March 2, 2025 Eighth 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 March 3/1 First Saturday Talk and Devotion at 11am 3/5 Ash Wednesday—Lent Begins • see flyer on page 11 for more information 3/7 First Friday Devotions at 8pm 3/8 Holy Hour & Lenten Talk with Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC • see flyer on page 13 for more information 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 April 4/4 First Friday Devotions at 8pm 4/5 First Saturday Talk and Devotion at 11am 4/13 Palm Sunday of the Passion of The Lord • see flyer on page 15 for more information
Pope Francis Angelus Address March 6, 2022 Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno! In the Gospel of today’s Liturgy, Jesus invites us to reflect on the way we look and the way we speak. Our gaze and our speech. First of all, our gaze. The risk we run, the Lord says, is that we concentrate on looking at the speck in our brother’s eye without noticing the log that is in our own [eye] (cf. Lk 6:41). In other words, being very attentive to the faults of others, even those as small as a speck, serenely overlooking our own, according them little weight. What Jesus says is true: we always find reasons for blaming others and justifying ourselves. And very often we complain about things that are wrong in society, in the Church, in the world, without first questioning ourselves and without making an effort to change, first of all ourselves. Every fruitful, positive change must begin from ourselves. Otherwise, there will be no change. But, Jesus explains that by doing this, our gaze is blind. And if we are blind, we cannot claim to be guides and teachers for others: indeed, a blind person cannot lead another blind person, says the Lord (cf. v. 39). Dear brothers and sisters, the Lord invites us to clean up our gaze. He first asks us to look within ourselves to recognize our failings because if we are not capable of seeing our own defects, we will always be inclined to magnify those of others. If instead we acknowledge our own mistakes and our own flaws, the door of mercy opens up to us. And after looking within ourselves, Jesus invites us to look at others as he does — this is the secret, to look at others as he does — who does not look at evil first but at goodness. God looks at us in this way: he does not see irredeemable errors in us, but rather he sees children who make mistakes. It is a change in outlook: he does not focus on the mistakes, but on the children who make mistakes. God always distinguishes the person from his errors. He always saves the person. He always believes in
the person and is always ready to forgive errors. We know that God always forgives. And he invites us to do likewise: not to look for evil in others, but the good. After our gaze, today Jesus invites us to reflect on our speech. The Lord explains that “out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (v. 45). It is true, from the way a person speaks, you can tell straight away what is in their heart. The words we use say who we are. At times, though, we pay scarce attention to our words and we use them superficially. But words carry weight: they enable us to express thoughts and feelings, to give voice to the fears we have and the plans we intend to realize, to bless God and others. Unfortunately, however, through our tongue we can also feed prejudices, raise barriers, attack and even destroy; we can destroy our brothers and sisters with our words. Gossip hurts and slander can be sharper than a knife! These days, especially in the digital world, words travel fast; but too many of them convey anger and aggression, feed false news and take advantage of collective fears to propagate distorted ideas. A diplomat, who was Secretary General of the United Nations, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, said that “to misuse the word is to show contempt for man” (D. Hammarskjöld, Markings, 1955, 112). Let us then ask ourselves what type of words we use: words that express care, respect, understanding, closeness, compassion, or words that aim mainly to make us look good in front of others? And then, do we speak mildly or do we pollute the world by spreading venom: criticizing, complaining, feeding widespread aggression? May Our Lady, Mary, whose humility was seen by God, Virgin of silence to whom we now pray, help us purify our gaze and our speech. Excerpt from the Angelus Address given by His Holiness Pope Francis on March 6, 2022 https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2022/documents/20220306-angelus.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/whats-fig-tree-anyway Except from “The Power of One”: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/power-one "God does not look for big things- He looks for how much love we put in the giving". St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
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… Write down everything that occurs to you regarding My goodness. I answered, “What do You mean, Lord, what if I write too much?” And the Lord replied, My daughter, even if you were to speak at one and the same time in all human and angelic tongues, even then you would not have said very much, but on the contrary, you would have sung in only a small measure the praises of My goodness — of My unfathomable mercy. O my Jesus, You Yourself must put words into my mouth, that I may praise You worthily. My daughter, be at peace; do as I tell you. Your thoughts are united to My thoughts, so write whatever comes to your mind. You are the secretary of My mercy. I have chosen you for that office in this life and the next life. That is how I want it to be in spite all the opposition they will give you. Know that My choice will not change. At that moment I steeped myself in profound humility before God’s majesty. But the more I humbled myself, the more God’s presence penetrated me… And, gazing upon You, face to face, O God, I see that You could have called other creatures before them. Therefore they humble themselves before You in great humility, For well they see that this grace comes solely from Your mercy. One of the most beautiful spirits would not recognize Your mercy, And, blinded by his pride, he drew others after him. Angel of great beauty, he became Satan And was cast down in one moment from heaven’s heights into hell. Then the faithful spirits cried, “Glory to God’s mercy!” And they stood firm in spite of the fiery test. Glory to Jesus, the Christ abased, Glory to His Mother, the humble and pure Virgin. And at that very moment I saw myself in some kind of a palace; and Jesus gave me His hand, sat me at His side, and said with kindness, My bride, you always please Me by your humility. The greatest misery does not stop Me from uniting Myself to a soul, but where there is pride, I am not there. Before Holy Communion I saw the Blessed Mother inconceivably beautiful. Smiling at me She said to me, My daughter, at God’s command I am to be, in a special and exclusive way your Mother; Saint Faustina “In the clear rays of Your Love, my soul has lost its tartness and has become a sweet and ripe fruit.”
but I desire that you, too, in a special way, be My child. I desire, My dearly beloved daughter, that you practice the three virtues that are dearest to Me — and most pleasing to God The first is humility, humility, and once again humility; the second virtue, purity; the third virtue, love of God As My daughter, you must especially radiate with these virtues. When the conversation ended, She pressed me to Her Heart and disappeared. When I regained the use of my senses, my heart became so wonderfully attracted to these virtues; and I practice them faithfully. They are as though engraved in my heart. How can one be pleasing to God when one is inflated with pride and self-love under the pretense of striving for God’s glory, while in fact one is seeking one’s own glory? When I see such a thing, it gives me very great pain. How can such a soul be united closely with God? Union with the Lord is out of the question here. Pride keeps it in darkness. It is when I meet with hypocrisy that I suffer most. Now I understand You, my Savior, for rebuking the pharisees so severely for their hypocrisy. You associated more graciously with hardened sinners when they approached You contritely. June 30, 1937. Know, My daughter, that I do not grant My graces to proud souls, and I even take away from them the graces I have granted. The Lord said to me, It should be of no concern to you how anyone else acts; you are to be My living reflection, through love and mercy. I answered, “Lord, but they often take advantage of my goodness.” That makes no difference, My daughter. That is no concern of yours. As for you, be always merciful toward other people, and especially toward sinners. I was suffering very much, and it seemed to me I would not be able to make my adoration, but I gathered up all my will power and, although I collapsed in my cell, I paid no attention to what ailed me, for I had the Passion of Jesus before my eyes. When I entered the chapel, I received an inner understanding of the great reward that God is preparing for us, not only for our good deeds, but also for our sincere desire to perform them. What a great grace of God this is! Oh, how sweet it is to toil for God and souls! I want no respite in this battle, but I shall fight to the last breath for the glory of my King and Lord. I shall not lay the sword aside until He calls me before His throne; I fear no blows, because God is my shield. It is the enemy who should fear us, and not we him. Satan defeats only the proud and the cowardly, because the humble are strong. Nothing will confuse or frighten a humble soul. I have directed my flight at the very center of the sun’s heat, and nothing can lower its course. Love will not allow itself to be taken prisoner; it is free like a queen. Love attains God. I am coming out of this retreat thoroughly transformed by God’s love. My soul is beginning a new life, earnestly and courageously; although outwardly my life will not change, and no one will notice it, nevertheless, pure love is [now] the guide of my life and, externally, it is mercy which is its fruit. I feel that I have been totally imbued with God and, with this God, I am going back to my everyday life, so drab, tiresome and wearying, trusting that He whom I feel in my heart will change this drabness into my personal sanctity. In profound silence, close to Your merciful Heart, my soul is maturing during this retreat. In the clear rays of Your love, my soul has lost its tartness and has become a sweet and ripe fruit. Now I can be wholly useful to the Church by my personal sanctity, which throbs with life in the whole Church, for we all make up one organism in Jesus. That is why I endeavor to make the soil of my heart bear good fruit. Although the human eye may perhaps never see it, there will nevertheless come a day when it will become apparent that many souls have been fed and will continue to be fed with this fruit. Diary excerpt 1363; 1605, excerpt 1742, 1563, 1414; 1415, excerpt 1139, 113; 1579; excerpt 1170; 1446, 450, 1363-1364
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.” Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time—C March 2, 2025 Prepare for Sunday Mass with our Founder Before Holy Communion 1. “When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear.” While we do not winnow wheat to separate the kernel from the chaff, we likely do have the experience of using a sieve for sifting wheat. The sieve separates the larger grains from the fine flour. This example is used to show how speech reveals and tests our character: “from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.” Our words disclose our level of self-discipline: “If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also” (James 3:2). Yet, we often lack such self-discipline, which is revealed by how we talk especially in time of tribulation. Humility requires admitting and confessing the sins of our tongue, whereas pride leaves us blind to our lack of charity in our speech. St. James (1:26, 3:9-10) warns that our worship at Mass is pointless if we do not control our tongue: we cannot bless God from the heart while cursing or belittling His image in our neighbor. For this reason, St. Faustina asked the Lord to heal her tongue in Holy Communion, so that the tongue which receives Him in love would not wound Him later in her words to her neighbor ( Diary, 590). With what sins of the tongue do you struggle? How do you exercise discipline over your speech? How do you tend to speak when experiencing tribulation? 2. “Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.” The Psalmist declares how good it is to use our tongue to give thanks to God, praising His name, proclaiming His kindness and fidelity. If we meditate on these things in our hearts, then our speech will flow freely from such pondering. Yet, if we could X-Ray our interior, we find that we more often are filled with worry, anxiety, complaints, anger, jealousy, and more. It would be little surprise, then, that our words reflect that state of our hearts. Eucharist is the Greek for “thanksgiving,” and each Sunday we come to Mass to experience anew how good it is to give Him thanks for everything. For as we thank Him even for the crosses and burdens, He transforms them into doorways to the resurrection. Thus, the fruit of such thanksgiving is a flourishing life, growing like a cedar, bearing fruit even in old age, and being vigorous and sturdy amid storms. For what do you give thanks at Mass? How can you ponder His kindness and fidelity even amid your crosses and burdens? 3. “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory.” St. Paul quotes the prophet Hosea to boast of Christs definitive conquest of sin and death. In this, God has fully revealed His merciful love and loyalty to us, even as we are enmeshed in sin. His resurrection is the reason we have a reason to always give thanks to God, no matter the circumstances. For, in Christ risen from the dead, the
Father not only gave (past tense) but gives (present tense) the victory. We can be “firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord,” since our “labor is not in vain.” How often we suffer from uncertainty of how things will turn out, despite our best efforts. But united to our risen Lord in Holy Communion, we can remain firm in hope that we are assured victory not only in the future but even in the present. How firm is your faith in Christ’s victory in your life? Where does the resurrection seem perhaps distant or irrelevant? How can you remain united to the risen Lord throughout the week? After Holy Communion 1. “Then you will see clearly…” Jesus does not teach against fraternal correction. Rather, He teaches the proper order required so that we would be better able to correct and so love our brothers and sisters. We more easily apply moral rules to others, believing that we see their moral faults. In truth, we more often see our own faults through others, who are mirrors through which we see ourselves as we are. Our reaction to our neighbor first reveals us to ourselves, teaching us where we must remove the splinter in our eye. Then, when we have removed undue anger and harsh judgment, we can correct our neighbor in genuine charity. Only by first applying the Word to ourselves do we know how the Word applies to others. By allowing Jesus to come in Holy Communion to remove our splinter, we learn from Him how to gently do the same with our neighbor. Where perhaps do you have blind spots or splinters in your eye? What reactions to others teach you about yourself? How do you experience Jesus’ gentle correction? 2. “For every tree is known by its own fruit.” Jesus distinguishes between the trees not by their leaves. Presumably, their appearance is similar. However, their difference is in the sweetness – or bitterness – of their fruits. Many people may speak well and sound mellifluous in their speech (the leaves of the tree), but we can tell the character of someone’s heart by their deeds (the fruit of the tree). As Christians, our words and our deeds ought to go together, just as the leaves of a tree help produce sweet fruit. Our hearts are known by their fruits – our actions, both in speech and in our deeds. To bear abundant fruit, we need to allow the Lord to prune us, sometimes even severely (see Jn 15:2). Then, we will give witness that we are truly nourished by His Word and His Body. Where are your words and actions not in accord with each other? How do you experience the Lord pruning you so you bear more fruit? 3. “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good.” Dr. Ricardo Castañon, a renowned neuroscientist who has studied the human brain as well as Eucharistic miracles, has researched the difference between how we remember negative things compared to positive ones. If someone were to insult us, we would immediately remember because of the emotional pain. But if someone were to compliment us, we more easily forget. For good things to sink into our memory, we need to meditate upon it and remember it consciously for longer than 20 seconds. Only then does it become etched into our hearts. If, rather than a “storehouse of negativity, 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
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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