1 • 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 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 Dear Pilgrims, We welcome you to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. During this time of pandemic confessions, and Masses available (with limited capacity) are available. Please feel free to visit our Gift Shop and walk our beautiful grounds during your visit here. May God bless you. Sincerely in Jesus and Mary Immaculate, Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC Shrine Rector Livestream from the National Shrine (not available to the public at this time) Daily Devotions Daily Mass 9:00 am Chaplet of Divine Mercy 3:00 pm Rosary for Life 5:00 pm Find us on: Divine Mercy (Official) Divine Mercy Videos posted on our Website daily: shrineofdivinemercy.org Daily Public Mass Schedule Weekend Masses and Devotions will be held at the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine 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 * All candle shrines and outdoor Stations of The Cross are available to the public Please check our website for the most up-to-date information on our Monday-Friday Mass and Devotions schedule. February 6th Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time facebook ill t Youim -
From the Diary of St. Faustina q3 And again, I would like to say three words to the soul that is determined to strive for sanctity and to derive fruit; that is to say, benefit from confession. First [word] — complete sincerity and openness. Even the holiest and wisest confessor cannot forcibly pour into the soul what he desires if it is not sincere and open. An insincere, secretive soul risks great dangers in the spiritual life, and even the Lord Jesus Himself does not give Himself to such a soul on a higher level, because He knows it would derive no benefit from these special graces. Second word — humility. A soul does not benefit as it should from the sacrament of confession if it is not humble. Pride keeps it in darkness. The soul neither knows how, nor is it willing, to probe with precision the depths of its own misery. It puts on a Our Lady of Lourdes Feast Day: February 11th Mary appeared to Bernadette 18 times. These appearances have, collectively, become the seminal Marian apparition and, along with Fatima, the most influential on the post-modern world. Through Mary's revelations, the world would receive the urgent, maternal message of repentance as a way of restoring humankind to health in Christ. again. As I raised my head to look at the grotto, I saw a lady dressed in white, wearing a white dress, a blue girdle, and a yellow rose on each foot, the same color as the chain of her rosary. The beads were white. The Lady made a sign for me to approach, but I was seized with fear and I did not dare, thinking that what I faced was an illusion. On Feb. 11, 1858, Bernadette and two other girls - her sister Toinette and their school chum Jeanne Abadie - went outside to gather firewood. Bernadette searched where the waters of the Savy Mill join the fast-flowing Gave de Pau River. The girls walked to where the Gave branches west, past the banks of the Grotto. They arrived at the bank on the opposite side of the Gave, facing the massive outcropping of the Massabielle. Bernadette wandered downstream. Alone and out of sight of her sister and Jeanne, Bernadette heard what she described as a "sound like a gust of wind." In her words: Excerpt taken from The Answer is Lourdes found at: www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/answer-lourdes Image from: www.marian.org/news/This-Made-Them-Believe-8309 Then I turned my head towards the meadow. I saw the trees quite still. ... I heard the same sound again. mask and avoids everything that might bring it recovery. Third word — obedience. A disobedient soul will win no victory, even if the Lord Jesus himself, in person, were to hear its confession. The most experienced confessor will be of no help whatsoever to such a soul. The disobedient soul exposes itself to great misfortunes; it will make no progress toward perfection, nor will it succeed in the spiritual life. God lavishes His graces most generously upon the soul, but it must be an obedient soul. Diary 113
72 The Gospel passage which we have heard describes a turning point in the life of Saint Peter. It was very shortly after the death of Jesus. Peter and the other disciples were still stunned by the experience of the Cross. How aware they were of their own shortcomings! In the hour of their Master’s Passion, when he needed them most, Judas betrayed him, Peter denied him, the rest of them fled in fear. Confused and saddened, the disciples seemed to think that the future was hopeless; they were uncertain what to do. So, they returned to what was familiar to them. Peter spontaneously says: "I’m going fishing". And the others say: "We’ll come with you". However, this plan of theirs also seems to end in failure. For the Gospel tells us: " They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night". But then, at this low point in their lives, in their discouragement and failure, the dawn of hope begins to break. "It was light by now", we are told, and there stood Jesus on the shore". Precisely at the moment when Peter and the others would have felt uncomfortable in approaching Jesus – because of how they had behaved – he draws near to them in a simple gesture of friendship. "Jesus called out, ‘Have you caught anything, friends?’ And when they answered ‘No’, he said ‘Throw the net out to starboard and you’ll find something’. So they dropped their net, and there were so many fish that they could not haul it in". They did indeed "find something", and it was much more than a big catch of fish. They found renewed hope and joy in the presence of the Risen Lord. The same thing happens in the life of each of us. While it is true that we ourselves decide what paths we will take, our decisions will lead us to true joy and fulfilment only if they are in accordance with God’s will. As Saint Paul says: "It is God, for his own loving purpose, who puts both the will and the action into you. The secret of the successful catch of fish is the obedience of Peter and his companions. As soon as Jesus spoke – even though they had been fishing all night and had caught nothing – they dropped the nets and tried again. Their obedience produced an amazing catch of fish. More importantly, it opened their eyes; it enabled them to recognize Jesus by faith. "The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord’ ". And Peter immediately responds in joy; he jumps out of the boat and makes his way to the shore, eager to be with Jesus. Dear young friends: you too are at a turning point in your lives, and by Christ’s grace and his love it may happen today. Some of you may have known doubt and confusion; you may have experienced sadness and failure and serious sin. For all of you, however, this is an important time in your lives. It is a time of decision. It is a time to accept Christ: to accept his friendship and love, to accept the truth of his word and to believe in his promises; to acknowledge that his teaching will lead you to happiness and finally to eternal life. It is a time to accept Christ as he lives in his Body, the Church. All of us can get lost at times, lost within ourselves or lost in the world about us. Allow Christ to find you, to speak to you, to ask of you whatever he wants. Be sure of this: obedience to God’s will is the way to a fruitful life, the way to loving union with Christ. Is Jesus perhaps repeating to some of you today: "There is one thing you lack"? Is he perhaps asking for even more love, more generosity, more sacrifice? Yes, the love of Christ involves generosity and sacrifice. It takes personal discipline to obey the commandments of God; it takes effort to reach out in loving service to a brother or sister in need. To follow Christ and to serve the world in his name requires courage and strength. There is no place for selfishness – and no place for fear! Do not be afraid, then, when love makes demands. Do not be afraid when love requires sacrifice. Do not be afraid of the Cross of Christ. The Cross is the Tree of Life. It is the source of all joy and peace. It was the only way for Jesus to reach resurrection and triumph. It is the only way for us to share in his life, now and forever. Jesus is with you. Do not be afraid! Excerpt from Address to the Young People of New Zealand by Pope John Paul II on November 22, 1986: www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/1986/november/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19861122_giovani-auckland-nuova-zelanda.html Image from: www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/gold-mine-pope-john-paul-iis-early-life In the Words of Pope John Paul II
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2258 Catechism of the Catholic Church 2258 Events 40-Hours Devotion: February 14 Holy Hour 5-6pm Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church Southwick, MA March 3-6 All Day St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Shelburne Falls, MA Please visit the Diocese of Springfield’s website: www.yearoftheeucharist.net for more information 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 "The unique and indivisible existence of the Lord glorious in heaven is rendered present by the sacrament in the many places on earth where the Mass is celebrated. And this existence remains remains present after the Sacrifice, in the Blessed Sacrament which is, in the tabernacle, the living heart of each of our churches. And it is our very sweet duty to honor and adore in the blessed Host which our eyes see, the Incarnate Word whom they cannot see, and who, without leaving heaven, is made present before us" (pub. 1968). excerpt from the booklet " The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion" by Fr. SeraphimMichalenko, MIC.; www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/eucharist-presence-mercy From the Wisdom of Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC on the… Real Presence of Christ - YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST
Shrine Bulletin Board Livestream Series Saturdays at 11:00am with Fr. Chris Alar, MIC To watch please go to: www.thedivinemercy.org 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. Diary of St. Faustina Copies of the Diary are sold in our Gift Shop located next to the main parking lot, or online: divinemercygiftshop.org The Gift Shop is open daily 10:00am-4:00pm 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 "Human life is sacred because from its beninnin.q rt 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 beninnin.q until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the ri,qht direc~y to destroy an innocent human beinn."'., 6 C1:teclu.si::n ~ftt e C :tl:.~Clicb.urch ~ ss "...since 1973. more than 60 million unborn children haYe been aborted. Each yeai- in this countr) , about 900,000 more are added to tha.t list Yet even if it fRoe Y. Wadel \Vere overturned, e, ·en if e, ·ery state in the union ended up outlawing abortion for any reason at any time (which is doubtful), we know that abortio~ somehow or another, would continue to exist in this fallen ;vorld.Thowtli we can and should hope, pra , vote, and ad :ocate for an end to legalized abortion, ,ve must focus on what \\ e can do here and now in our own communities. We need to double up our efforts on cbanpjw~ hearts and minds, one at a time, to understand the inherent dignity of unborn life.,, exc:erpt fr m Haw to B~ Pro-Lifr1 by. Musuy. uv.·w.thedfrinemercy.or~•article5.'bow-be-1)To-life
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