True Devotion to Mary l Pope Leo speaks to U.S. youth l NHL Rosary ‘O MY JESUS’ 95 Years of Divine Mercy Inspiration and news from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception Marian.org Spring 2026
Enroll a loved one today! 1-800-462-7426 Marian.org/b69/eg Your offering helps support the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. B69-AE26 Easter Enrollment Gold foiled All Year: Have your loved ones remembered in prayer from this Easter to the next. They will share in the spiritual benefits of the Holy Masses, prayers, and good works of the Marian priests and brothers. Send one of these cards to announce your gift. Three Masses on Easter: Send your loved ones these exclusive cards to announce that they will be remembered in the three Holy Masses on Easter at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. B69-EG262 Gold foiled There is no charge for us to send you these cards. An offering is requested when you use the cards. Share the Glorious Gift of Easter B69-EG261 Gold foiled B69-EG263 Spot UV
AMH Director/PublisHer: Fr. Mark Baron, MIC — “Father Joseph, MIC” executive eDitor: Dr. Joe McAleer Designer: Andrew Leeco Writers, AssistAnt eDitors: Chris Sparks, Julia Rose AMH generAl ProMoter: Br. Andrew R. Mączyński, MIC Vol. 83, No. 1 Spring 2026 9 Merciful Jubilees Mission Statement Marian Helper is intended to serve members of the Association of Marian Helpers (AMH), a spiritual benefit society of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The magazine seeks to provide spiritual nourishment, education about the Catholic faith, and information about the mission and good works of the Marians. It also provides information about Association services and presents opportunities to support the mission and good works of the Congregation. Marian Helper is published quarterly by the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. It is sent free of charge to active members of the Association. Printed in the USA with ecclesiastical approval. Copyright © 2026 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. All rights reserved. Send all correspondence to: Association of Marian Helpers, Editorial Dept., Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA 01263. Email: [email protected] Website: Marian.org The Jubilee Year of Hope has ended, but for the Marian Fathers, 2026 is a year of twin jubilees. It’s been 90 years since our Lord gave Sr. Faustina the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. And Feb. 22 marks the 95th anniversary of the appearance of Jesus to Sr. Faustina. Celebrate the twin jubilees by praying the Chaplet daily! 3 Fr. Joseph Writes 4 Marian Helpers in Action 6 Fr. Joseph’s Picks 7 Notes from Rome 20 On Eden Hill 31 Outstanding Helpers 33 Graces Received 36 From the Vaults Departments In good times and in bad, the foster father of Jesus is always there to intercede and inspire. The Lordship of St. Joseph Live Lent well 8 Ash Wednesday begins on Feb. 18, and Marian Press offers the perfect daily prayer companion. White Socks & Wordle In an historic first, Pope Leo XIV had a wide-ranging virtual conversation with America’s youth. 15 Page 18 Father Chris Alar, MIC, urges all those consecrated to Mary to get to know St. Louis de Montfort. To Jesus, through Mary 22 Our own ‘Champion’ Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle shares the only Church-approved Marian apparition in the U.S. 24 To mark America’s 250th birthday, our nation will be consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Sacred Heart & the USA 26 The 21st annual conference will be held April 29-May 1 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. ‘Mercy and Spirituality for Healthcare Professionals’ 27 On the Cover: Chapel of St. Jozefa, Sanctuary of Divine Mercy, Kraków, Poland (Pawel Mazur/Alamy) 9 95 years of Divine Mercy 12 ‘The Picture of the Merciful Christ’ 14 Chaplet Challenge A tragic accident inspired a father-in-law to spread devotion to Mary around the NHL. Rosaries on ice 28
Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception The Marian Fathers are a Congregation of nearly 500 priests and brothers in 20 countries around the world. We support the Holy Father and embrace the official teachings of the Catholic Church in our special calling to: ● Spread devotion to Mary as the Immaculate Conception. ● Offer our lives for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, especially the victims of war and disease. ● Operate publishing apostolates and assist where the need is greatest in parishes, shrines, and missions. ● Promote the Divine Mercy message and devotion. ● Organize people of good will to work with and through us to bring Christ everywhere. Association of Marian Helpers — Join us! Established in 1925, the Association of Marian Helpers is a spiritual benefit society that prayerfully and financially supports the priests and brothers of the Congregation of Marian Fathers. Your enrollment means that, by a decree of the Holy See, you share in these graces: ● A daily Mass offered for all Marian Helpers. ● A share in the prayers, good works, and merits of the Marian priests and brothers around the world. ● A special Mass offered on feast days of our Savior and His Blessed Mother. ● A monthly Mass on each First Friday and each First Saturday. ● A Mass offered for deceased members on All Souls’ Day. ● The perpetual Novena to the Divine Mercy. l Deepen your commitment of prayer and support by joining one of our three spiritually nourishing prayer clubs: Marian.org/clubs l Support a particular ministry: Marian.org/give l Arrange a special gift of stock, a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA, a grant from your donor-advised fund, a gift through your will or trust, or annuity: Giving.Marian.org Call 1-800-671-2020 to make a gift by phone or for assistance. Free online help for your will, visit Marian.org/will. A sample form of bequest to the Marians is: I give and bequeath to the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. (Tax ID #20-8599030), Stockbridge, MA 01262, ____% of my adjusted gross estate (or $_______, or a specific asset) to be used for its religious and educational purposes. Marian Helpers Center Stockbridge, Massachusetts Headquarters and publishing center for the Association of Marian Helpers. 1-800-462-7426 National Shrine of The Divine Mercy (413) 298-3931 For pilgrimages: (413) 298-1119 ShrineOfDivineMercy.org Mercy Apostolates Learn about our lay ministries: Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy Dr. Bryan Thatcher TheDivineMercy.org/eadm 1-877-380-0727 Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy Marie Romagnano, MSN, RN, CCM TheDivineMercy.org/hpdm 1-866-895-3236 John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy Dr. Robert Stackpole TheDivineMercy.org/JPII 1-866-895-3236 Mother of Mercy Messengers Joan and Dave Maroney TheDivineMercy.org/momm 1-830-634-7765 Evangelization Team Invite the Marians to speak at your parish. (413) 298-1349 [email protected] Intercessory Prayerline Send us prayer intentions. 1-800-804-3823 Marian.org/prayer Websites Marian.org TheDivineMercy.org ShopMercy.org DivineMercyPlus.org Who We Are Other ways to support God’s mission Sign-up is easy: Visit MICPrayers.org Visit marian.org/social 2 Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org
Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org 3 Father Joseph Writes Among the many people who attended the congress was Archbishop (now Blessed) George Matulaitis. Blessed George was already well-acquainted with the U.S. and the religious-friendly principles upon which she had been established. In his work of renovating and saving the Marians, Bl. George looked to the U.S. and the freedoms that she provided as a safe place where the Marian Fathers could expand and more easily live out their mission, unhindered by any anti-religious government pressures. When he returned to Chicago for his second visit in 1926, the community in America had steadily grown to 25 members. But little could Bl. George have know how much his decision to expand westward was going to have on the history of the universal Church. For in 1939 another Marian from Eastern Europe would look to the United States as a place of refuge. It was Fr. Joseph Jarzebowski, MIC, a Marian priest from Poland, who sought to escape the tyranny of the Nazis and the Soviet Communists. While prayerfully trusting in Divine Mercy, Fr. Jarzebowksi made a vow to God that if he was able to make it to our shores he would promise to spread the Divine Mercy message and devotion for the rest of his life. Providentially, he would arrive safely at the Marian House in Washington, D.C. where those Marians agreed to help him to fulfill his promise to the Merciful Savior. Years later, it would be Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC — who played a decisive role in the canonization of St. Faustina and in the establishment of the Feast of Divine Mercy Sunday — along with other Marians from the U.S. who were instrumental in bringing the Divine Mercy message into the mainstream of the Church’s devotional life. We see how important the U.S. has been to the development of the Marian Fathers and to their eventual work of spreading the message and devotion to the Divine Mercy. Think of all the souls who have especially been touched and converted by learning the truth about God’s unfathomable mercy or who have been drawn closer to Jesus by learning about the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary. By God’s providence, the U.S. has played an indispensable role in all of it. In light of this and since we will be celebrating the 250th birthday of the U.S. this year, we decided the theme for Divine Mercy Sunday will be “USA 250: One Nation Under God’s Mercy.” We appreciate that all the blessings of our great country have come from God’s unfathomable mercy. But because we are a nation made up of sinners, we also still need to recognize where we — as a country — fall short in serving Him so that we can repent and change as a country. For God and not military might nor economic power is the true protector and sustainer of a nation. God withdrew His protection and chastised the Israelites because they sinned and turned away from Him to the worship of idols. Unfortunately, there is a lot of idol worshipping occurring in our land today. So as we look toward Divine Mercy Sunday and our nation’s 250th birthday, we can reflect that, in these times, we don’t just need to be one nation under God, but more specifically one nation under God’s Mercy. UNDER GOD’S MERCY “Father Joseph, MIC,” is the honorary title of the director of the Association of Marian Helpers, currently Fr. Mark Baron, MIC. Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet live with Fr. Mark every Friday at 3 p.m. ET on Instagram, Facebook, and DivineMercyPlus.org. In June 1926 the city of Chicago hosted the 28th International Eucharistic Congress. Even with a strong Protestant culture already in place, this event — where more than 850,000 people came together for the closing Mass — really highlighted how large and well-organized the Catholic community had grown in the United States. Blessed George Matulaitis
Hand of God Marian Helpers in Action By Marian Friedrichs I n 2002, Jim Dotzler, a 27-year-old life-long Catholic, performed “the greatest act of trust in God” of his life so far when he picked up the phone to call a mental health hotline. Jim knew that no matter who his future therapist may be or what kind of treatment he may receive, he was sure to be told the one thing he most dreaded and needed to hear: He must stop drinking. Jim graduated from James Madison University in 1997. 4 Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org That was a frightening prospect, but Jim was certain that he could not fight this battle alone any longer. As he made up his mind to call for human help, Jim’s heart called out to God, “If I can’t drink anymore, how are You going to calm me down?” Angry with God For so long, alcohol had been present in Jim’s life disguised as a solution. Jim suffers from hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating in his hands. As a student, Jim’s condition caused his hands to stick to paper and his handwriting to smudge, and he avoided shaking hands whenever possible. Chronic anxiety made the sweating worse. Jim had been raised by “loving, faithful Catholic parents,” and he prayed fervently for help. But at Mass, the priest’s prayer for God’s protection “from all anxiety” merely reminded Jim that he still was not healed, and that shortly he would be faced yet again with the Sign of Peace and expected to extend his cold wet hand to those around him. Jim became angry with God, and being at Mass grew more and more intensely uncomfortable. Gradually, he stopped going. Then, as a young teen, Jim discovered alcohol. When he drank, his hands would become warm and dry like other
people’s, and he could finally relax. It seemed that the relief Jim had sought for so long in prayer could finally be his with the opening of a can or bottle. Dangerous path The discovery led Jim down a dangerous path, fraught with serious risks and increasingly powerful chemical dependence. Wanting to move forward in life, Jim was only stumbling in the dark, struggling to keep his footing. Finally, he found himself in the dust, unable to rise on his own. When Jesus appeared to St. Faustina, He seemed to step out of the shadows in her cell, bearing all light before Him in the rays of mercy that flowed from His Heart. Today, when Jim Dotzler contemplates the Divine Mercy Image, “I see the black hole I used to be in, and Jesus, the Light, coming to lift me out.” Jim could only struggle helplessly in the trap of addiction until, he says, “Jesus came into the black hole of mental illness, blessing me, healing me.” Finding peace First, there was the moment when Jim knew he had no choice anymore but to call for help. Next came the anguished prayer that was a challenge and a plea: “How are You going to calm me down?” And then, there was mercy. One day, not long after making contact with a therapist, Jim came across the sung Divine Chaplet on EWTN. “This is different,” he thought. “This is beautiful.” This, he quickly realized, was God’s response. This was how the Lord was going to calm him down. Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet gave Jim a kind of peace that no amount of drinking ever had. Jim returned to full communion with the Church, this time “with an adult faith,” fed by prayer and the Sacraments. In 2006, he entered the seminary. During his two years there, Jim spent many hours in Eucharistic Adoration, where he especially loved to pray the Chaplet. “Jesus was remaking me every day,” he recalls. Circumstance, not identity After Jim discerned that the priesthood was not his vocation, he felt called to the married state and began dating, but his hyperhidrosis continued to make him unwilling to touch other people. In prayer, however, Jim learned that his condition was not his identity but simply a circumstance. It was a cross designed to bring him closer to God, not away from human relationships. Through a Catholic dating website, Jim met his wife, Jackie. Married since 2009, they are Marian Helpers who, with their three children, make an annual pilgrimage to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, from which the family has received “so much fruit.” Medication, therapy, diet, and exercise have helped Jim to manage his anxiety and greatly reduce the symptoms of hyperhidrosis. By far the greatest agent of change in his life, however, has been the power of God through the Divine Mercy devotion. “It’s been life-changing,” Jim says. “I don’t even want to think about what my life would have been without it.” Today, Jim is eager to share the story of how Jesus came to his rescue and “to bring the Divine Mercy message to people who are experiencing what I was experiencing.” By testifying to the transformation Jesus has wrought in his life, Jim hopes to encourage others to find healing in a life nourished by prayer and the Sacraments and illuminated by the rays of Divine Mercy, which alone can penetrate the darkness of sin and light the sinner’s way to Heaven. Jim could only struggle helplessly in the trap of addiction until, he says, ‘Jesus came into the black hole of mental illness, blessing me, healing me.’ Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org 5 Jackie and Jim on their wedding day, 2009.
Visit ShopMercy.org/b69 or call 1-800-462-7426. Father Joseph’s Picks In the early months of the year, we pass from winter into spring, from Christmas to ordinary time before plunging into the long desert of Lent to purify and prepare ourselves to receive the graces of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday. Here are some resources to help you make this pilgrimage. By Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC and Scott L. Smith, Jr. The Holy Family serves as the pattern and model for marriage and family, demonstrating what these are, as well as the correct understanding of masculinity and fatherhood, femininity and motherhood, babies and children. God knew the great confusion and diabolical social messiness that would occur in modern times. This is why we need another 33 Day consecration book to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. They’re the blueprint and model for happiness and holiness. $16.95. B69-HF33D 33 DAYS TO THE HOLY FAMILY: CONSECRATION TO JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH NEW! Lent is a pilgrimage through the spiritual desert on the long road to Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday. Draw strength and encouragement for the journey from the Scriptures with this Lenten devotional. Read just one page a day to help prepare your heart to receive profound graces. $6.95. B69-LD26 OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD: DAILY LENTEN MEDITATIONS FROM ASH WEDNESDAY THROUGH DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY, 2026 True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, first published in 1843, is considered to be the greatest single book on the Blessed Virgin Mary ever written, and served as the basis for the international Marian Press bestseller 33 Days to Morning Glory. Our Marian Fathers’ Classic edition includes insightful commentary by Dr. Robert Stackpole designed to help you better understand St. Louis de Montfort, imitate its author’s love for Our Lady, and allow its lifechanging teachings to transform the way you live your Christian faith. To Jesus through Mary! $16.95. B69-METDM TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY: THE MARIAN FATHERS’ EDITION OF TREATISE ON THE TRUE DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN NEW! 6 Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org By Emily Stimpson Chapman Here are the stories of 12 wineries in Italy, France, and Spain, many former or current monasteries, whose existence have been shaped by the Catholic faith. Hear the stories told about the cellars where the bottles age, and pray as the men and women who first grew the grapes once prayed, or still do! In each, the history first written by the Benedictines, Cistercians, Carthusians, Franciscans, and more, lives on. Hardcover, color photos. $34.95. B69-SWBK SACRED WINE: THE HOLY HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF CATHOLIC VINTNERS NEW! NEW! e e
Notes from Rome By the Most Rev. Joe Roesch, MIC The next day, Thanksgiving, Pope Leo left Rome for an apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon. In Turkey, he observed the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea which took place in 325 A.D. It was the first universal or worldwide council of bishops, which had been called for by the Emperor Constantine to decide on important matters along with the pope. Christians had been persecuted in the Roman Empire since the time of Christ. Just 12 years before this Council, Constantine and another emperor had issued an edict that finally gave Christians legal status and relief from the years of persecution. In 380 A.D., Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire — quite a change. The Council of Nicaea was convoked especially to resolve a major theological controversy of the time. There was a debate about the nature of Jesus. Was He truly God like the Father? One side asserted that only God the Father was eternal and that the Son of God had been created by the Father at some point. Was the Son therefore subordinate to the Father? The legates of the pope at the time, Sylvester I, along with the bishops resolved the controversy at that first council by formulating the Nicene Creed. It was later expanded at the First Council of Constantinople in 381. We continue to recite the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed every Sunday during Mass. Why is this important? It preserves Christ’s divinity. If Jesus was not truly God, how could He be our Savior? In the Creed, we proclaim that Jesus is “Light from Light, true God from true God.” We also proclaim that Jesus is not a mere creature like us, brought into being out of nothing. Jesus Christ is “begotten, not made.” He is truly the Son of God. He is “consubstantial with the Father.” Understanding the truths of our faith — about the Holy Trinity and about the humanity and the divinity of Christ— are things that the Church has been coming to understand on a deeper level from the very beginning. Through the centuries, there have been heresies and, therefore, theological debates and councils needed to clarify matters. In honor of the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, Pope Leo issued an apostolic letter, In unitate fidei (In the unity of faith). He hopes that his voyage and the celebration of this anniversary will bring us closer to Christian unity, especially with the Orthodox Church. It is worth reading. In it, he mentions another, longer document by the International Theological Commission: “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour — the 1700th Anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325-2025).” This gives a synthesis of our faith and reminds us that the Creed is a wonderful resource for rediscovering the truths of our faith. The document is around 70 pages and would be wonderful for an adult formation group in a parish to read in stages and discuss together. Our faith cannot just remain on the page; we must live it. Jesus is the model for each of us. We are called to live like He lived. We want to have a relationship with God the Father like Jesus and to offer ourselves for others as Jesus did for us. Let us thank God for the great gift of our faith and revive in our hearts the fire of our love for Jesus Christ! LIGHT FROM LIGHT I recently had the honor of meeting Pope Leo XIV. I told him that the members of our Congregation and our Marian Helpers are praying for him. He said, “Thank you!” What a joy it was to speak with him in English, his native tongue! Let us continue to pray for him and for his important ministry as Vicar of Christ. The Most Rev. Joe Roesch, MIC, is the Superior General of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. He lives in Rome. Listen to his podcasts, including “Saint Faustina’s Diary in a Year,” on TheDivineMercy.org/podcasts and DivineMercyPlus.org/podcasts. © Vatican Media Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org 7 The Most Rev. Joe Roesch, MIC, encourages readers to live the words of the Nicene Creed.
8 Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org The penitential season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18 — and a good companion on your spiritual journey towards Easter and on to Divine Mercy Sunday is Overcome Evil with Good, the 2026 Lenten devotional from the Marian Fathers. The devotional contains easy-to-read, brief meditations for each day from Ash Wednesday through to Divine Mercy Sunday. Read just one page a day to help prepare your heart to receive profound graces. The daily meditations are written in a friendly voice, filled with everyday examples and packed with thought-provoking content. The title is taken from the episcopal motto of Bl. George Matulaitis (1871-1927), the Renovator of the Marian Congregation. It’s 100 years since Bl. George paid his last visit to the United States to view the fruits of his labors, a growing presence of Marian Fathers, especially in Chicago, Illinois and Washington, D.C. Goodness overcomes evil The holy season of Lent is the Church’s recognition that we, the Mystical Body of Christ, the People of God, are weeds as well as wheat; bad fish as well as good; sinners in need of sanctification. There is a stark realism to the fact that our penitential seasons are annual. The Church presumes that we need to do penance for our sins. She doesn’t wait for us to convert of our own accord, or repent, or be perfect before she gives us the medicinal tools of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. She just brings us, like any good mother would, to Lenten practices to get cleaned up on a regular basis. Goodness overcomes evil. Why is that? Because goodness communicates being. In other words, something that is real. Evil is the absence of goodness and thus communicates nothingness. Goodness overcomes evil, then because goodness infuses something real into the empty space of evil. It’s like filling a cavity in a tooth. Goodness, which is communicated through every act of Divine Mercy, overcomes evil fully and finally at the end of time, completing a work of salvation that is rooted in Calvary, but that began in Genesis 3:15, with God’s promise of a coming Savior. Goodness is the Christian path, as the Gospel makes plain, and as St. Paul made abundantly clear in the Letter to the Romans (and Bl. George professed): “Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good” (Rom 12:21; see also Rom 3:8). Do not do evil so that good may come of it; do not use the tools of the devil to try to defeat the devil. As soon as you do, he has won a victory. Do not make the mistake of simple reaction, fleeing away from evil right past Christ Crucified into the arms of the opposing error. Keep your gaze fixed on Jesus, and stand with Christ and His Church. Do Works of Mercy, and defeat all evil. Virtue over vice This Lent, abide in goodness; train in goodness; use this devotional to practice our faith. Practice virtue to overcome vice, to win against the world, the flesh, and the devil, in communion with Christ through prayer, Word, and Sacrament. Saint Faustina received guidance from Jesus Himself on spiritual warfare: Do not bargain with any temptation; lock yourself immediately in My Heart and, at the first opportunity, reveal the temptation to the confessor. Put your selflove in the last place, so that it does not taint your deeds. Bear with yourself with great patience. … Shun murmurers like a plague. Let all act as they like; you are to act as I want you to (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1760). Live Lent well. Live Lent with Jesus in Scripture and the Diary. Practice goodness and mercy, and overcome evil. Live Lent well To order (Product code B69-LD26), visit ShopMercy.org or call 1-800-462-7426.
On that day, Jesus appeared as the Divine Mercy to St. Faustina in her room at the convent in Płock, Poland. With rays emanating from His Heart, He told her, “Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world” (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 47). Significant date The late Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, translator of the Diary into English and one of the great teachers of the devotion to the Divine Mercy, saw significance in the date of this appearance. February 22, 1931, was the first Sunday of Lent, the designated Feast of Orthodoxy, celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholics of the Byzantine Rite to commemorate the return of icons to the churches and an end to the heresy of iconoclasm, the destruction of sacred images. In other words, on the feast day devoted to sacred icons, Jesus’ instructions to St. Faustina underscored the graces He makes available to us through the veneration of sacred images. The Divine Mercy Image, given to the world through St. Faustina, is now one of the most recognized and venerated religious images in the entire world. “To me, it speaks that Jesus wanted to initiate something We are in a year of profoundly significant anniversaries for the Divine Mercy movement and the Marian Fathers’ Congregation. The beginning of the spread of the Divine Mercy message and devotion, according to the revelations of St. Faustina, came 95 years ago, on Feb. 22, 1931. Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org 9 95 Years of Divine Mercy By Chris Sparks Continued on page 10
10 Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org — that He wanted to touch us in our own time through St. Faustina to bring peace between the Orthodox Churches and the Roman Catholic Church,” Fr. Seraphim proposed. How appropriate, just after the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Turkey to join the Orthodox patriarchs in commemoration, to mark the anniversary of the Image as a step on the path to Christian unity! Gift of the Chaplet We are also in the midst of the 90th anniversary of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, received by St. Faustina on Sept. 13-14, 1935: The words with which I entreated God are these: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ for our sins and those of the whole world; for the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us. The next morning, when I entered chapel, I heard these words interiorly: Every time you enter the chapel, immediately recite the prayer which I taught you yesterday. When I had said the prayer, in my soul I heard these words: This prayer will serve to appease My wrath. You will recite it for nine days, on the beads of the rosary, in the following manner: First of all, you will say one OUR FATHER and HAIL MARY and the I BELIEVE IN GOD. Then on the OUR FATHER beads you will say the following words: “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.” On the HAIL MARY beads you will say the following words: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.” In conclusion, three times you will recite these words: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world” (Diary, 475-476). In subsequent revelations, the Lord made it clear that the Chaplet was not just for Sr. Faustina, but for the whole world. He also attached extraordinary promises to its recitation. Lastly, we are approaching the 90th anniversary of St. Faustina’s final journey to Kraków, Poland, on May 11, 1936. She would remain there until her death in 1938. These anniversaries are a good reminder to all Marian Helpers and devotees of the Divine Mercy message and devotion that the next decade will be full of 100th anniversaries of the Divine Mercy message and devotion. Spreading the devotion Although the “Renovator” of the Marian Congregation, Bl. George Matulaitis, died four years before Jesus first appeared to St. Faustina, he nonetheless played a crucial role in the spread of the Divine Mercy devotion. For it was Bl. George, in his role as Archbishop of Vilnius, who summoned a young priest of his diocese, Fr. Michael Sopoćko, home to Lithuania. He had been serving in Poland as a military chaplain. In 1933, Fr. Sopoćko was assigned as confessor to the convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, where he met Sr. Faustina. The rest, as they say, is history. The Divine Mercy Image reached the world first in the painting of Eugene Kazimirowski, completed in 1934, and in the preaching of Fr. Sopoćko in the chapel of Our Lady of the Gate of the Dawn in Vilnius in 1935, during an extraordinary Jubilee Year of the Redemption, with the completed Vilnius Divine Mercy Image by the altar. Then the first prayer cards were printed in 1937 with St. Faustina’s direct input, and by the end of St. Faustina’s life, the first pamphlets and booklets. On Sept. 2, 1938, Fr. Sopoćko brought copies with him on a visit to her in the sanatorium, forgot to give them to her, went back, and saw her in ecstasy. This was shortly before she died. Earlier publications Divine Mercy at 95
Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org 11 Journey to America It seems likely it was copies of those first prayer cards and pamphlets that Fr. Sopoćko would give to a Marian priest, Fr. Joseph Jarzebowski, along with an explanation of the feast of Divine Mercy Sunday, thus beginning the international spread of the message and devotion. Father Jarzebowski made a remarkable international journey in 1941 from wartime Poland across the continents of Europe and Asia, across the Pacific Ocean, traveling from Seattle, Washington, to Washington, D.C., to his Marian brethren. From there, he worked with the Felician Sisters in Michigan and Connecticut to print more materials, some in Polish, some in English. The Divine Mercy message and devotion began to spread, not just across wartime USA, but through military service members across the world, reaching the Pacific front, including the Philippines during the war. Marian Press For the past 80 years, the Marian Fathers on Eden Hill, through their publishing imprint, Marian Press, have printed and distributed literally millions of pamphlets, booklets, and prayer cards containing elements of the Divine Mercy devotion, including the Image, Chaplet, and Novena. By far the biggest selling booklet, even to this day, is The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion (Product code: B69-M17), published in 1981 and compiled by Fr. Seraphim; Vinny Flynn, first lay editor-in-chief for the Association of Marian Helpers; and Dr. Robert Stackpole. The M17, as it is commonly called, was based on a number of iterations dating back to Fr. Sopoćko’s first publications. During the ban imposed by the Holy Office (1959-1978) to stop the distribution of the writings of St. Faustina, these focused on the mercy of God according to Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterial teaching of the Church. When the ban was lifted by Pope St. Paul VI in 1978, and Pope St. John Paul II was elected to the papacy a few months later, the Marian Fathers’ materials went forth again. Interest in Divine Mercy and St. Faustina accelerated. The Diary was translated into English and a dozen other languages, and in 2000, benefited from a double blessing: the canonization of St. Faustina, and the proclamation of Divine Mercy Sunday (Apr. 12 this year) as a universal feast for the Catholic Church. Genealogy of Divine Mercy So, there is a direct line from St. Faustina receiving the elements of the devotion, especially the words of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the M17 that many of you own today. The essential elements of our proclamation — the Divine Mercy that is the “nucleus of the Gospel” (in the words of Pope Benedict XVI in his March 30, 2008 Angelus as the first World Apostolic Congress On Mercy was concluding in Rome), and therefore, the nucleus of all of history, of the created order itself — have always been Divine Mercy. The revelations to St. Faustina have offered us specific devotions to get a handle on that nucleus, to receive the fulfillment of Christ’s promises that those who seek would find, and that those who knock would open doors (see Mt 7:7-8). The extraordinary promises involving Divine Mercy Sunday, the Chaplet, and the Image, after all, are specific ways in which we can ‘seek and knock’ to access the infinite Mercy of God. The materials have evolved over time; the heart has remained the same. Across the decades, the message and devotion to Divine Mercy has not changed. But the mediums through which we transmit this message and devotion — that has certainly evolved! The movement began with prayer cards and pamphlets; it continues with those, but has added an award-winning TV show (Living Divine Mercy, now in its fifth season on EWTN), a livestreaming platform (DivineMercyPlus.org), websites (TheDivineMercy.org), and so much more. Let us continue faithfully in this mission until all the world has heard and received the Divine Mercy message and devotion. Let us continue, ‘til Christ comes again. To order the M17 and a wide array of Divine Mercy materials, visit ShopMercy.org. Across 9 decades, the message and devotion to Divine Mercy has not changed. But the mediums through which we transmit this message and devotion — that has certainly evolved!
12 Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org Editor’s note: Ninety-five years ago, on Feb. 22, 1931, Jesus first appeared to St. Faustina Kowalska in her convent cell in Płock, Poland and told her, “Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You” (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 47). Her priest-confessor, Bl. Michael Sopoćko, commissioned the artist Eugene Kazimirowski to paint the image under St. Faustina’s direction. That work of art is now known as the original Vilnius Image. The Spring 1958 edition of Marian Helpers Bulletin published an article by Bl. Michael, “The Picture of the Merciful Christ,” describing the Image of the “Most Merciful Savior.” This was 42 years before the canonization of St. Faustina and the institution of Divine Mercy Sunday as a universal feast for the Catholic Church. We reprint it here to mark the 95th anniversary of the Image, and to honor Bl. Michael on his feast day, Feb. 15. By Blessed Fr. Michael Sopoćko ‘The Picture of the Merciful Christ’ Divine Mercy at 95
Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org 13 In all times sacred images were venerated in the Church, and its history points out that already in Christian antiquity it pleased God to shower special graces upon the faithful on occasion of the cult of images. In the first centuries of Christianity, Syria had a famous statue of the Savior in Paneas. In France, the representation of the Blessed Virgin in Reims; in Italy, her statue in Loreto; in Switzerland, her picture in Einsiedeln; in Poland, the picture in Czestoçhowa, one of the three attributed by tradition to St. Luke; and many others have been famous for centuries on account of the miracles. ‘Peace be with you’ To such images belongs also the picture of the Most Merciful Savior. It represents Our Lord as He appeared in the Cenacle on the day of His Resurrection and instituted the Sacrament of Penance in the following words: “‘Peace be with you’ ... He therefore said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.’ When He said this, He breathed upon them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they shall be forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained’” (Jn 20:19-23). The picture represents Christ in a walking position clothed in a long white garment, girted with a girdle. The gaze of Our Lord’s eyes is somewhat lowered (as on the Cross). With His left hand He slightly draws aside the garment in the vicinity of His Heart, from Which spring forth two rays, the red ray on the left (of the person looking at the picture), the pale (color of water) on the right. These rays signify the Blood and Water which flowed from the opened side of Jesus on the Cross. From that time on they gush forth from the Divine Heart of the Savior in the form of graces purifying the soul from the stains of sin (in the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance) and of lifegiving graces (in the Sacrament of the Altar [Eucharist] and all other remaining). They shield the soul from the just anger of the Heavenly Father. Whoever lives in their light; that is, whoever duly avails himself of the benefits of the Christ-instituted Sacraments, particularly the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance (which are symbolized by the pale ray), and that of the Altar (the red ray), him the just hand of God will not touch. His Mercy endures forever This picture is a perfect illustration of the Holy Gospel for Low Sunday [the Second Sunday of Easter, or Divine Mercy Sunday] and a visible commentary on the liturgy of that day. It explains the anthem sung by the Church during Eastertime as the priest sprinkles the congregation with holy water before solemn Mass: “Vidi aquam — I saw water coming forth from the right side of the temple, alleluia: and all to whom it came were saved and said: alleluia, alleluia. Give praise to the Lord, for He is good: for His Mercy endureth for ever.” This temple is Christ from Whose open side flows the water of inexhaustible graces purifying the soul from sins in the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance. The picture explains also the Introit and the Epistle of the Low Sunday Mass. The Introit tells us that man must be born in the waters of Baptism to a new supernatural life, and reborn again by the Sacrament of Penance. The Epistle relates to us the testimony of the Three in heaven (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) and of the three on earth (the spirit, water, and Blood which left the dead Body of Christ on the Cross). Sacramental reminders Thus, as we gaze upon the picture, we are reminded of Holy Baptism with all its salutary effects, and of the Sacrament of Penance and the words of absolution which proclaim to us God’s reconciling Mercy. It also recalls to our mind indulgences which are an extra-sacramental remission of the temporal punishment, and likewise it reminds us of the Sacrament of Holy Orders instituted during the last Supper and completed by Our Lord after His Resurrection when He appeared to the Apostles in the Cenacle and granted them the power of absolution to be exercised in the Sacrament of Penance. Therefore, this picture represents to us the deepest mysteries of Easter: imparting to the Apostles the Holy Spirit Who henceforth will operate in the Church, rule it, regenerate sinners to a new life, anoint prophets, and apply the merits of Christ’s sufferings and death to individual souls. The picture represents the infinite Divine Mercy and arouses the faithful to its imitation by personal works of mercy. The ejaculatory prayer inserted beneath the picture: “Jesus, I Trust in Thee!” instills into our souls trust in God in difficulties, hope and courage amidst dangers, and renders the soul magnanimous in its service to God. ‘The picture represents the infinite Divine Mercy and arouses the faithful to its imitation by personal works of mercy. “Jesus, I Trust in Thee!” instills into our souls trust in God in difficulties, hope and courage amidst dangers, and renders the soul magnanimous in its service to God.’
Richard writes: I’ve prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy nearly every night, offering it for others in need. One evening, as I began the Chaplet, I had a vision of a man lying in a hospital bed, reaching out to me. I didn’t understand what it meant, so I ignored it. This happened again. On the third night, I remembered how St. Faustina, in her Diary, wrote of souls who appeared to her asking for the Chaplet. She prayed for them, trusting that Jesus would show them mercy. I prayed the Chaplet for that man. After that night, I never saw the vision again. I don’t know who he was. But I believe Jesus heard the prayer. I believe He stood between that soul and the just Judge, just as He promised. And I believe that mercy reached someone who needed it most. Meaghan writes: I pray the Chaplet every day. At work, I started to excuse myself during the Hour of Mercy to pray in a closet. One day the manager caught me. “Meaghan?” he said. “What are you doing hiding in the closet?” I was crouched on the floor and looked up and hesitantly said, “Praying?” He is not a religious person, but he was very interested and began asking a lot of questions. He told me that if it is important to me, he can accommodate my 7 minutes to pray. Now, if I don’t hide away right at 3 o’clock, he comes over to me, shows me his watch, and says “Go, get out of here!” Another day, he asked how the Rosary worked. The Rosary I use is very special to me and has its own story, which I told him. It has been touched to many relics so that also began a discussion on relics. He and his family do not go to any church. The questions that he asks me, though, are very encouraging, and it all began because of the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Ralph writes: I began praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy after listening to Fr. Chris Alar speak about it and other priests speaking about St. Faustina. Lately I find myself praying it more often than the 3 o’clock hour: in the middle of the night, a few minutes before 3 a.m., or shortly after. There is a certain peace, stability, and clarity that I feel, especially with all the noise, the bombardment of information, and distractions that surround us. I am very grateful for that grace and pray that Our Lord and His Blessed Mother will help me with the appropriate grace to help others in my path. In the last issue of Marian Helper, Father Joseph, MIC challenged readers to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet daily, and invited those who have a prayer routine to send in stories of graces received. We share a few here. Please send yours to [email protected], and keep praying, especially during this year marking the Chaplet’s 90th anniversary! Chaplet Challenge Order now (Product Code: B69-CDML) at ShopMercy.org or call 1-800-462-7426. Learn more! Visit us online! The online version of Marian Helper is a user-friendly flipbook with hundreds of links to helpful resources and additional information. Visit Marian.org/magazine Divine Mercy at 95
Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org 15 White Socks & Wordle Pope Leo XIV during his ‘digital visit’ to the United States via video link with the young people of the National Catholic Youth Conference. Independent Photo Agency/Alamy Live News Pope Leo meets the youth of America In an unprecedented virtual event, Pope Leo XIV spoke to 16,000 Catholic highschoolers at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 21, 2025. Speaking over a live video link from the Vatican, the Holy Father answered questions on a variety of topics, occasionally injecting humor, such as when he revealed, “I only wear white socks” (a nod to his favorite baseball team, the Chicago White Sox) and “I use a different word for Wordle every day. So there’s no set starting word, in case you’re wondering.” Continued on page 16
Here are excerpts from the Pope’s conversation, responding to questions on topics such as mercy, friendship, participation, and navigating AI. How can we accept God’s mercy when we’ve fallen short? The truth is that none of us is perfect. Saint Paul teaches that everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. He tells us that in his Letter to the Romans. Because of original sin, we sometimes do the opposite of what we know is right. But there’s good news. Sin never has the final word. Whenever we ask for God’s mercy, He forgives us… For example, we all know the story of the prodigal son: that son who made terrible choices and yet, when he came home, his father ran to embrace him. Jesus also called Himself the Good Shepherd who searches for the lost sheep. Even on the Cross, He forgave the Good Thief and prayed for those who crucified Him. We may struggle to forgive. But God’s Heart is different. God never stops inviting us back. How can we give our worries to God and feel close to Him? To entrust our struggles to Jesus, we have to spend time with Him in prayer. We have to have a relationship with Him. In quiet, we can speak honestly about what is in our hearts. During Eucharistic Adoration, you can look at Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and know that He looks at you — and He looks at you with love… Giving our problems to Jesus is something we can do, we need to do, again and again. Each morning we can invite Him to be with us during the day. Each night we can talk with Him about our day. And remember also Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother. She understands what we go through, and she prays for us. There’s a powerful way to ask for her help, and that’s praying the Rosary. Through her intercession and with all the saints praying for us, we can confidently place everything in God’s hands, knowing that He always hears us. He’s always with us. How can we communicate better with others? Scripture says that faithful friends are like a strong shelter and a treasure. I hope you are forming friendships like that, even during this conference — friendships rooted in faith, rooted in love for Jesus. Whether it is a trusted adult or close friend, it’s important to speak honestly about what you feel, what you think, what you experience. Honesty will help you put your feelings into words. And honesty will allow Jesus to work through the people that He has placed in your life. At the same time, remember that the Lord invites us to grow through our challenges. Many young people say, “No one understands me.” But that thought sometimes can isolate you. When it comes, try saying, “O Lord, You understand me better than I understand myself.” And trust that the Lord will guide you. In a world of distractions, how do we stay focused during prayer? It depends on the distraction, actually. But sometimes the best thing to do is to follow the distraction for a moment, see why it’s there, but then to turn back and to remember why you’re there and why you’re in prayer. And to say to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I’m distracted right now. I know You understand” — but not to allow yourself to be taken too far away, especially during prayer, because there are all kinds of temptations and all kinds of distractions, but there’s only one Jesus Christ. And we really need to give our time also in prayer to Christ. How should we use technology wisely? What about Artificial Intelligence (AI)? There’s a saint who was recently canonized who I’m sure all of you have heard of: St. Carlo Acutis. He’s a great example. Carlo was skilled with computers, and he used that talent. He used it to help people grow in their faith. He also spent 16 Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org Independent Photo Agency/Alamy Live News Pope Leo XIV
time in prayer in Eucharistic Adoration. He taught others, and, very importantly, he served the poor. He even set time limits for himself, allowing only a certain amount of time each week for leisure on his electronic devices. Because of this discipline, he found a healthy balance and kept his priorities clear. My friends, I encourage you to follow the example of Carlo Acutis. Be intentional with your screen time. Make sure technology serves your life and not the other way around. … As you all know, probably better than I do, AI is becoming one of the defining features of our time … AI can process information quickly, but it cannot replace human intelligence … It cannot offer real wisdom. It misses a very important human element: AI will not judge between what is truly right and wrong. And it won’t stand in wonder, in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation. So be prudent; be wise; be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth. Use it in such a way that, if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships. Remember, AI can never replace that unique gift that you are to the world. How is the Catholic Church preparing for the future? When we face challenges or worries about the future, it might be good to remember that promise that Jesus once made to Peter, when He said, “The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church.” Jesus will always protect, guide and love His Church… When we speak and listen to one another in a prayerful way, we can be confident that Jesus is walking with us, even when the path ahead is not clear. When our bishops speak, when they teach us, we also can listen to them and find guidance through what they offer to their diocese, to the local Church, and, united together, to the whole Church. How can youth be part of the conversations about the Church? If you want to help the Church prepare for the future, start by being involved today. Stay connected to your parish. Attend Sunday Mass. Join youth activities and say “Yes” to opportunities, just as you’ve done taking part in this conference; opportunities where your faith can grow. The more you come to know Jesus, the more you will want to serve Him and His Church. One great way to build up the Church is by sharing your faith, teaching the faith to others, helping others who need you. Teaching is often the best way to strengthen your own understanding. Deepen your prayer life as well. Spend time praying before the Eucharist and Eucharistic Adoration. Go to Confession regularly; other practices of prayer and reflection and reading God’s Word. These practices help us hear God’s voice more clearly. If you feel the Lord may be calling you to something specific, to some vocation, talk to your parish priest. Talk to another trusted leader. They can help you discern what God is asking. So I invite you to reflect on these questions: What can I offer the Church for the future? How can I help others come to know Christ? How can I build peace and friendship around me? These questions are for today, and I believe your “Yes” will strengthen the Church now and in the years to come. How can I make a difference in the world? Many of you are ready to be generous, to help those you love, to work for something greater than yourselves. That is why it is not true that life is only about doing what feels good to yourself, that makes you feel comfortable, as some people claim. Sure, comfort can be nice, but as Pope Benedict XVI reminded us, we weren’t made for comfort. We were made for greatness… Authentic witnesses of the Gospel can help heal and unite humanity. Jesus also calls His disciples to be peacemakers, people who build bridges instead of walls, people who value dialogue and unity instead of division. Please be careful not to use political categories to speak about faith, to speak about the Church. The Church doesn’t belong to any political party. Rather, she helps form your conscience so you can think and act with wisdom and love. As you grow closer to Jesus, do not fear what He might ask of you. If He challenges you to make changes in your life, it’s always because He wants to give you greater joy, greater freedom. God is never outdone in generosity. Dear friends, as you discern your vocation, trust Jesus. He knows how to lead you to true happiness. … What greater gift can you offer the world than the gift of eternal life in Christ? What greater cause could you dedicate your life to than the Gospel? The world needs missionaries. It needs you to share the light and the joy that you have found in Jesus. The full transcript of Pope Leo’s conversation is posted on Marian.org/NCR1. ‘Many young people say, “No one understands me.” But that thought sometimes can isolate you. When it comes, try saying, “O Lord, You understand me better than I understand myself.” And trust that the Lord will guide you.’ Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org 17
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