel of John the Church is not present. Yet here she appears in her essential features: as the community of disciples who through the apostolic preaching believe in Jesus Christ and thus become one. Jesus prays for the Church to be one and apostolic. This prayer, then, is properly speaking an act which founds the Church. The Lord prays to the Father for the Church. She is born of the prayer of Jesus and through the preaching of the Apostles, who make known God’s name and introduce men and women into the fellowship of love with God. Jesus thus prays that the preaching of the disciples will continue for all time, that it will gather together men and women who know God and the one he has sent, his Son Jesus Christ. He prays that men and women may be led to faith and, through faith, to love. He asks the Father that these believers “be in us” (v. 21); that they will live, in other words, in interior communion with God and Jesus Christ, and that this inward being in communion with God may give rise to visible unity. Twice the Lord says that this unity should make the world believe in the mission of Jesus. It must thus be a unity which can be seen – a unity which so transcends ordinary human possibilities as to become a sign before the world and to authenticate the mission of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ prayer gives us the assurance that the preaching of the Apostles will never fail throughout history; that it will always awaken faith and gather men and women into unity – into a unity which becomes a testimony to the mission of Jesus Christ. But this prayer also challenges us to a constant examination of conscience. At this hour the Lord is asking us: are you living, through faith, in fellowship with me and thus in fellowship with God? Or are you rather living for yourself, and thus apart from faith? And are you not thus guilty of the inconsistency which obscures my mission in the world and prevents men and women from encountering God’s love? It was part of the historical Passion of Jesus, and remains part of his ongoing Passion throughout history, that he saw, and even now continues to see, all that threatens and destroys unity. As we meditate on the Passion of the Lord, let us also feel Jesus’ pain at the way that we contradict his prayer, that we resist his love, that we oppose the unity which should bear witness before the world to his mission.

At this hour, when the Lord in the most holy Eucharist gives himself, his body and his blood, into our hands and into our hearts, let us be moved by his prayer. Let us enter into his prayer and thus beseech him: Lord, grant us faith in you, who are one with the Father in the Holy Spirit. Grant that we may live in your love and thus become one, as you are one with the Father, so that the world may believe. Amen.

Christ, for our sakes, humbled himself, became obedient unto death. 1.IV.2010