RAYS OF MERCIFUL LOVE

Eucharistic Apostles of The Newsletter Spring 2008 www.thedivinemercy.org The MOMM Report: MOMM and Cenacles working Hand-in-Hand bear much Fruit Dave and Joan Maroney of Mother of Mercy Messengers cated souls stuck to the promise. They took cold showers for (MOMM) send out blessings, thanks, and congratulations a whole month, only to learn that the upcoming meeting to the Cenacles that have collaborated with them to pro- was postponed until the following month! Even so these mote and expand The Divine Mercy message and devotion brave souls stuck to their promise and continued to take in their parishes and communities. cold showers for another month! “It’s a win-win situation,” says Joan. “Cenacles reach out to MOMM for evangelization support and parish renewal events. Bringing MOMM to the commu- nity lends exposure to the Cenacles, and the events offer an excellent opportunity to recruit new mem- bers and develop additional Cenacles. This results in greater spiritual growth as well as corporal and spiritual within the community. The darkness fades a little more here and a little more lessen the misery of others” there, and soon Mercy reigns!” Mercy reigns? You might ask how Well, it usually takes commit- to ment and sacrifice, but the results are worth every bit of it. Here is an example from the Fall 2007 Tour that represents the kind of extraor- Dave and Joan Maroney of MOMM and some very dedicated Cenacle members! dinary merciful graces that flow. In Corydon, IN, a small group of parishioners felt called As you most likely guessed, the council eventually to join together for an in-home Bible study. The pastor sug- approved MOMM’s visit. Presentations were given to hun- gested they form a prayer group instead. With some research, dreds of the Catholic schoolchildren and also to the religious the group found that the EADM Cenacle formation pro- education students. Parents and teachers were amazed at the gram incorporated both Bible study and prayer, and more! It response from the children. The Church was full for the was perfect. The group formed, and the members flourished. adult program. The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Before long, four Cenacles developed in the tri-church were in full regalia. parish and with them, grew the desire to share The Divine Of the 220 or so in attendance, about 100 sought Mercy with the entire community. They gathered together in the Sacrament of Penance that night! Penitents and priests to meet with the pastor to discuss the potential for a visit stayed as long as it took, and no one complained or got from MOMM. As long as the parish council agreed, the weary. Several inquired about joining a Cenacle. Everyone pastor said he would support the plans. So now it was up to received a Divine Mercy holy card, prayed the Chaplet of is Love that seeks the council. Divine Mercy, and knelt before Jesus in the Blessed Each Cenacle member committed to praying and making Sacrament. Diaries, booklets, DVDs, and CDs marched out a variety of sacrifices for not only for approval of the event, the door in the hands of those inspired to dive deeper into but for the success of it too. Then they agreed in a mortifi- Divine Mercy and to share it with others. cation they would each undertake — cold showers until the This is just one of more than 50 stories MOMM could next council meeting. They all agreed that the promise was share from 2007. Some had even more outwardly dramatic to be kept confidentially amongst themselves. results, but none demonstrated better the love, dedication, Checking the calendar, the group learned the council and perseverance of an entire group for such an extended “Me rcy would not be meeting for an entire month. Yet these dedi- period of time. s HOUSTON, TX WYNN VALE, Sally Flowers wrote CENACLES’ UPDATE SOUTH AUSTRALIA and told us: Chris Slagter wrote and told us: “On St. Maria Faustina’s Feast Day, October 5, 2007, the Eucharistic “It has been five years since our group commenced, and it has been Apostles of The Divine Mercy in Houston, TX, sponsored their 2nd very difficult without a spiritual director. We actually prayed to and asked annual city-wide Induction Ceremony in The Divine Mercy Chapel at St. the Venerable Servant of God Father Sopocko (who was St. Faustina’s spiritual director) to be our spiritual director and felt the differ- ence. We have recently been blessed that our new parish priest, Father John Cooper, is supporting our group and has allowed us to place a large Divine Mercy Image in our parish. “Thank you for your newsletter and for sending the certificates. It real- ly means a lot to our members to know that they are a part of Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy.

Laurence Parish in Sugar Land, TX. The former Pastor, Fr. John Weyer, built this beautiful chapel in 1997. The Induction Ceremony was a beau- tiful and moving event. Father Weyer celebrated the Mass. The evening was filled with awe as everyone lit their candles and made their commit- ment before God to grow in their desire to serve Him in this special mis- sion as a Cenacle. Lee Bowers closed the evening with a heartfelt medita- tion and then presented Fr. John with a beautiful Divine Mercy Image “I have gone back to work several days a week in an Aged Care Home. from the Cenacles. Lee coordinates the Divine Mercy Cenacles in the I really love the work and the residents, and it is a wonderful chance to talk Archdiocese of Galveston and Houston. to those who are sick and dying about our precious Savior’s love and mercy. “We are also pleased to announce a new Cenacle has formed at Fr. You will note from our applicants that we have been blessed to have a John Weyer’s parish, St. Vincent de Paul in Houston. Capuchin, Brother Albin, in our group. He is 80 years old and really loves This group formed this past summer with a great zeal to know the Lord the Diary of St Faustina. Our parish is a very large Italian parish, and we in His great love and mercy.” are now attracting members who are able to spread The Divine Mercy s among the Italian community. “The message is slowly spreading in South Australia, and I have been SANTA MARIA, CA contacted by people in country towns who wish to start up Divine Mercy Patricia Leine wrote and told us: prayer groups. I have given several talks in these towns, and our group was “Our EADM group able to help with Divine Mercy leaflets, prayer cards, etc., to help get them at St. Mary of the started. One of these was a lady in her 80s who traveled for several hours Assumption Catholic to come to our Divine Mercy Feast Day celebration. “Some of our group members also attended an ecumenical vigil held Church has been active on the steps of Parliament House to pray for an end to abortion. We also for three years and now assist every year at the Royal Adelaide Show on the “Great Expectations” consists of 12 members. stand, which promotes life. Many of our members are heavily involved in We were blessed a few our parish, especially in pastoral care, visiting the sick and dying in nurs- years ago when Fr. ing homes and hospitals. Our Merciful Savior is also bringing members Seraphim Michalenko, from other areas so they are able to spread Divine Mercy in their parishes. MIC, and Dr. Bryan “The photograph I have attached is one taken at the farewell for Anne Thatcher of EADM Boutros, who is in the front row dressed in blue and white (Our Lady’s col- came to our parish and ors) and holding flowers. Anne had received the news that her cancer had spoke on Divine Mercy. spread and was terminal, so she decided to return to Sydney to be with her “In January 2007, we started the First Friday Hour of Divine Mercy family. She died a few months ago. When she was very sick, she found with in our parish. It is well attended and has been comfort in The Divine Mercy, and our group members were a great sup- well received. port. Anne was a great asset to our group and had an almost encyclopedic “On March 1-2, 2008, we held a parish Lenten Mission in our parish knowledge of the Catholic faith. We miss her dearly. hall with Fr. Peter Prusakiewicz, CSMA, from Poland. It served as an “Thank you for all the wonderful work you do. You inspire us! The excellent prelude to our Divine Mercy preparation and Feast Day Cenacles on EWTN are wonderful and give us an idea of what other Celebration in March, 2008. Admission was free. groups are doing. Although our work is very small by comparison, I believe “We have been very blessed in our efforts. We know that God is that our Merciful Savior will continue to guide us. We only have to look Mercy and Love, since we are living proof and recipients of His graces and at the Diary of St Faustina to see the difficulties she faced; she has been a blessings. Pray for us as we pray for all of you! s great inspiration to us all! I praise God for the EADM Apostolate!” s 2 The Divine Mercy Story … From The Beginning A new book published by Marian Press traces the story of the message reflection by popes, scholars, and of Divine Mercy from Adam and Eve right up through the life of St. saints alike. Faustina, and the consecration of the world to The Divine Mercy by Pope An added feature of this book is John Paul II. The book is entitled Divine Mercy: A Guide from Genesis to that it is arranged with study questions Benedict XVI, by Catholic theologian Dr. Robert Stackpole, Director of the and discussion questions at the end of John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy, and noted international evangelist each chapter, making it user-friendly of the Divine Mercy message. for prayer groups and study groups. In 260 pages, Dr. Stackpole reflects on the theme of Divine Mercy as This makes it an ideal resource, for the central theme of both the Old and New Testaments in the Bible, the example, for parish study groups wish- theology of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, and the life and writ- ing to dig into the message of Divine ings of many of the greatest saints of the Church. On the cover, the book Mercy and Eucharistic Apostles bears the endorsement of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, who writes, “This Cenacles who have already gone is a book that disciples of Divine Mercy have been waiting for!” through their formation manuals, and In an interview published online at www.thedivinemercy.org, Dr. now want to explore Divine Mercy in Stackpole explained: a different way. To order a copy, call I really wanted to show that the message of Divine Mercy is some- the customer service line at the Marian thing that the Church has been unfolding and developing from age to Helpers Center: 1-800-462-7426, or age, deepening our understanding and appreciation of this central mys- visit The Divine Mercy Website at www.thedivinemercy.org, in the Gift tery of our faith. We are now the beneficiaries of all these centuries of Shop section. If you call, ask for EP8-AGGB. The price is $14.95. s

Divine Mercy: A Guide from Genesis to Benedict XVI “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame Exclusive excerpt: of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the Chapter One: What Is Divine Mercy? Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. For the efore we can walk through the story of God’s merciful love for the B Lord has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, human race, we need to have some knowledge of what “Divine Mercy” like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a actually means. The phrase presents us with a semantic problem right brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will from the start. After all, the word “mercy” in contemporary English has a gather you. In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face very restricted meaning. It is usually used to refer to an act of pardon, as from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on in “Let me off, judge; have mercy!” or “He threw himself on the mercy you, says the Lord, your Redeemer. of the court.” In the Catholic tradition of theology, however, mercy means more than just the cancellation of punishment, far more than that. “For this is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the Divine Mercy is God’s love reaching down to meet the needs and over- waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have come the miseries of His creatures. The Bible, the teachings of St. Thomas sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke Aquinas, and Pope John Paul II all assure us that this is so. you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, The Old Testament provides us with many images of human misery but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my and of God in His mercy seeking to relieve it. One of most poignant covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who images of such misery is that of a woman suffering the aching loneliness has compassion on you” (Is 54:1-10). of having no husband and no children — of being completely bereft in the world. This is the spiritual plight of all of us without God. It was used by In the Old Testament, there are two principle Hebrew words that we the Old Testament prophets to signify Israel being reduced to utter mis- usually translate as mercy. First of all, there is the word hesed, which means ery because of her sins and unfaithfulness to the Lord. But this is not the “steadfast love, covenant love.” Someone who has the attribute of hesed is end of the story. The Lord Yahweh Himself has compassion on the someone you can always count on, someone who never lets you down. woman by marrying her and making her fruitful. He reaches down to the According to the Catholic Biblical scholar John L. Mckenzie, the word woman in her misery and raises her up. Where there was only despair, hesed is often used in Hebrew in connection with other words which bring loneliness, and heartache come joy, fruitfulness, and abiding love. out its meaning, such as hesed-emet (steadfast, dependable love), hesed- An inspiring example of such steadfast divine love relieving human mis- sedekah (righteous, holy love) and hesed-yesua (rescuing, saving love). In a ery is found in the Old Testament prophet known as Second Isaiah. As he remarkable endnote to his encyclical Dives in Misericordia (Rich in Mercy) hesed writes, he is encouraging the Jews who are exiles in Babylon not to give , Pope John Paul II teaches that contains the meaning of faithfulness to oneself, to one’s own promises and commitments to others up hope that God in His compassion will deliver them: (Thus, Professor Scott Hahn’s popular book on the Bible is entitled The “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into Father Who Keeps His Promises). The Holy Father writes: singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in travail! For When in the Old Testament the word hesed is used of the Lord, the children of the desolate one will be more than the children this always occurs in connection with the covenant that God of her that is married, says the Lord. Enlarge the place of your established with Israel. This covenant was, on God’s part, a gift tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; and a grace for Israel ... God had made a commitment to hold not back, lengthen your cords and strengthen your respect it ... [this divine hesed] showed itself as what it was at stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, the beginning, that is, as a love that gives, love more powerful and your descendants will possess the nations and will people than betrayal, grace stronger than sin (no. 52). the desolate cities. continued on page 6

5 ANOTHER MERCY “” by Rebecca Blankman For many years, I have been spreading the message of Divine Mercy and helped get the Feast Day celebration established in my local parish. However, the words, “Jesus, I Trust in You,” had a deeper meaning the day I received a phone call from my son in August 2006; he told me that my granddaughter Kassandra’s husband of only five days was seriously ill and perhaps already dead. I told him I was on my way to the Intensive Care Unit and rushed to be with her at her husband’s bedside. I prayed The Divine Mercy Chaplet and held the Image of The Divine Mercy. I asked Our Lady and St. Faustina to intercede for all the grace need- ed to get through the situation. You see, Kassandra had not been raised in any faith and was bap- tized as a baby by me. Because her parents were divorced and her mother wanted little to do with me, I didn’t see Kassandra as a child much at all. In the ICU, Kassandra saw me praying and asked, “What are you doing, Grandma?” I told her that I was praying a prayer on the beads to the Merciful Jesus. She replied, “I need one of your !” Her father added, “Now if Grandma gives you a rosary, you must pray with it, and not put it around your neck. It is not a necklace!” Kassandra and I went into the ICU, and I sprinkled the room with Holy Water, as well as on the body of her “lifeless” husband. I also put a relic of the True Cross on his chest, and prayed for his healing. Kassandra and I prayed another Chaplet. Time seemed to stand still and we found ourselves praying the Chaplet over and over. The ICU nurse told me that Brian would probably not survive. She said his fists were closed. She had seen that many times — and the On day seven, Brian was released from the hospital. I met them and patients never survived. the three of us went to the local grotto of in Every time I would visit Brian in the ICU over the next two days, I thanksgiving. We prayed The Divine Mercy Chaplet and thanked God would find Kassandra praying the Chaplet over and over. On the third for His mercy. day, Brian came out of his coma and began to breathe on his own. He lis- Kassandra and Brian removed bad influences from their lives, and tened intently as Kassandra told him how the Jesus of Mercy saved him Brian found work immediately. One year later, Kassandra gave birth to a from an early death. This was especially amazing since Brian, like my beautiful baby boy. He is my first great-grandchild! Thank God for His granddaughter, had not grown up in a Christian household and knew unconditional love! He loves us no matter what and no matter where we nothing of Jesus! are in our stage of life. s

Excerpt, continued In the New Testament, the Greek word that is usually translated as “mercy” is the word eleos. It can also be translated as loving As we have seen in our opening example, in a sense, the whole expe- kindness or tender compassion. The Greek word comes from a root word rience of Israel with God is an experience of His hesed-love (Is 54:10): meaning oil that is poured out. Thus, when the Church sings in her litur- “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my stead- gy the Greek words Kyrie Eleison and Christie Eleison, she is praying that fast love [hesed] shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall the merciful love of God will be poured out upon her children, like holy not be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you.” As John L. oil from above. According to the ancient Fathers of the Church, the Mckenzie has written: “The entire history of the dealing of Yahweh with Church herself was born from the wounded side of Christ, when out of Israel can be summed up as hesed; it is the dominating motive which His heart there poured out blood and water, symbolic of all the graces of appears in his deeds, and the motive which gives unity and intelligibility the two chief Sacraments, Baptism and the Eucharist (Jn 19:34). In short, to all His dealings with men” (Dictionary of the Bible). eleos is God’s love poured out upon His people. The second most common word for God’s mercy in the Old In the Latin tradition, the principal word for mercy is misericordia, Testament is the Hebrew word rachamim: tender, compassionate love, a which means, literally “miserable heart.” Fr. George Kosicki, CSB, the love that springs from pity. Someone who has rahamim is someone who great Divine Mercy evangelist, once summed up the meaning of this feels for your plight and is moved with compassion to help you. Latin word as follows: misericordia means “having a pain in your heart Rachamim is often used in conjunction with hesed. It comes from a root for the pains of others, and taking pains to do something about their word rechem, which means a mother’s womb. Thus, there is a special inti- pain.” macy and responsiveness about this kind of love, and a special concern for The most comprehensive statement by the on the the sufferings of others. The Holy Father sees hesed as, in a sense, a mas- meaning of Divine Mercy can be found in Pope John Paul II’s encyclical culine form of love (steadfast, dependable, righteous, being true to one- letter Dives in Misericordia (Rich in Mercy, 1981). In that encyclical, the self and to one’s promises), while rachamim is more feminine (tender, Holy Father made two very important statements about mercy. First, he responsive, compassionate, like a mother responding in love to the suf- wrote, “Mercy is love’s second name.” Secondly, he taught that mercy is ferings of her child). “the greatest attribute of God.” … s

6 06510035 CENACLES’UPDATE, continued GREEN, OH Healthcare Conference Chris Slaughter wrote and told us: Approaching! “Several years ago, a friend gave me a Divine Mercy medal, and a couple of years later, I was introduced to the Divine Mercy Image. The Nurse Marie Romagnano, Founder of words, “Jesus, I Trust in You!” came to be a beacon of hope for me as later Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy, I was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer. Somehow, the message has announced that this year’s Conference, gave me hope and strength to endure painful surgery and the knowledge “Spirituality and Bioethics in Medicine — that the cancer had spread to my bones and lungs. The Great Debate”, will be held April 29- “I started a Cenacle in our city of Green, OH, and the group of 20 30, 2008, at Holy Cross College in has been meeting weekly. Our pastor, Father Dave Durkee, has approved Worcester, MA. Additional information monthly Eucharistic Adoration with singing of the Chaplet; this is in and online registration is available at www.nursesfordivinemercy.org addition to our regular Eucharistic Adoration, which takes place two Marie is excited about the lineup of speakers and the days a week. The Adoration and singing of the Chaplet have made for Conference. “We have a list of tremendous speakers on a variety of such an uplifting hour; it brings tears of joy each month to the Cenacle topics critical to the debate,” she says, “and we hope to enrich the members. lives of healthcare attendees, so that they may be better stewards of “I never thought I would say having cancer is a gift, yet being part of God’s mercy in the workplace. Attendees may be eligible for con- the Divine Mercy Cenacle is one of the many gifts I have received. I am tinuing education credits, and I encourage healthcare professionals so grateful for my friends in the Cenacle and I know that the mercy of to attend this unique and Spirit-filled Conference!” s Jesus is with each of us. “Dania, a member of the group, added that, ‘Being introduced to the Diary and the EADM ministry has profoundly changed my life. I have experienced a deeper understanding and connection with the love and mercy of Jesus Christ than I had ever known possible. This has opened up my heart to touching others in their lives through my work, prayers, and friendships. Most of all, my understanding now, through the life of St. Faustina, that my failures and imperfections do not keep me from the mercy of our Lord, has given me hope, which carries me through the challenges of the day.’

“Another member Jan commented, ‘The Chaplet of Divine Mercy has been a favorite of mine, and the first time I prayed it a feeling of cleanliness completely covered me. Psalm 52:2 has been a frequent prayer, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spir- it within me’ (Ps 51: 10). “Lastly, another member Vicki commented, ‘My life has greatly changed since joining the Cenacle. After many difficult years due to a failed marriage and subsequent health problems, I felt an urge to reach out to those hurting like me. I met a wonderful man and remarried; within the first year, he went into complete kidney failure. Since join- ing the Cenacle, I have learned to place my trust in God! I am blessed to have been enlightened by St. Faustina and through the EADM Cenacle formation program.’” s

We would be happy to receive a letter and photographs from you about your EADM Cenacle! Please keep your letter to no more than 400 words. Your letter may be edited for clarity and space. Send it to: EADM, 10016 Park Place Avenue, Riverview, FL 33569. 3 A New Direction by Bryan Thatcher

I wanted to let my fellow EADM members know that, in 2008 and beyond, I will be dedicating time and energy to assist- ing Fr. Leszek Czelnusiak, MIC, in the building of a medical complex in Kibeho, Rwanda, Africa. EADM assisted Fr. Leszek by shipping an 18-foot two-ton statue of The Divine Mercy to Kibeho several years ago. Kibeho is the site of a Church-approved , which occurred there more than 25 years ago. There is a dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows near the apparition site and, on a nearby hill, is the Marian Fathers’ mission. They have a res- idence, a Eucharistic Adoration chapel, and a pilgrim house with 14 guest rooms. Recently, they have started construction of a conference hall.

Fr. Leszek’s project calls for a small clinic/hospital, malnutrition and HIV/AIDS units, residences for healthcare workers, and a kitchen and laundry facility. So far, we have $7000 of the $20,000 needed to purchase the land. Once we have purchased the land, we can start building in phases. My dream is for EADM to ‘adopt’ the HIV/AIDS facility and raise monies to care for Rwandans afflicted by AIDS. I am very excited about assisting Fr. Leszek and ask for your support. With God, all things are possible! s

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