National Shrine of The Divine Mercy May 9

Saint Faustina’s Corner e 8 The Feast of the Immaculate Conception. 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; 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. Diary 1414 and 1415 From the Diary of St. Faustina From the Book John Paul II -A Marian Treasury As a mother, Mary desires the union of all her children. Her presence in the Church is an invitation to preserve the unanimity of heart which reigned in the first community and, consequently, to seek ways of unity and peace among all humanity, in view of building a civilization of love, overcoming tendencies to division, temptations to revenge and hatred, and the perverse fascination of violence. (pg. 117) The m aternal attention of the Lord’s Mother to the tears, sorrows, and hardships of the men and women of all ages must spur Christians, particularly at the dawn of the new millennium, to increase the concrete and visible signs of a love that will enable today’s humble and suffering people to share in the promises and hopes of the new world which is born from Easter . (pg. 120) - Quotes taken from J ohn P aul II , A M arian T reasury compiled by Marianne Lorraine Trouvé Mary is present in the Church as the Mother of Christ, and at the same time as that Mother whom Christ, in the mystery of the redemption gave to humanity in the person of the Apostle John. Thus, in her new motherhood in the Spirit, May embraces each and everyone through the Church. In this sense Mary, Mother of the Church, is also the Church’s model . (pg. 110)