1 • National Shrine of The Divine Mercy Dear Pilgrims, We welcome you to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Please join us for any upcoming events at the Shrine along with doing a personal pilgrimage during this year. Feel free to visit our Gift Shop and stroll our beautiful grounds during your visit here. May God bless you. Livestream from the National Shrine Daily Devotions Daily Mass 9:00am Chaplet of Divine Mercy 3:00pm Rosary for Life 5:00pm Find us on: Divine Mercy (Official) Divine Mercy Videos posted on our Website daily: shrineofdivinemercy.org Saturday 2:00pm* Sunday 10:30am & 2:00pm *2pm Mass does NOT fulfill Sunday obligation* Confessions Available Monday thru Friday 1:00pm - 2:00pm Saturdays and Sundays 1:00pm – 2:00pm 3:30pm – 4:15pm Daily Public Mass Schedule August14-TwentiethSunday ofOrdinaryTime A Ministry of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary National Shrine of The Divine Mercy PO Box 951 2 Prospect Hill Road Stockbridge, MA 01262 (GPS: 2 Prospect Hill Rd, Stockbridge, MA) Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC: Rector Fr. Robert Vennetti, MIC: Vice Rector Shrine Reception: 413-298-3931 Bus Pilgrimages: 413-298-1119 Gift Shop: 888-484-1112 National Shrine: www.shrineofdivinemercy.org Divine Mercy: www.thedivinemercy.org Marians: www.marian.org Please check our website for the most up-to-date information on our Monday-Friday Mass and Devotions schedule. Sincerely in Jesus and Mary Immaculate, Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC Shrine Rector
Pope Francis said on Saturday that "we must ask for the grace to cry" with Our Lady for the lives destroyed by the Ukraine war and the other miseries of our time, like "the children discarded before they are even born.” Pope Francis underlined that the war is “destroying not only Ukraine,” but it is destroying “all the nations involved in the war.” “Because war not only destroys the people who are defeated, no, it also destroys the victor … War destroys everyone,” he said in Paul VI Hall. “We have entrusted our prayer to the Immaculate Heart, and we are certain that our Mother has accepted it and intercedes for peace because she is the Queen of Peace,” the pope added. Once, after an adoration for our country, a pain pierced my soul, and I began to pray in this way: “Most merciful Jesus, I beseech You through the intercession of Your Saints, and especially the intercession of Your dearest Mother who nurtured You from childhood, bless my native land. I beg You, Jesus, look not on our sins, but on the tears of little children, on the hunger and cold they suffer. Jesus, for the sake of these innocent ones, grant me the grace that I am asking of You for my country.” At that moment, I saw the Lord Jesus, His eyes filled with tears, and He said to me, You see, My daughter, what great compassion I have for them. Know that it is they who uphold the world. From the Diary of St. Faustina passage 286 peace Excerpt from: www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251046/pope-francis-god-is-weeping-for-the-victims-of-the-ukraine-war Picture from:www.marian.org In the Words of Pope Francis pray for
Lenten Regulations 028 D Year of The Eucharist In a recent study, it was found that only 30% of Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Jesus. We’re in crisis mode. They’re missing not just the reality of Jesus in their lives, but something transformative, powerful, and beautiful. This Year of the Eucharist is an opportunity for revival. Bishop William Byrne Bishop of The Diocese of Springfield, MA Events 40 Hours Devotion: September 1-4 All Day St. Stanislaus Basilica & St. Mary’s Ware, MA For more information please visit: https://www.yearoftheeucharist.net/
12 3 5 From the Diary of St. Faustina Diary 471, 472, 1020, 278 Prophet for Our Times 1 8 During the renewal of the vows,91 I saw the Lord Jesus on the Epistle side [of the altar], wearing a white garment with a golden belt and holding a terrible sword in His hand. This lasted until the moment when the sisters began to renew their vows. Then I saw a resplendence beyond compare and, in front of this brilliance, a white cloud in the shape of a scale. Then Jesus approached and put the sword on one side of the scale, and it fell heavily towards the ground until it was about to touch it. Just then, the sisters finished renewing their vows. Then I saw Angels who took something from each of the sisters and placed it in a golden vessel somewhat in the shape of a thurible. When they had collected it from all the sisters and placed the vessel on the other side of the scale, it immediately outweighed and raised up the side on which the sword had been laid. At that moment, a flame issued forth from the thurible, and it reached all the way to the brilliance. Then I heard a voice coming from the brilliance: Put the sword back in i ts place; the sacr i f ice is greater. Then Jesus gave us His blessing, and all I had seen vanished. The sisters had already begun to receive Holy Communion. When I received Holy Communion, my soul was filled with such great joy that I am unable to describe it. Today br ing to Me souls who have become lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painful ly. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Ol ives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cr ied out: “Father, take this cup away from Me, i f i t be Your wi l l .” For them, the last hope of salvation is to f lee to My mercy. 9 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. Fire and ice cannot be joined, Either the fire dies, or the ice melts. But by Your mercy, O God, You can make up for all that is lacking. 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... That same day, when I was in church waiting for confession, I saw the same rays issuing from the monstrance and spreading throughout the church. This lasted all through the service. After the Fire of Love
4 4 Donations for Ukraine: www.marian.org/ukraine/ or call 800-462-7426 In the wake of the Russian invasion, your support will help our Marians in Ukraine as they struggle to survive and maintain their ministry, needed now more than ever. We have 22 Marians in Ukraine; their house in Kharkiv was bombed. More than 2 million refugees have fled. Our Marian houses across the border in Poland are assisting refugees. We continue to need your prayers and support to help our Marians in Ukraine as they struggle to survive and rebuild, and to support the many refugees they assist with humanitarian and medical aid, both in Ukraine and in Poland. 100 percent of your donation goes directly to those in need Through our Marian priests in Ukraine and Poland. Yes, I want ToHelp! The Marian Fathers invite you to unite in prayer and continue to pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet for peace and end to war in Ukraine. Diary 394, 1228-1229, , excerpt 1489, 1754, 1289 https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/prophet-our-times May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war. Benediction. [the rays shone out] to both sides and returned again to the monstrance. Their appearance was bright and transparent like crystal. I asked Jesus that He deign to light the fire of His love in all souls that were cold. Beneath these rays a heart will grow warm even if it were like a block of ice; even if it were hard as a rock, it will crumble into dust. Soul: Lord, there is another obstacle on the road to holiness. Because I am faithful to You, I am persecuted and suffer much. Jesus: I t is because you are not of this wor ld that the wor ld hates you. First i t persecuted Me. Persecution is a sign that you are fol lowing in My footsteps fai thful ly. 75 Consider , My daughter, Who i t is to whom your heart is so closely uni ted by the vows. Before I made the wor ld, I loved you wi th the love your heart is experiencing today and, throughout the centur ies, My love wi l l never change. 0 Most sweet Jesus, set on fire my love for You and transform me into Yourself. Divinize me that my deeds may be pleasing to You. May this be accomplished by the power of the Holy Communion which I receive daily. Oh, how greatly I desire to be wholly transformed into You, O Lord!
Shrine Bulletin Board Livestream Series Saturdays at 11:00am with Fr. Chris Alar, MIC To watch please go to: www.thedivinemercy.org We are hiring! The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy is hiring for the following: Part-time Weekend Receptionist If you are interested, please call Human Resources at 413-298-3931 x140 Or send your resume to: [email protected] National Shrine of The Divine Mercy Human Resource Director PO Box 951 Stockbridge, MA 01262 Be a part of theMarian Family! Receive graces from doing deeds of Mercy. Please volunteer if you are able. See our website to sign up, or contact our Volunteer Office at 413-298-1114 Things to Note: Blessed Oil of St. Faustina Oil blessed in honor of St. Faustina is available at the Shrine Reception desk. A suggested donation of $5.00 which would go to help support Shrine Ministries. The Diary of St. Faustina Copies of the Diary are sold in our Gift Shop located next to the main parking lot, or online: The Gift Shop is open daily 10:00am – 4:00pm
Bishop Jan Olszańki, MIC 1919-2003 On February 23, the opening of the beatification process of Bishop Jan Olszanki, a member of the Congregation of Marian Fathers, was officially announced in the Kamieniec cathedral. Most of his sixty-year priestly ministry occurred during the period of communist persecution and repression and he remains in the memory of his fellow Catholics and countrymen a tireless defender of the Polish community and the faith of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine. Bishop Jan Olszański was born on January 14, 1919, in the town of Hucisko, in the district of Brody, Poland (present-day Ukraine). In 1938, he graduated from the gymnasium in Brody. In the same year, he entered the seminary in Lviv, graduating in 1942. After receiving his priestly ordination that same year, he worked in the village of Kaczanówka. Later, the Archbishop of Lviv, Bolesław Twardowski, appointed Fr. Olszański the administrator of the parish in Gródek Podolski at the same time entrusting to him pastoral care of several neighboring parishes. After Ukraine was incorporated into the Soviet Union, Fr. Jan Olszański moved to Lviv, where he performed his priestly duties as vicar in the cathedral and also at the Church of Our Lady of the Snows. After two years in Lviv, he returned to Gródek in Podolia, where he worked until 1959 when the communist authorities forbade him from carrying out his pastoral work. According to the accounts of witnesses, he traveled to the parishes entrusted to him disguised as a woman in order to be able to hear the confessions of the faithful. After a short period of time, the authorities lifted their restrictions on his pastoral work and he was permitted to continue his work publicly, this time in the remote village of Manikowce, where he worked until 1991. As one of the few Catholic priests in the area, he tried to provide pastoral care to the faithful in his territory, covering almost half of today’s Kamieniec-Podolski Diocese, at the risk of his possible deportation or execution. For thirty-two years, from 1959 to 1991, Jan Olszański was an ordinary parish priest. Fr. Jan did not leave the Podole region, even though he had the opportunity to return to his home diocese. Manikowce became his escape – a small village in the Chmielnik region, where, “you did not wait for the parish priest or know what to do with him”, as Stanisław Nahorniak recalls. However, he was an extraordinary pastor because hundreds of people came to Manikowiec to confess, receive the Sacraments and hear the Word of God. In these difficult times, Fr.Jan understood well that the future of the Church lies in children and young people. He prepared them for the Sacraments, taught prayer, led Adoration, and even helped teach mathematics. His pockets were always full of sweets for the children in his Catechism classes and despite the hardships he endured and the difficulty of the times, he never complained, but prayed and worked for his
O parishioners. A local government authority, tasked with overseeing religious figures in the area, once reported the following about Fr. Jan: “He is a religious fanatic; he stood in the chapel every morning and evening and prayed. In the rented apartment in Gródek, where he lived, there was no radio, he did not subscribe to newspapers, and he only read religious literature. One time when he came to an attorney’s office, waiting for a summons, he was reading a prayer book. He stays in seclusion, tries not to meet anyone, and strictly follows religious canons. By his example, he educates religious activists.” In 1987, he entered the Congregation of Marian Fathers and in 1988 made his first vows. In 1990, he became the first Superior of the Ukrainian Vicariate, and in 1991 Pope St. John Paul II appointed Fr. Jan Olszański bishop and ordinary of the recently-restored Diocese of Kamieniec-Podolski. Witnesses say that he did not want to be a bishop: “Four times the representatives of the Nunciature came to Manikowce and talked with him for almost four hours.” He did not want to be a bishop; after all, he considered himself unworthy of such a high position. He was ordained bishop at the age of seventy-two when most other people usually think about retirement. www.padrimariani.org/en/departed-2000-2005 The Pope entrusted to his care the faithful living in eight administrative districts in the southern part of Ukraine. The Kamieniec-Podolski Diocese was then, territorially speaking, exceptionally extensive. Before the division of 2002, it included the following oblasts: Vinnytsia, Khmelnytsky, Odessa, Zaporizhia, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Luhansk, Poltavsky, Mikolajowski, Kherson, Kirovograd and AR Krym. Thanks to his efforts, many pastoral centers and parishes were created, which later became the basis for the creation of two new dioceses. People said that he always prayed the rosary and that “always” should be taken literally. Those who traveled with Bishop Jan said: “When we were in the car, he prayed the rosary all the time, endlessly; once we had finished, we started up again “. As bishop, heestablished a major seminary in Gródek Podolski and reopened over 200 parishes. On May 4, 2002, Pope John Paul II, at the bishop’s own request, released him from his duties as diocesan ordinary. He performed his duties as bishop of the Kamieniec-Podolski Diocese for eleven years. On February 23, 2022, nineteen years will have passed since his death, the death of the first shepherd of the Kamieniec-Podolski Diocese after the restoration of the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukrawine. It is on this day, on the anniversary of his passing to the Lord, that the Church in Kamieniec will officially begin the beatification process of Bishop Jan Olszański, a priest of the Marian Fathers. Bishop Jan Olszańki, PRAY FOR US!
. From the Bible, we can see how Mary's bodily Assumption into heaven comes as a common sense result of being without Original Sin (see Gen 3:15). The same holds true when we consider the greeting of the Angel, "Hail, full of grace" (Lk 1:28), because a creature with a fullness of grace and no sin would not experience the effects of sin in the body - for example, a physical decay, leading to death. We also have the lovely reference to both Jesus' Ascension (something He does by His own divine power) and Mary's Assumption (something she passively receives from God) in Psalm 132:8, where the Psalmist says, "Arise, O Lord, into your resting place, you and the Ark which you have sanctified." As Mary is the "New Ark" who carried Jesus inside of her, this passage also foreshadows her bodily Assumption into heaven. Still more biblical support for Mary's Assumption comes from Revelation 11:19, with the vision of the Ark of the Covenant now in heaven (Mary being the fulfillment of the Old Testament Ark that contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, a jar of manna, and Aaron's rod because Jesus is even holier than these signs of God's presence). The vision of the Ark of the Covenant in heaven is immediately followed by a vision of a "woman clothed with the sun" (Rev 12:1) who gives birth to the "male child," the ruler of all nations. This means that this "woman" must be Mary. Who else gave birth to the "male child," ruler of all nations? Also, she is already seen in heaven, both as the New Ark and as the Woman united with her Son and crowned with 12 stars as Queen in the Kingdom of her Son, the King. ... Mary's Assumption is a sign of hope for us all. The Solemnity of the Assumption August 15th Article: A Pretty Big Assumption: www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/pretty-big-assumption Image: www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/solemnity-assumption In honor of the Aug. 15 feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, we bring you this excerpt from Dr. Mark Miravalle's Meet Your Mother: The fourth Marian dogma ... Mary's Assumption, proclaimed by Venerable Pope Pius XII on Nov. 1, 1950, states: "The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory." In many ways, the Assumption of Mary ... just makes sense - if you understand her Immaculate Conception and its positive consequences. ... Remember that because Mary was free from Original Sin, she would not experience any of the negative effects of Original Sin. Well, one big effect of Original Sin is deathy by “corruption” or physical breakdown of the body. Yes, death and disease enter the world because of sin…The immaculate mother of Jesus would end her life one earth not because of cancer, heart attack, or simply old age – but only when her Son wanted her home with Him in heaven.
P R A Y E R From the moment of our existence we possess a God-given and changeless dignity. The Church opposes the view that human life can become a meaningless and useless burden fit only for death. For more information please go to: www. macatholic.org/news-article/learn-more-about-pas Information from: www. macatholic.org "Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being."56 “...since 1973, more than 60 million unborn children have been aborted. Each year in this country, about 900,000 more are added to that list. Yet even if it [Roe v. Wade] were overturned, even if every state in the union ended up outlawing abortion for any reason at any time (which is doubtful), we know that abortion, somehow or another, would continue to exist in this fallen world. Though we can and should hope, pray, vote, and advocate for an end to legalized abortion, we must focus on what we can do here and now in our own communities. We need to double up our efforts on changing hearts and minds, one at a time, to understand the inherent dignity of unborn life.” excerpt from How to Be Pro-Life by Marc Massery. www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/howbe-pro-life How to be Pro-Life SayNOtoPhysicianAssistedSuicideinMassachusetts LetyourvoicebeheardNow! The Massachusetts State Legislature is considering passing into law two deeply troubling bills this session which would legalize Physician Assisted Suicide. The bills, House 2381 and Senate 1384, are identical in text and titled “An Act relative to end of life options”. “The Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts stand untied in our strong opposition to Physician Assisted Suicide. It is an affront to life and a dangerous precedent for determining end of life issues. Physicians are trained to care for the ill, not to hasten death.” How can your voice be heard? Call or email you legislators, let them know you are a Massachusetts voter, and say NO to Physician Assisted Suicide! Log on to www.macatholic.org and follow the links to find contact For individuals without internet access, please call the Massachusetts Catholic Conference at 617746-5630 for legislative contact information.
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