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Youth Apostles Online
Newsletter for Catholic Teens : April 2003

Contents:
God's Infinite Mercy
Saint Faustina and the Divine Mercy Devotion


God's Infinite Mercy

Dear Friends,

At a recent talk I gave, I met a young man who had a soul-piercing experience of grace. He said to me, "I thought I couldn't change, but now I realize I can!" He made mistakes in his past, like so many of us have, and the devil had convinced him that he didn't have the strength to change his ways. But now he realizes, with the grace and mercy of Christ, he can turn his life around.

Can you relate to that? Have you ever felt like there was a certain sin in your life that was so strong, you just couldn't lick it? Maybe it's a sin of impurity, or an addiction of some kind. Or it could even be a "little" sin that you just can't get rid of, like impatience or disobedience to your parents or overindulgence with food or computer games (he, he). Sometimes in the face of these sins, we turn away from Jesus because we are ashamed and we figure that He couldn't possibly forgive us. We're so far from the ideal, why bother trying to change, right? WRONG.

If you feel hopeless and overwhelmed with your sin, if you feel like sinfulness is "just the way you are" and that you'll never change, or if you're afraid to approach God and ask for His mercy and forgiveness because your sin is too big, boy do I have a message for you!

This Sunday, the Sunday after Easter, is called Divine Mercy Sunday. It is a whole day that the Church has set aside to celebrate God's infinite mercy. Jesus himself appeared to Saint Faustina in 1931 to bring this message of Mercy to us. There's a special image of Jesus that goes along with this devotion and special prayers that He asked us to pray so that we may receive great graces. Check out the more detailed story below and take advantage of His promise to us:

"I desire the confidence of My people. Let not even the weak and very sinful fear to approach me: even if their sins be as numerous as all the sands of the earth all will be forgiven in the fathomless pit of my Mercy."

Until next month, I remain...

Your Eucharist loving, Blessed Mother petitioning, rockin' Catholic Church obeying, Pope John Paul II devotee and fellow sinner in need of God's grace and mercy,

Michele TePas
Youth Apostles Online

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Saint Faustina and the Divine Mercy Devotion

Our Lord Jesus specifically requested, in his revelations to Saint Faustina, that a feast day be established on the Sunday after Easter to celebrate His Divine Mercy.

"I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet... The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.

- Saint Faustina's Diary, 699.

The image of Divine Mercy is a picture of Jesus the way that He appeared to Saint Faustina. He told her to...

"Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and throughout the world."

- Saint Faustina's Diary, 47.

An inner voice taught Saint Faustina to say special prayers for God's Mercy, which can be recited on normal Rosary beads.

"Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to know My Infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy...."

For more information on the Divine Mercy Devotion (Background, Saint Faustina, the Image of Divine Mercy, the Feast of Mercy, How to Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and more) go to:

http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmhome.htm