Digital Marian Helper Winter_2016-2017

Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy mourns the death of Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, who served as president of the Pontifical Council for Health CareWorkers and for Health Pastoral Care. He died on July 13. He was the author of the Marian Press title O n the Way of the Suf- fering Person: God Has Visited His People. The following is an excerpt fromhis talk at the Healthcare Professionals’ annual conference in 2015: It is true indeed that life is a gift fromGod entrusted to us as stewards. When we are in good health, we may sometimes get the false impression that we are in con- trol of everything, to the extent of even thinking that we are the absolute masters of our own lives. However, it takes an experience like that of serious illness, to real- ize howmuch we depend on others, above all, on God. This is a truth that is often obscured or challenged in contemporary [secular] society. Convinced of the therapeutic power of faith, the Chris- tian tradition sees prayer as an instrument of healing. Often people ask for healing, for grace, or for the capac- ity to accept illness in a spirit of faith and conformity with the will of God. Healing obtained through the power of prayer has different forms [physical, emotion- al, or spiritual]. Prayer truly contributes to transform- ing illness into a journey of faith that gradually helps a sick person to strengthen his or her relationship with God, to learn the lesson of weakness and human limita- tion, to have a renewed adherence to the fundamental options of life, to grow in solidarity with those who suf- fer, and to deepen faith in eternal life. l l l E ucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy (EADM) saw significant growth in the number of new prayer cenacles in this Jubilee Year. The cenacle program inte- grates St. Faustina’s Diary with Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church . There are some 2,000 EADM cenacles worldwide. Also, EADM recently shipped a 40-foot shipping con- tainer of donated medical supplies to the Philippines, where they were distributed to hospitals and nursing homes. A second 40-foot container of medical supplies, religious items, and clothing will arrive in Ukraine in December. The Marian Fathers there will distribute the goods to the needy. If you would like Dr. Thatcher to speak at your church or conference, or if you would like to receive a free packet on how to start a cenacle, call 1-877-380-0727. l l l “Why is the Blessed Virgin Mary so important in the Catholic faith? Protestant Christians ask this question of Catholics all the time. But do we Catholics really know how to answer it?” So begins the latest Marian Press book by Dr. Robert Stackpole, the director of the John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy. Mary: Who She Is and Why She Matters is available now. See page 6 for more information. 4. Provide proper shelter. The red and pale rays depicted in the Divine Mercy Image denote the blood and water that gushed from Christ’s side at the Crucifixion. They represent the out- pouring of mercy through the Sacraments of the Church; the white ray for Baptism and Penance, which purify the soul, and the red ray for the Eucharist, which nourishes it. Jesus told St. Faustina that these rays (or Sacraments) “shield souls from the wrath of My Father. Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him” ( Diary , 299). Provide this most important shelter by taking your fam- ily to Confession on a regular basis and attending Holy Mass as often as possible. Make visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and allow them to bask in the rays of mercy, even if only for a few short minutes. 5. Enthrone the Divine Mercy. Formally claim ground for Christ by having a simple ceremony that enthrones the Divine Mercy Image in a place of honor in your home. Ideally, have the home blessed and all family members sign a certificate acknowledging His kingship. Jesus promises: “By means of this Image I shall be granting many graces to souls; so let every soul have access to it” ( Diary, 570). 6. Consecrate your family to Divine Mercy. We encourage everyone to recite the following prayer of consecration: “O Jesus, You showed us Your infinite compassionate love by exhausting the very last drop of blood and water from Your body. From this day forward, with full confidence, we entrust our families to Your Divine Mercy. We abandon our past, our present, and our future to You. We place into Your wounds all of our wounds, which are caused by lack of love, understanding, and trust. Jesus, expel Satan and all evil from our families, free us from the consequences of sin, and protect us from further harm. Heal our wounds. May our families learn to venerate Your Divine Mercy Image so that they will never perish but experience Your loving mercy. Amen.” Visit TheDivineMercy.org/momm to learn more about Mother of Mercy Messengers. M ARIAN A POSTOLATES MH