February 16, 2025 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time National Shrine of The Divine Mercy 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: 11 Pine Street, Stockbridge, MA) Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC: Rector Fr. Robert Vennetti, MIC: Vice Rector Fr. Anthony Gramlich, 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 Livestream from the National Shrine Daily Devotions Daily Mass 9:00am Chaplet of Divine Mercy 3:00pm Rosary for Life 5:00pm Divine Mercy (Official) Divine Mercy Videos posted on our website daily: shrineofdivinemercy.org 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. Sincerely in Jesus and Mary Immaculate, Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC Shrine Rector Monday- Saturday 8:00am, 9:00am & 2:00pm Sunday 9:00am, 10:30am & 2:00pm Please note: 2pm Mass on Saturday 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 Schedule
Upcoming Events For more information please visit the Shrine Calendar found on our website: https: www.shrineofdivinemercy.org February 2/22 Explaining the Faith Talk at 11am • Summary of the Bible by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC 2/27 Healing Mass at 7pm March 3/1 First Saturday Talk and Devotion at 11am 3/5 Ash Wednesday—Lent Begins • see flyer on page 12 for more information 3/7 First Friday Devotions at 8pm 3/15 Relics of the Passion • see flyer on page 14 for more information 3/19 Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary 3/25 Solemnity of the Annunciation of The Lord 3/27 Healing Mass at 7pm
Pope Francis Angelus Address February 17, 2019 Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning! Today’s Gospel presents us Saint Luke’s passage on the Beatitudes (cf. 6:17, 20-26). The text is arranged into four beatitudes and four admonitions denoted by the expression, “woe to you”. With these assertive and sharp words, Jesus opens our eyes and lets us look with his gaze, beyond appearances, beyond the surface and teaches us to discern situations with faith. Jesus proclaims the poor, the hungry, the suffering and the persecuted blessed, and he admonishes those who are rich, satisfied, who laugh and are praised by the people. The reason behind this paradoxical beatitude lies in the fact that God is close to those who suffer, and intercedes to free them from their bondage. Jesus sees this; he already sees the beatitude beyond its negative reality. And likewise, the “woe to you” addressed to those who are doing well today, has the purpose of “waking” them from the dangerous deceit of egotism, and opening them up to the logic of love, while they still have the time to do so. The page from today’s Gospel thus invites us to reflect on the profound sense of having faith, which consists in our trusting completely in the Lord. It is about demolishing worldly idols in order to open our hearts to the true and living God. He alone can give our life that fullness so deeply desired and yet difficult to attain. Brothers and sisters, indeed there are many in our day too who purport to be dispensers of happiness: they come and promise us swift success, great profits within our reach, magical solutions to every problem and so on. And here it is easy to slip unwittingly into sinning against the first Commandment: namely idolatry, substituting God with an idol. Idolatry and idols seem to be things from another age, but in reality they are of all ages!
Even today. They describe certain contemporary attitudes better than many sociological studies do. This is why Jesus opens our eyes to reality. We are called to happiness, to be blessed, and we become so as of now, to the measure in which we place ourselves on the side of God, of his Kingdom, on the side of what is not ephemeral but rather endures for eternal life. We are happy if we acknowledge we are needy before God — and this is very important: “Lord, I need you” — and if, like him and with him, we are close to the poor, the suffering and the hungry. We too are like this before God: we are poor, suffering, we are hungry before God. Although we possess worldly goods, we experience joy when we do not idolize or sell our souls out to them, but are able to share them with our brothers and sisters. Today the liturgy invites us once again to question ourselves about this and to be truthful in our heart. Jesus’ Beatitudes are a decisive message which urges us not to place our trust in material and fleeting things, not to seek happiness by following smoke vendors — who are often vendors of death — experts in illusion. We should not follow them because they are unable to give us hope. May the Lord help us open our eyes to acquire a more penetrating view of reality, to heal the chronic shortsightedness with which the worldly spirit infects us. With his paradoxical Word he stirs us and enables us to recognize what truly enriches us, satisfies us, gives us joy and dignity; in other words, what truly gives meaning and fullness to our lives. May the Virgin Mary help us listen to this Gospel passage with open hearts and minds so that it may bear fruit in our life and that we may become witnesses of the happiness that does not disappoint, that of God who never disappoints. G A Excerpt from the Angelus Address given by His Holiness Pope Francis on February 17, 2019 www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2019/documents/papa-francesco_angelus_20190217.html Picture: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/pope-francis-unique Coat of Arms: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en.html Picture: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/christian-love-thyself When was the last time you were compassionate? When was the last time you went out of your way to help somebody, expecting nothing in return? When you have placed in your path a chance to live the Be-Attitudes, do it out of love of God and with an attitude of gratitude, trusting in His mercy and believing in the words of St. Matthew, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Except from “The ‘How to Be’ Attitudes” by Dr. Brian Thatcher: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/how-be-attitudes
We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire; that is why I have chosen as the motto of the Jubilee, Pilgrims of Hope. This will indeed be the case if we are capable of recovering a sense of universal fraternity and refuse to turn a blind eye to the tragedy of rampant poverty that prevents millions of men, women, young people and children from living in a manner worthy of our human dignity. Here I think in particular of the many refugees forced to abandon their native lands. May the voices of the poor be heard throughout this time of preparation for the Jubilee, which is meant to restore access to the fruits of the earth to everyone. As the Bible teaches, “The sabbath of the land shall provide food for you, for yourself and for your male and female slaves and for your hired servant and the sojourner who lives with you; for your cattle also, and for the beasts that are in your land, all its yield shall be for food” (Lev 25:6-7). The spiritual dimension of the Jubilee, which calls for conversion, should also embrace these fundamental aspects of our life in society as part of a coherent whole. In the realization that all of us are pilgrims on this earth, which the Lord has charged us to till and keep (cf. Gen 2:15), may we never fail, in the course of our sojourn, to contemplate the beauty of creation and care for our common home. It is my hope that the coming Jubilee Year will be celebrated and experienced with this intention too. Growing numbers of men and women, including many young people and children, have come to realize that care for creation is an essential expression of our faith in God and our obedience to his will. From the Letter of THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS TO MSGR. RINO FISICHELLA, PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE NEW EVANGELIZATION, FOR THE JUBILEE 2025 To learn more about the Jubilee Year of Hope, Please visit: WWW.IUBILAEUM2025.VA/EN.HTML Excerpt from His Holiness, Pope Francis Letter to the President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, for the Jubilee 2025. To read in full please visit link below
Proper Attire Inside the Church “Certain fashions will be introduced that will offend Our Lord very much. Woe to women lacking in modesty.” Our Lady of Fatima to Sr. Lucia Out of respect for Our Lord and to preserve others from any near occasions of sin, we ask that you dress in a spirit of modesty when entering the Church. Dress Code Guideline: For Women: No shorts, spandex, or skirts above the knees. No leggings or athletic wear. No low cut, backless or spaghetti strap dresses. All dresses should fall to knee length or below. No tank tops, bared midriffs or halter tops; no tight fitting, low cut or backless tops. For Men: No shorts No tank tops No baseball caps No flip flops If you should choose to wear a shoulder baring dress or top, please bring a covering for when you enter the Church. "Christian girls, think also of this: the more elegant you will be, and the more pleasing, if you dress with simplicity and discreet modesty." – The Forgotten Virtue: Modesty in Dress A good resource to learn more: The Forgotten Virtue: Modesty in Dress by Mgsr. Charles M. Mangan at https://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=647
Get to know the Diary of… “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours” Lk 6: 20 After Holy Communion, I saw the Lord Jesus, who said these words to me: Today, penetrate into the spirit of My poverty and arrange everything in such a way that the most destitute will have no reason to envy you. I find pleasure, not in large buildings and magnificent structures, but in a pure and humble heart. O merciful God, You do not despise us, but lavish Your graces on us continuously. You make us fit to enter Your kingdom, and in Your goodness You grant that human beings may fill the places vacated by the ungrateful angels. O God of great mercy, who turned Your sacred gaze away from the rebellious angels and turned it upon contrite man, praise and glory be to Your unfathomable mercy, O God who do not despise the lowly heart. “Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied” Lk 6: 21 November 27, [1936]. Today I was in heaven, in spirit, and I saw its inconceivable beauties and the happiness that awaits us after death. I saw how all creatures give ceaseless praise and glory to God. I saw how great is happiness in God, which spreads to all creatures, making them happy; and then all the glory and praise which springs from this happiness returns to its source; and they enter into the depths of God, contemplating the inner life of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, whom they will never comprehend or fathom. This source of happiness is unchanging in its essence, but it is always new, gushing forth happiness for all creatures. Now I understand Saint Paul, who said, “Eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him.” “Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh” Lk 6: 21 +The Resurrection. Today, during the [Mass of the] Resurrection, I saw the Lord Jesus in the midst of a great light. He approached me and said, Peace be to you, My children, and He lifted up His hand and gave His blessing. The wounds in His hands, feet and side were indelible and shining. When He looked at me with such kindness and love, my whole soul drowned itself in Him. And He said to me, You have taken a great part in My Passion; therefore I now give you a great share in My Saint Faustina “I lift up the humble even to My very throne, because I want it so.”
joy and glory. The whole time of the Resurrection [Mass] seemed like only a minute to me. A wondrous recollection filled my soul and lasted throughout the whole festal season. The kindness of Jesus is so great that I cannot express it. “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.” Lk 6: 22 Soul: Poor health detains me on the way to holiness. I cannot fulfill my duties. I am as useless as an extra wheel on a wagon. I cannot mortify myself or fast to any extent, as the saints did. Furthermore, nobody believes I am sick, so that mental pain is added to those of the body, and I am often humiliated. Jesus, how can anyone become holy in such circumstances? Jesus: True, My child, all that is painful. But there is no way to heaven except the way of the cross. I followed it first. You must learn that it is the shortest and surest way. Soul: Lord, there is another obstacle on the road to holiness. Because I am faithful to You, I am persecuted and suffer much. Jesus: It is because you are not of this world that the world hates you. First it persecuted Me. Persecution is a sign that you are following in My footsteps faithfully. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.” Woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry” Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Lk 6: 24-25 Then I saw a soul which was being separated from its body amid great torment. O Jesus, as I am about to write this, I tremble at the sight of the horrible things that bear witness against him.... I saw the souls of little children and those of older ones, about nine years of age, emerging from some kind of a muddy abyss. The souls were foul and disgusting, resembling the most terrible monsters and decaying corpses. But the corpses were living and gave loud testimony against the dying soul. And the soul I saw dying was a soul full of the world’s applause and honors, the end of which are emptiness and sin. Finally a woman came out who was holding something like tears in her apron, and she witnessed very strongly against him. One day, I saw two roads. One was broad, covered with sand and flowers, full of joy, music and all sorts of pleasures. People walked along it, dancing and enjoying themselves. They reached the end without realizing it. And at the end of the road there was a horrible precipice; that is, the abyss of hell. The souls fell blindly into it; as they walked, so they fell. And their number was so great that it was impossible to count them. And I saw the other road, or rather, a path, for it was narrow and strewn with thorns and rocks; and the people who walked along it had tears in their eyes, and all kinds of suffering befell them. Some fell down upon the rocks, but stood up immediately and went on. At the end of the road there was a magnificent garden filled with all sorts of happiness, and all these souls entered there. At the very first instant they forgot all their sufferings. October 11, 1933. — Thursday. — I tried to make a Holy Hour, but began it with great difficulty. After a while, I feel my heart inundated with a wave of love. A sudden recollection of spirit, the senses quiet down, and God’s presence pervades my soul. I know only this: that it is Jesus and I. I saw Him just as He had appeared to me in that instant after my perpetual vows, when I was likewise making a Holy Hour. Jesus was suddenly standing before me, stripped of His clothes, His body completely covered with wounds, His eyes flooded with tears and blood, His face disfigured and covered with spittle. The Lord then said to me, The bride must resemble her Betrothed. I understood these words to their very depth. There is no room for doubt here. My likeness to Jesus must be through suffering and humility. See what love of human souls has done to Me. My daughter, in your heart I find everything that so great a number of souls refuses Me. Your heart is My repose. I often wait with great graces until towards the end of prayer. Diary excerpt 282; 532, 1339, 777, 205, excerpt 1487; 425, 153, excerpt 268
INSPECTIO CORDIS Examining the depth of one’s heart with St. Stanislaus Papczyński “Our weekly goal is to allow Jesus to gaze into your heart and teach you self-examination, leading you to a more fruitful reception of Holy Communion at Sunday Mass, where there is a true encounter of our hearts with His Sacred Heart.” Prepare for Sunday Mass with our Founder Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time—C February 16, 2025 Before Holy Communion 1. “Cursed is the one… Blessed is the one…” Cursed is a strong, even taboo, word for modern ears. Yet, the image provided by Jeremiah is apt: one who lives apart from God is lifeless, depicted as a “lava waste” and a “salt and empty earth.” If we place our trust – our reliance, our confidence – in flesh, in what is passing and earthly, then we are doomed to encounter death. On the other hand, blessed is the one who trusts in God, as manifested in obedience and reliance upon His wisdom. Notably, not only does such a one prosper because he is planted near water – the grace of the Holy Spirit flowing in the Word and the sacraments – but even in “drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.” The one who relies upon God can face death and not only survive but thrive. These strong words – cursed, blessed – remind us the seriousness of listening to the Word of God. Each Mass places us before choices that challenge who or what we trust in daily life. If we listen, heed, and obey the Word, then we will experience this blessing from Jeremiah, even in drought. How attentively do you listen to the readings at Mass? In what or in whom do you trust? How can you bear fruit even in drought? 2. “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.” Blessed – in English – carries with it a religious connotation. However, the Hebrew could be translated as happy or fortunate. “We all want to live happily; in the whole human race there is no one who does not assent to this proposition, even before it is fully articulated” (CCC, 1718). Yet, many fall into sin as they seek happiness in places that only provide misfortune. Like the image from Jeremiah, those who seek happiness by following God’s law are like a tree beside life-giving water. “Whatever he does, prospers.” Yet, notice the progression: not only does the righteous – the blessed man – avoid evil (by not following, not walking, not sitting) but he embraces what is good (by delighting and meditating). We experience true happiness only in God and in what flows from God, delighting in Him and His law. This is only possible if we do
more than the minimum: if we meditate on His word throughout the week to put it into practice. How do you avoid evil during the week? How do you remember His word throughout the week? How do you find happiness in the Lord? 3. “We are the most pitiable people of all.” St. Paul draws out the logical conclusions if Jesus has not been raised from the dead. Our obedience to the Gospel – with the radical sacrifices it entails – is in vain. Even more, we are pitiable, for we place our hope in something that is not even true. Yet, it is also true that sometimes we pity ourselves, wondering why our lives do not prosper like that of others. We desire to have it all already in this life, forgetting that true life is found not here but in the resurrection in the life to come. Even more, proof of the resurrection is that we bear fruit in drought, that our leaves never fade even in distress. Our response to adversity manifests to us the strength of our belief that He is raised from the dead and comes to us with His risen life in Holy Communion. When do you fall into self-pity? How do you react to adversity? How strong is your belief in the Risen Lord? After Holy Communion 1. “Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!” If we were to ponder what would bring us enough joy to make us leap, we would probably consider such things as winning the lottery or being freed from some heavy burden in life. Yet, Jesus’ reasons for such rejoicing and leaping are baffling: being poor, hungry, hated by others, and weeping. His definition of happiness – and where to find it – is the opposite of what we would naturally imagine. In fact, we ought to attempt to eliminate poverty, hunger, hatred, and depression. Yet, Jesus reminds us that these situations are blessed – fortunate, happy – because of what they bring about in our hearts. Being deprived of the happiness we desire on earth, we are forced to look elsewhere. How often people are brought to their knees before God to beg His help and mercy when they reach “rock bottom.” Those situations are blessed, for they restore His blessing upon us and open our hearts to the true happiness that comes from Him. What would happiness look like for you? How do you typically react to hunger, poverty, hatred, and sadness? How can you turn to the Lord for happiness? 2. “Your reward will be great in heaven.” Sometimes, the idea of expecting a reward is belittled, as if it were tantamount to selfishness. However, hope for heaven and its reward of unending happiness is necessary to undergird the painful suffering of this life. Jesus could not require radical selfrenunciation – even to carrying the cross unto death – without a counterweight that would
compensate for the pain that we endure. Justice requires that the evil we endure in this life be corrected and healed. The saints lived with a lively hope for their reward. Yet, the joy of being Catholic is that our reward is not something, but Someone. Jesus is our reward, who comes from Heaven to earth, to our mouths in Holy Communion. Everything we endure for His sake is rewarded by His presence Mass. Each self-emptying sacrifice prepares us to receive more of His love in Holy Communion. How lively is your hope for reward in heaven? How can you connect the sacrifices of daily life with preparation for receiving Jesus in Holy Communion? 3. “But woe to you...” St. Luke’s Gospel is known for its emphasis upon Jesus’ mercy for sinners. Yet, his Gospel alone includes these woes – warnings of judgment – for those who seek happiness exclusively in the present life. Yet, Jesus’ woes are important as guardrails along the path to happiness. The temptation to settle for happiness now – rather than the promise of happiness given in the beatitudes – is ever before us. Remembering His strong woes help provide a buffer before the multitude of advertisements that want us to believe that we can have such happiness now if we are rich, filled, laughing, and esteemed by others. What looks like happiness now fades quickly like the trees in the lava waste. But what looks like misery opens us up to the treasures of His love in Holy Communion. We ought not trade ephemeral pleasures for the true joy of His friendship. Where do you tend to seek happiness according to the world’s standards? What temptations are more frequent for you? By Fr. Thaddaeus Lancton, MIC Author Stepping on the Serpent: A Journey of Trust with Mary Shining in Spotless Splendor: Consecration to the Immaculate Conception Available on Google Play and IOS App Store
Saint Faustina’s Way of The Cross March 5 - April 13 Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays after the Chaplet during Lent There is more merit to one hour of meditation on My sorrowful Passion than there is to a whole year of flagellation that draws blood; the contemplation of My painful wounds is of great profit to you, and it brings Me great joy. I am surprised that you still have not completely renounced your self-will, but I rejoice exceedingly that this change will be accomplished during the retreat. Jesus to Saint Faustina, Diary excerpt 369
Thanks to the generosity of many Marian Helpers, the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy has a new altar rail. Carved in Italy of white Carrara marble and brown Onice Ambra marble, and installed by King Richard’s Liturgical Design & Contracting, the new altar rail matches the altars and remnants of the previous altar rail in the Shrine. By popular demand During the current National Eucharistic Revival (which began in 2022), a growing number of Marians, Marian Helpers, and pilgrims requested the restoration of the altar rail in the Shrine. The previous rector, Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, had put a two-person kneeler in 2020 in front of the center aisle to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims wishing to kneel while receiving Holy Communion. Based on how well that was received, he told me when I became rector in October 2022 that he hoped the next rector would help facilitate the building of an altar rail. In September 2023, our Marian Provincial Council unanimously approved moving forward with such a project. Along with other necessary improvements and repairs, including the renovation of the Pilgrim Information Center and Memorial Hall, the altar rail arrives in time to honor 65th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Shrine, which occurred on May 30, 1960. While the old altar rail was on the edge of the original sanctuary step, it was decided to design the new altar rail partly on the lower step, not only to extend the sanctuary (accommodating more space for the new wood altar which was not in the original plans for the Shrine during its building in the 1950’s), but also to make it easier for people to kneel without having to climb any steps. While partly on the edge of the lowest step, the rail still allows pilgrims to access the side chapels of the Shrine and venerate the images and relics there. Altar rail history Why was the old altar rail removed in the first place? In the 1980s the Marians needed to make more room in the sanctuary for the new altar used for Mass facing the RESTORATION OF THE ALTAR RAIL At the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy
people and a more substantial wooden ambo. Many other churches removed their altar rails at that time because bishops and pastors during the 1970’s and 80’s argued that altar rails should be removed based on their interpretation of the liturgical reforms of Vatican II to mean “active participation” (actuosa participatio) of the laity would be better facilitated without a perceived separation of the clergy and the laity. Subsequently, sanctuaries were redesigned to feel more open and communal rather than hierarchical. Moreover, the indult (special permission) which allowed bishops to request the reception of Holy Communion standing led to standing becoming the norm in the United States by the late 1970’s, thereby making altar rails obsolete. However, no Church document ever called for the removal of the altar rail! Altar rails have a longstanding history of use in the Church, even before being used for the distribution of Holy Communion. Once churches began to be built in early Christian history, much thought was put into the symbolism of its architectural elements to express and encapsulate Catholic theology. The sanctuary, where the priest and assistant clergy offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, was distinguished from the nave, where the laity gathered to assist, with a barrier. The word “Sanctuary” derives from the Latin “Sanctus” which means “Holy,” which the Israelites of the Old Testament believed meant “set apart for God.” Regardless of the cultural style, certain architectural elements developed to express particular Christian teachings. The sanctuary, like the Holy of Holies of Temple of the Old Testament, symbolized Heaven, where God dwells, and the nave symbolized earth, the domain of humans. The sanctuary barrier, which eventually developed into the altar rail in the Western tradition and the iconostasis in the Eastern tradition, is not merely a barrier but actually a veillike connection between them. It marks the threshold where the heavenly and earthly realms meet in worship. Eastern tradition As a seminarian, I remember asking Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, who was bi-ritual in Byzantine rite, why the Byzantine Rite had an iconostasis which it blocked the view of the Divine Liturgy for the laity. “It’s the union of heaven and earth!” he exclaimed. The iconostasis reveals the mystery of heavenly worship and is a sacred threshold inviting the laity to encounter God, with the Communion of Saints through its icons and Royal Doors by which the Word of God (Gospel) and the Word Made Flesh (Bread from Heaven) are brought. Similarly, the altar rail in the Roman Rite reveals for the laity journeying on earth (nave) the worship of God who dwells among us in the sanctuary (Heaven). It is the sacred threshold where the laity are invited to encounter God with the Communion of Saints at the distribution of Holy Communion, kneeling in humble adoration to receive the true Bread of Heaven, just as the saints and angels worship the Lamb of God (Rev 4:10) at the marriage banquet of Heaven. At this meeting point of Heaven (sanctuary) and earth (nave), the priest, acting in persona Christi with his consecrated hand, reaches from Heaven to earth to give the Eucharist as a gift of divine life. Thus, the altar rail is not a separation but a connection, a sacred threshold where Heaven and earth meet in the Eucharist. Extension of the Altar The altar rail evolved in the Roman Rite to be low enough for the faithful to line up and
receive Holy Communion, and became known as the communion rail. When the faithful gather at the communion rail, they symbolically gather at the altar. Scripture scholar Dr. John Bergsma, one of my professors at Franciscan University of Steubenville, put it in class once like this: The disciples of Christ recline at the communion rail like the Apostles who reclined at the sacrificial meal of the Last Supper. The altar rail is an extension of the altar and sometimes called “The People’s Altar.” This is why some altar rails are made of the same material and design as the altar. This connection is also seen with the linen communion cloth on top of the altar rail which was required to be used until 1962. The linen communion cloth is still used in some churches today to emphasize partaking at the Sacred Banquet of Heaven, including the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament founded by Mother Angelica, the founder of EWTN. The communion rail facilitates not only a more reverent distribution of Holy Communion, but also a more efficient way. Whether the communicant is standing or kneeling, it is quicker for the priest to keep moving to distribute to the next person who is prayerfully waiting to receive their heavenly food from their spiritual father, representing Christ. While the local norm now in the United State is to receive standing, kneeling is still officially the universal norm for the Roman Rite and cannot be denied to those who continue to wish do so. The communion rail makes it easier for those who desire to kneel in adoration without being rushed while still respecting the desire of those who wish to stand or cannot kneel. Reverence Outside of Mass, the altar rail serves other practical purposes. It encourages reverence of the altar and the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the sanctuary. This is especially pertinent to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy where pilgrims and visitors are invited to come up some steps to venerate saints in their images and relics in the side chapels but do not always realize they should not step up further into the sanctuary. This issue can be seen in other highly-visited churches without altar rails where many visitors are unfamiliar with the sanctity of the sanctuary. Where an altar rail is missing, red velvet ropes are often used around the sanctuary. Furthermore, the altar rail invites people to come closer to our sanctuary and kneel and pray before the Blessed Sacrament, the Image of the Divine Mercy, the statue of the Immaculate Conception, the image of the Trinity, and the statues of the 12 Apostles. While the images in the side chapels each have a kneeler, the two most important images in our Shrine, the Divine Mercy and the Immaculate Conception, can now more comfortably accommodate those wishing to venerate them up close. On behalf of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception in the USA, thank you very much to all the benefactors who made this beautiful altar rail possible. May the Lord bless this altar rail to help foster a greater sense of the sacred and deeper appreciation of the Eucharist to all those who come here to receive His Divine Mercy, Who is so good to us, that He continues to pour out on us and the whole world His Blood and Water almost 2,000 years later through the Eucharist. By Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC Rector of The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy
The Gift Shop is open daily 9:30am – 4:30pm Find us at: divinemercy giftshop.org e Shrine Bulletin Board 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.
Embrace Life! Be A Hospice Volunteer. Do you have a talent to share? A contagious passion for just about anything? Would you like a appreciative audience? Want an easy way to make a big impact in someone’s life? Do you want to spend your precious free time making a difference in someone’s life? This is an opportunity for you. We are currently looking for HOPSICE VOLUNTEERS on a regular, periodic or as needed basis. You can play cards, read papers, or have a nice conversation with patients. We provide training. You must be at least 18 years old to apply. Please contact Lori Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator, at 413-443-2994 Or email: [email protected] Visit their website for more information: https://hcib.org/ Jesus said to St. Faustina: "... I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it" Diary of St. Faustina, 742 Excerpt from Comfort the Sick-Park of a Series on Corporal Deeds of Mercy. To read in full go to: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/comfort-sick
Faces of Hope MARIANS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Yes,I want to Help! How to help Please visit www.marian.org/ukraine/ to make a donation for Ukraine relief. One-hundred percent of funds received are sent directly to Ukraine and used to purchase humanitarian aid and medical supplies. Please do not mail medical supplies to Ukraine! Instead, please contact the Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy: 1-877-380-0727 or e-mail [email protected] to answer any of your questions. Because shipping via container is more cost effective, we prefer whatever monetary donations you can give rather than you sending medical supplies. Please know that boxes previously sent to the Marians or the EADM office were sent to Project C.U.R.E. and will be on future containers. https://marian.org/articles/shining-merciful-light-ukraine
The Image of Divine Mercy I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I myself will defend it as my own glory. (Diary 48) In 1931, our Lord appeared to St. Faustina in a vision. She saw Jesus clothed in a white garment with His right hand raised in blessing. His left hand was touching His garment in the area of the Heart, from where two large rays came forth, one red and the other pale. She gazed intently at the Lord in silence, her soul filled with awe, but also with great joy. Jesus said to her: Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory (Diary, 47, 48). I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You (327). I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world (47). At the request of her spiritual director, St. Faustina asked the Lord about the meaning of the rays in the image. She heard these words in reply: The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him (299). By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works (742). These words indicate that the Image represents the graces of Divine Mercy poured out upon the world, especially through Baptism and the Eucharist. Many different versions of this image have been painted, but our Lord made it clear that the painting itself is not what is important. When St. Faustina first saw the original image that was being painted under her direction, she wept in disappointment and complained to Jesus: "Who will paint You as beautiful as You are?" (313). From The Image of The Divine Mercy www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/image
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