Hoping for and Needing Mercy

(From John Martin, via Wikimedia Commons, used w/o permission.)

I care about God's mercy because I'm a sinner, which doesn't mean what you may think.

First, a quick review of what I don't believe is true. (March 15, 2015)

I'm not "some loathsome insect," and neither are you:

"...every unconverted Man properly belongs to Hell...."

"...The God that holds you over the Pit of Hell, much as one holds a Spider, or some loathsome Insect, over the Fire, abhors you...."

"...you will be wholly lost and thrown away of God...."
("Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," pp. 6, 9, 15, 18; Jonathan Edwards (July 8, 1741) (via Digital Commons@University of Nebraska-Lincoln))

Samuel Clemens apparently had a well-defined attitude regarding "converted" folks, and I can't say that I blame him:

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell - you see, I have friends in both places.

"When I think of the number of disagreeable people that I know who have gone to a better world, I am sure hell won't be so bad at all."
(Mark Twain, p.377 of Evan Esar, "20,000 quips & quotes" (1968))

"[H]eaven for climate, Hell for society."
(Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), Speech to the Acorn Society (1901); via Wikiquote.org)

"I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: 'All right, then I'll go to Hell."
(Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), via Bartlett's Quotations, 16th ed.)

Still "in the Divine Image"

Catholics don't, or shouldn't, think that we're 'loathsome insects' that belong in Hell. We have free will, so going native is an option: and another topic.¹

God makes us, and this universe, and God doesn't make junk. (Genesis 1:31; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 31, 299, 355)

We're rational creatures who can decide what we do, like angels. Unlike angels, we are also material creatures: spiritual beings with a body made from the stuff of this world. (Catechism, 311, 325-348, 1704, 1730-1731)

Something went wrong, obviously. Glancing through headlines tells you that.

But we're still made "in the divine image," as Genesis 1:27 puts it.

The first of us — Adam and Eve aren't German² — decided that they'd do what they wanted, even though it meant disobeying God. Then Adam tried blaming his wife, and God: and things went downhill from there. (Genesis 3:1-12)

We've been living with the disastrous consequences of that bad decision ever since. (Catechism, 396-412)

Sin

Sin³ is not a handful of activities I either don't enjoy, can't participate in, or actively dislike.

It is what happens when I decide not to do something I should; or decide to do something I know is bad for myself or others, and do it anyway. It "is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience" — and God. (Catechism, 1849-1864)

I know that I should unceasingly love my neighbors, see everybody as my neighbor, and treat others as I want to be treated. (Matthew 5:43-44, 7:12, 22:36-40, Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31 10:25-27, 29-37)

But I don't. I've got lots of company, and there's a reason for that.

God could have created an unchanging universe, but didn't: not in our case, at any rate. We're in a "state of journeying" toward perfection, but we're not there yet. (Catechism, 302, 310)

We started out in harmony with ourselves, with the world, and with God: but that harmony is broken. Human nature has been wounded: but not corrupted. (Catechism, 374, 400-406)

I can decide to do what is good: but it won't be easy. (Catechism, 407-409)

Trying to do what is right doesn't set me apart from the rest of humanity.

We're not divided into 'good' people who are like me and 'bad' people who aren't. Life isn't that simple. (March 22, 2016; September 27, 2015)

"...But there is another temptation which we must especially guard against: the simplistic reductionism which sees only good or evil; or, if you will, the righteous and sinners...."⁴
("Visit to the Congress of the United States of America," Pope Francis (September 24, 2015))

A Very High Standard

(From John Martin, via Wikimedia Commons, used w/o permission.)

After the end of all things, I'll be with our Lord in Heaven: or not. (Catechism, 1023-1029, 1033-1037, 1042-1050)

Nobody's dragged, kicking and screaming, into Heaven: so at my particular judgment I could walk away from our Lord. That's a daft option: but it is an option. (Catechism, 1021-1022)

Justice⁵ is important. So is mercy. (Catechism, 1805, 1829, 1861, 1991-2011)

I hope for mercy, so I try to forgive others. (Matthew 6: 12)

"¹³ 'Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.

"Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.' "
(Luke 6:37-38)

Our Lord set a very high standard for forgiveness:

"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."
(Luke 23:34)

Forgiving others doesn't mean ignoring trouble.

Sin isn't just about me and God. I'm not loving my neighbor if I see nothing wrong with someone hurting my neighbor. (Catechism, 2196)

Judging whether an act is good or bad is a basic requirement for being human. It's part of using my conscience. We're even expected to think about the actions of others. (Catechism, 1778, 2401-2449)

This isn't self-righteousness. It's hating the sin, loving the sinner: and leaving the judging of persons to God. (Catechism, 1861)

Before a quick overview of Divine Mercy Sunday, and the Divine Mercy devotion here in Sauk Centre; the best news we've ever had: God loves us, and wants to adopt us. All of us. (John 1:12-14, 3:17; Romans 8:14-17; Peter 1:3-4; Catechism, 27-30, 52, 1825, 1996)

Divine Mercy Sunday

Sauk Centre, Minnesota, was dedicated to the Divine Mercy⁶ on Divine Mercy Sunday, 1982. That's the year my wife and I married, it's her home town, we moved here a few years later, and that's yet another topic.

The Divine Mercy devotion started in Poland, where Saint Maria Faustyna (Faustina) Kowalska lived.

I've heard that official approval of the devotion took as long as it did in part because her diary was written in Polish — and folks at the Vatican had been reading a botched translation.

We eventually got a Polish pope, Pope Saint John Paul II, who could read the diary in its original Polish. That was good news for folks here in Sauk Centre: and elsewhere.

I put a resource link list at the end of this post.⁶

Divine Mercy Sunday is the Sunday following Easter, so it moves around the calendar a bit. This year it's April 2, today.

There's an image associated with the devotion, showing Jesus with two rays coming from our Lord's wounded heart; one red, the other white — representing blood and water. (John 19:34)

Sauk Centre's Divine Mercy devotion uses a carving my father-in-law made, based on St. Faustina's picture. A photo like the one up there takes its place at St. Paul's church, when the carving is on tour.

Pope St. John Paul II talked about the Divine Mercy, and what the red and white rays mean, when Sr. Mary Faustina Kowalska was canonized:

"...'Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever' (Ps 118: 1). So the Church sings on the Octave of Easter, as if receiving from Christ's lips these words of the Psalm; from the lips of the risen Christ, who bears the great message of divine mercy and entrusts its ministry to the Apostles in the Upper Room: 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.... Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained' (Jn 20: 21-23).

"Before speaking these words, Jesus shows his hands and his side. He points, that is, to the wounds of the Passion, especially the wound in his heart, the source from which flows the great wave of mercy poured out on humanity. From that heart Sr Faustina Kowalska, the blessed whom from now on we will call a saint, will see two rays of light shining from that heart and illuminating the world: 'The two rays', Jesus himself explained to her one day, 'represent blood and water' (Diary, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, p. 132)...."
("Canonization of Sr. Mary Faustina Kowalska," Pope St. John Paul II (April 30, 2000) (Divine Mercy Sunday))

There's a Divine Mercy chaplet and a novena — and that's yet again another topic.

More of my take on mercy, love, and living as if God matters:

• "Mercy and the Prodigal Son"
  (March 9, 2016)
  Particularly
  • Sin, Sinners, and Me
  • Mercy and Grave Offenses
• "Mercy!"
  (December 13, 2015)
  Particularly
  • "Merciful Like the Father"
  • Mercy and Forgiveness
  • Relying on God's Mercy
  • "...The Forgiveness of God Cannot be Denied...."
• " Life, Death, and Love "
  (November 1, 2015)
  Particularly
  • Life, Death, and Beyond
• "Hate People? Not an Option"
  (September 6, 2015)
  Particularly
  • Love: NO EXCEPTIONS
  • Sin and Forgiveness
  • Death and Decisions
• "Fire, Brimstone, and Lollipop Faith"
  (March 15, 2015)
  Particularly
  • God Doesn't Hate You: But He's No Patsy
  • Hellfire and Lollipops
  • Living the Truth
  • Responsibility and an Ancient Mandate

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¹ More about 'going native' — or not:

"go native (of a settler) to adopt the lifestyle of the local population, esp when it appears less civilized"
(the Free Online Dictionary)

"Go native is an expression meaning 'to adopt the lifestyle or outlook of local inhabitants'."
(Wikipedia)

"to go native (third-person singular simple present goes native, present participle going native, simple past went native, past participle gone native)

1. (idiomatic) To adopt the lifestyle or outlook of local inhabitants, especially when dwelling in a colonial region; to become less refined under the influence of a less cultured, more primitive, or simpler social environment.
2. (idiomatic) Of a contractor or consultant, to begin working directly as an employee for a company and cease to work through a contracting firm or agency."

(Wiktionary)

As a Christian and Catholic, my duty is "to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom...." (Catechism, 2239)

I'm in the world, but do not 'belong to' the world. (John 17:16-18)

But being 'so heavenly-minded I'm no earthly good' isn't an option:

• "(Not) 'Going Native' "
  (August 30, 2015)
• "Fire, Brimstone, and Lollipop Faith"
  (March 15, 2015)
  Particularly
  • Hellfire and Lollipops
• "Reforming the World — We Must Try"
  (September 28, 2014)
  Particularly
  • One of 'Those Crazy Kids:' Five Decades Later
  • Social Justice
  • Faith, Works, and Perspective

² I keep saying this: I think this universe is billions, not thousands, of years old; Earth isn't flat; Adam and Eve aren't German; poetry isn't science; and thinking is not a sin:

• "Organics on a Comet, and Earth's Early Magnetism"
  (August 7, 2015)
  Particularly
  • Adam and Eve Aren't German
• "New Horizons: Past Pluto, Outward Bound"
  (July 17, 2015)
  Particularly
  • "Truth Cannot Contradict Truth" — or — Thinking is Not a Sin
• "New Maps for Earth and Moon, and India's Mars Mission"
  (October 10, 2014)
  Particularly
  • God: Infinite and Eternal, Almighty and Ineffable
• "Sagittarius B2, Water, and Asteroid Mining "
  (October 3, 2014)
  Particularly
  • Pillars Beneath Earth and NASA
• "Kapteyn b, Habitable Zones, and Using Our Brains"
  (July 18, 2014)
  Particularly
  • Copernicus and Newfangled Ideas
  • Poetry isn't Science

³ Sin, defined and discussed —

"SIN: An offense against God as well as a fault against reason, truth, and right conscience. Sin is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the eternal law of God. In judging the gravity of sin, it is customary to distinguish between mortal and venial sins (1849, 1853, 1854)."
(Catechism, Glossary, S)

My take on sin:

• "Sex, Satan, and Me: Getting a Grip"
  (July 12, 2015)
  Particularly
  • Satan, Sin, and Being Human
  • Respect, Dignity, and Drunk Driving
  • Law, Love, and Nine Judges
• "Talking About Sin"
  (February 1, 2015)
  Particularly
  • Choice and Consequences

⁴ More from that speech:

"...On religious fundamentalism: 'In any confession there will be a small group of fundamentalists whose work is to destroy in the interests of an idea, not of a reality. Reality is superior to an idea. God, whether in Judaism, in Christianity, or in Islam, in the faith of those three peoples, accompanies God's people with his presence. In the Bible we see it, Muslims in the Quran. Our God is a God of nearness, which accompanies. Fundamentalists push God away from the companionship of his people; they dis-incarnate him, they transform him into an ideology. Therefore, in the name of this ideological God, they kill, attack, destroy, and calumniate. Practically, they transform this God into a Baal, into an idol.'..."
("Pope Francis: 'Jesus was popular and look how that turned out'," David Gibson, Religion News Service (September 14, 2015))

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"...Our world is increasingly a place of violent conflict, hatred and brutal atrocities, committed even in the name of God and of religion. We know that no religion is immune from forms of individual delusion or ideological extremism. This means that we must be especially attentive to every type of fundamentalism, whether religious or of any other kind. A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms. But there is another temptation which we must especially guard against: the simplistic reductionism which sees only good or evil; or, if you will, the righteous and sinners...."
("Visit to the Congress of the United States of America," Pope Francis (September 24, 2015))

I recommend reading the entire address:

• "Visit to the Congress of the United States of America"
  Pope Francis (September 24, 2015)
  (From w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2015/september/documents/papa-francesco_20150924_usa-us-congress.html (September 24, 2015))

⁵ Justice is one of the cardinal virtues. (Catechism, 1805)

Feeling anger, a desire for revenge, is be a natural response to evil. Directing anger at a person, desiring revenge, may feel like justice, but it's wrong. (Catechism, 1472, 1762-1766, 2262, 2302)

"By recalling the commandment, "You shall not kill,"⁹⁴ our Lord asked for peace of heart and denounced murderous anger and hatred as immoral.

"Anger is a desire for revenge. 'To desire vengeance in order to do evil to someone who should be punished is illicit,' but it is praiseworthy to impose restitution 'to correct vices and maintain justice.'⁹⁵ If anger reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbor, it is gravely against charity; it is a mortal sin. The Lord says, 'Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment.'⁹⁶"
(Catechism, 2302)

Seeking vengeance is a bad idea, and we shouldn't do it:

"We know the one who said: 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' and again: 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
(Hebrews 10:30-31)

"Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' Rather, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.' Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good."
(Romans 12:19-21)

"¹ Therefore, you are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment. ² For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things. ... There is no partiality with God."
(Romans 2:1-11)

"^{1 2} 'Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you."
(Matthew 7:1-2)

"¹¹ If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."
(Matthew 6:14-15)

"¹⁷ But I say to you, whoever is angry ¹⁸ with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna. " (Matthew 5:22)

"The vengeful will suffer the LORD'S vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Should a man nourish anger against his fellows and expect healing from the LORD? Should a man refuse mercy to his fellows, yet seek pardon for his own sins? If he who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins?"
(Sirach 28:1-5)

I've talked about justice, vengeance, and getting a grip, before:

• " 'Those Who are Just Must be Kind' "
  (July 20, 2014)
  Particularly
  • The Beginning of Wisdom
  • Fear of the Lord and Karaoke
• "Vengeance, Anger, and Looking Ahead"
  (July 13, 2014)
  Particularly
  • Anger, Sin, and Getting a Grip
  • "Avenger of Blood," "Forgive ... Injustice" — the Bible and Getting a Grip

⁶ More about mercy, the Divine Mercy devotion, and St. Mary Faustina Kowalska:

• "Misericordiae Vultus - Bull of indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy"
  Pope Francis (April 11, 2015) (the day before Divine Mercy Sunday)
• "Holy Mass and the Canonization of Blesseds John XXIII and John Paul II"
  Pope Francis (April 27, 2014) (Divine Mercy Sunday)
• "Mass and Dedication of the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki: Homily"
  Pope St. John Paul II, Apostolic Voyage to Poland (August 17, 2002)
• "Canonization of Sr. Mary Faustina Kowalska"
  Pope St. John Paul II (April 30, 2000) (Divine Mercy Sunday)
• "Mary Faustina Kowalska"
  1905-1938
  News Services, Vatican.va
• Wikipedia
  • Divine Mercy
    • Devotion
  • Faustina Kowalska
• Marians of the Immaculate Conception
  • Association of Marian Helpers
    Stockbridge, MA 01263-0004
  • 1 800 462 7426
  • www.marian.org

"Eternal Life is Yours, Live It"

Readings for April 15, Mercy Sunday 2012:

• Acts 4:32-35
• 1 John 1-6
• John 20:19-31

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Mercy Sunday 2012

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
April 15, 2012

30 years ago the Message of the Divine Mercy as revealed in the Diary of, now St. Faustina, came to Sauk Centre. Which caused the Image of the Divine Mercy to be carved as you find at St. Paul's Church. As it turned out, it is in an iconic style that is consistent with the Easter Church from which St. Faustina came. The image was not to be as is the picture in front of you, but one in which no human distinct features could cause you to see some one other than Jesus. Because in an icon, you are to superimpose the beautiful image of Jesus that you carry in your heart and therefore see in that image very possibly what no one else sees. You may even say the many faces of Jesus.

In this image you will note that the rays appear to spread out more then in some of the other images of the Divine Mercy. It just so happens that as we completed the carved image a picture was sent to Stockbridge while the artist was painting their picture. He was given the instruction to spread the rays as seen in the carving. I am told that that was the first time it was done. It seemed to me at the time of the carving that if these rays were to be a reminder of the Mercy of God, then they should not be confined: and so you see what you see. You'll hear more about the rays later.

30 years ago we wanted to dedicate our community to the Mercy of God. The story of which is far to long to share with you this morning (afternoon). But you need to know that we asked our Bishop Speltz to conduct the dedication but were told, no he can't come because of confirmations. Just days before the dedication he personally called and said that it was too important for him not to be here and so changed appointments to be with us. At one point he said, he saw this as a way to get the Sacred Heart enthroned in every home and saw this as a means to fulfill that, because The Divine Mercy image fits perfectly with the Sacred Heart: as well it should. Now what does he do? Not only does he dedicate our community but dedicates the whole Diocese to The Mercy of God to the great joy of all who were aware of what was really going on. So we have for the Diocese the Shrine of the Divine Mercy right here in Sauk Centre. Again there is a whole realm of stories around this that time won't permit retelling.

This whole revelation, and I use the word revelation deliberately, of the Divine Mercy is not new but old teaching of the Church that had either been lost or ignored. So this little Polish Nun with hardly a third grade education, but obedient to God, became the Secretary of Jesus and writes what He tell her. And for only one purpose and that to build Trust in the Infinite Mercy of God. Here again more stories could be told.

For 18 some years we have been praying and waiting for the time when foretold by Sister Faustina She would be declared Saint and that Mercy Sunday would be declared for the Universal Church. Now the Catholic calendar lists this day as Divine Mercy Sunday. What a Glorious Blessing for our Church.

So fitting is this Feast that none of the Reading or Prayers of the Sacramentary had to be changed. In other words, the Mercy Feast was there all the time but no recognized as such. All that was needed is that the Church would once again declare it. I think I could even say with little fear of over-statement that this day is the Climax of Easter, not a falling off or low point, as the name for this Sunday used to be called Low Sunday. But is built up to the Most wonderful Truths of Divine Mercy.

I wasn't going to tell you this story because of time but not only is it a little cute, but also so 'church.' Sister had written in her diary that the greatest attribute of God is His Mercy. Some learned men got a hold of it and said no, no All God's attributes are Infinite so her diary can't be accepted: and for almost 20 years was not allowed to be spread. Our Pope John Paul II, then a Cardinal caused her diary to be once again looked at, and finally someone remembers what the early Church Fathers taught: that the greatest attribute of God is His Mercy. Plus it said in the Old Testament the chief attribute of God is His Hesed, His loving Kindness or Mercy. six months after her diary was approved this same Cardinal became Pope.

It is not possible to fully appreciate the Gospel reading until you get a feel for the Old Testament counterpart; and that is the Feast of the Atonement as is found in Leviticus 16. Once a year the high priest would offer sacrifice for the sake of all the people, and how he did that was a very drawn-out and exacting ceremony from the offering of two male goats and one ram for a holocaust. From the sprinkling of blood to the sending out of the Scapegoat upon whom the sins of the people was placed and sent into the wilderness. How Aaron was to wash was also a part of this protracted day of Atonement. What became key to the Israelites and also for us is the fact Aaron the high priest must go into the Holy of Holies to make an offering to God by a very precise formula. So tough was this to fulfill that two sons of Aaron died in the Holy of Holies because they had offered unholy fire. From that day anytime the high priest had to enter the Holy of Holies they would tie a rope around one leg so that if he died in there they could draw him out without any risk to themselves. But it had to be done to fulfill the ordinances of the Lord and so that the sins of the people could be expiated. Now! Here is the result of all this. If the high priest died in the Holy of Holies the sins of the people remain. If the high priest comes through the veil from the Holy of Holies ALIVE, can you hear the shout of the people, he's alive, he's alive. God has accepted the atonement made and the sins of the people are forgiven.

Somehow this feast of the Atonement was imperfect: otherwise there would have been no need to reenact it time after time, year after year. What was missing? The feast of Atonement of Leviticus 16 couldn't open heaven, the blood of sheep and goats could not do what the blood of the Eternal Lamb, Jesus Christ could do. The blood of goats lack the perfection of the Son of God, by whom, because he is equal to the Father, could once for all: open the gates of heaven, closed because of the sin of our first parents. So even though the people were cleansed from sin they had to wait until that time in human history when Jesus come on the scene to make a perfect Sacrificial Atonement that they and us could in the Infinite Mercy of God attain Eternal Life. How do we know this? Twice in our Gospel reading for today Jesus appears through the door of the upper room and yes he greet them saying, "Peace be with you." But there is a resounding reality proclaimed by Jesus and confirmed by the Apostles, I'm ALIVE, He's ALIVE, He's ALIVE.

God has accepted the Sacrifice of His Only Son, heaven is opened. Part of this image shows that Jesus is coming from someplace. He's came from the Father after releasing the Old Testament people from the place of the dead and now to make ready that we too may follow. We are now ready to take part fully in the Inheritance that belongs to the Son by hereditary right. What belongs to the Father belongs to the Son. That is why the Hebrew people made such a big issue of the hereditary right of the first born son to inherit everything that belongs to the father. This once again sets the stage to confirm that same hereditary right that Jesus has to inherit everything that belongs to His Father. I once asked that question of my 7th graders and they answered, everything, everything. Then one student said heaven, right on, Eternal life is everything the Father has, which now belongs to the Son. Jesus' own words confirm that when he said the Father and I are ONE.

Are you beginning to get an image of what OUR GOD has done for us. In all of human history has any god done more for the people then our God has done for us? An Infinitely Merciful God sends His only Son as Mercy to save a sinful world. In sister's diary she says that in all of eternity we will not be able to fathom the Infinite Mercy of God. When you were Baptized, symbolized by the white rays, you were Baptized into Christ Jesus and therefore now have everything that belongs to Jesus, making us not slaves but sons and daughters. In His Mercy and knowing human nature as it is, knew sin would still be a part of out lives and so he set up, in the Church he founded, a means by which we can confess our sins in sorrow and receive absolution and do a penance to make things right with God, but there seems to be a temporal effect still lingering that must be satisfied. That brings us back to this day as stated in Sister's diary, to Confess our sins and to go to Communion on THIS DAY, all punishment due to sin is not only mitigated but wiped clean as if you are newly Baptized. It is not totally clear how close to this day you must go to confession but it seems to be that as close as possible is all that is asked. In other words, sincerely do the best you can and God will take care of the rest.

This brings us to the point of the red rays on the image, which stands for the Eucharist. Many homilies could be preached and not be able to exhaust the subject. The point I want to make for today's feast is that the Eucharist is alive. When the priest holds the Host high, can't you hear Jesus saying, Peace, be with you. I'm alive, it is really me. Likewise the Chalice held high, Peace, be with you, I'm alive, it is really me. We respond as did Thomas, "My Lord and My God."

What a joy it is for me to share this message with you, in this community, where by the way, the carved image of Divine Mercy was first displayed. What a Glories account of the Mercy of God. What return can we make to a God so Merciful to us? One priest I know answered that question by saying we are to be Merciful to Mercy. Meaning to live out the fullness of Mercy granted us in a way that is pleasing to God and inspiring to all those we meet. After all it is in God's Mercy that we are what we are and in His Providence who we are, that His kingdom may be made present on earth as we pray in the Our Father, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Everything I've said to you today would have no meaning what-so ever if Jesus had not risen from the dead, but He has risen, He is Alive and He says to everyone of you present today, PEACE BE WITH YOU! I am Alive, my Father has accepted the Atonement I made for your sins. Eternal Life is yours, Live it.

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'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.

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More reflections:

• "Reflections from Sauk Centre's Our Lady of Angels Church"

Related posts:

• "Death, Decisions, and a Working Lunch"
  (April 8, 2012)
• "The Man Who Wouldn't Stay Dead"
  (March 11, 2012)
• " 'Blessed are You Who Believed' "
  (December 21, 2011)
• "We Won: Quite a While Ago"
  (January 13, 2011)
• "He's Alive!"
  (April 3, 2010)

A Divine Mercy Homily: "Peace be With You;" Jesus is Alive

I heard this homily about 10 years ago, on Divine Mercy Sunday. Since this year's Divine Mercy Sunday is coming up, I thought this would be a good time to re-post it.

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The Divine Mercy: A Homily, Mercy Sunday 2002

20 years ago we wanted to dedicate our community to the Mercy of God. The story of which is far too long to share with you this morning. But you need to know that we asked our Bishop Speltz to conduct the dedication but were told, 'no he can't come because of confirmations. Just days before the dedication, he personally called and said that it was too important for him not to be here and so changed appointments to be with us. At one point he said, he saw this as a way to get the Sacred Heart enthroned in every home and saw this was a means to fulfill that because The Divine Mercy image fits perfectly with the Sacred Heart - as well it should. Now what does he do? Not only does he dedicate our community, but dedicates the whole Diocese to The Mercy of God: to the great joy of all who were aware of what was really going on. So we have, for the Diocese, the [devotion to The Divine Mercy] right here in Sauk Centre. Again there is a whole realm of stories around this that time won't permit retelling.

This whole revelation, and I use the word revelation deliberately, of the Divine Mercy is not new but old teaching of the Church that had either been lost or ignored. So this little Polish Nun with hardly a third grade education, but obedient to God, became the Secretary of Jesus and writes what He tells her. And for only one purpose: and that to build Trust in the Infinite Mercy of God. Here again more stories could be told.

For 18 some years we have been praying and waiting for the time when, foretold by Sister Faustina, she would be declared Saint and that Mercy Sunday would be declared for the Universal Church: and that happened fully a year ago. Now the Catholic calendar lists this day as Divine Mercy Sunday. What a Glorious Blessing for our Church.

So fitting is this Feast that none of the Reading or Prayers of the Sacramentary had to be changed. In other words, the Mercy Feast was there all the time but not recognized as such. All that was needed is that the Church would once again declare it. I think I could even say with little fear of over statement that this day is the Climax of Easter, not a falling off or low point, as the name for this Sunday, it used to be called Low Sunday, seemed to say. But now this Sunday is built up to the Most wonderful Truths of Divine Mercy.

I wasn't going to tell you this story because of time but, not only is it a little cute, but also so "church." Sister had written in her diary that the greatest attribute of God is His Mercy. Some learned men got a hold of it and said no, no: All God's attributes are Infinite, so her diary can't be accepted, and for almost 20 years was not allowed to be spread. Our present Pope, then a Cardinal, caused her diary to be once again looked at and finally someone remembers what the early Church Fathers taught was that the greatest attribute of God is His Mercy. Plus it said in the Old Testament the chief attribute of God is His Hesed, His loving Kindness or Mercy. 6 months after her diary was approved, this same Cardinal became Pope.

Now finally we get to the reading for today. The key word is ALIVE. In the first reading we hear people being healed by the shadow of Peter. In other words, brought back to a fullness of LIVING. In the second reading we hear Jesus say, "Once I was dead but now I LIVE." In the Gospel we hear two times that Jesus appears through the door and proclaims, "Peace be with you!" Even as Thomas comes onto the scene, we are amazed at the reality of the presence of Jesus, not a ghost, 'feel me, touch me.. Can't you almost hear Jesus wanting to say, 'I'M ALIVE, I'M ALIVE, It's really Me.. The background to this is to me one of the most amazing of going stories in all scripture.

It is not possible to fully appreciate this Gospel reading until you get a feel for the Old Testament counterpart, and that is the Feast of the Atonement as is found in Leviticus 16. Here it tells how once a year the high priest would offer sacrifice for the sake of all the people: and how he did that was a very drawn-out and exacting ceremony from the offering of two male goats and one ram for a holocaust. From the sprinkling of blood to the sending out of the Scapegoat upon whom the sins of the people was placed and sent into the wilderness. How Aaron was to wash was also a part of this protracted day of Atonement. What became key to the Israelites and also for us is the fact Aaron the high priest most go into the Holy of Holies to make an offering to God by a very precise formula. So tough was this to fulfill that two sons of Aaron died in the Holy of Holies because they had offered unholy fire. From that day, any time the high priest had to enter the Holy of Holies they would tie a rope around one leg so that if he died in there they could draw him out without any risk to themselves. But it had to be done to fulfill the ordinances of the Lord and so that the sins of the people could be expiated.

Now! Here is the result of all this. If the high priest died in the Holy of Holies the sins of the people remain. If the high priest comes through the veil from the Holy of Holies ALIVE, can you hear the shout of the people, he's alive, he's alive. God has accepted the atonement made and the sins of the people are forgiven.

Somehow this feast of the Atonement was imperfect, otherwise there would have been no need to reenact it time after time, year after year. What was missing? The feast of Atonement of Leviticus 16 couldn't open heaven, the blood of sheep and goats could not do what the blood of the Eternal Lamb, Jesus Christ could do. The blood of goats lacks the perfection of the Son of God, who, because He is equal to the Father, could once for all open the gates of heaven, closed because of the sin of our first parents. So even though the people were cleansed from sin, they had to wait until that time in human history when Jesus came on the scene to make a perfect Sacrificial Atonement that they, and us, could in the Infinite Mercy of God attain Eternal Life. How do we know this? Twice in our Gospel reading for today Jesus appears through the door of the upper room and, yes, he greets them saying, "Peace be with you." But there is a resounding reality proclaimed by Jesus and confirmed by the Apostles, 'I'm ALIVE,. He's ALIVE, He's ALIVE.

God has accepted the Sacrifice of His Only Son, heaven is opened. Part of this image shows that Jesus in coming from someplace. He's come from the Father after releasing the Old Testament people from the place of the dead: and now to make ready that we too may follow. We are now ready to take part fully in the Inheritance that belongs to the Son by hereditary right. What belongs to the Father belongs to the Son. That is why the Hebrew people made such a big issue of the hereditary right of the first born son to inherit everything that belongs to his father. This once again sets the stage to confirm that same hereditary right that Jesus has to inherit everything that belongs to His Father. I asked that question of my 7th grade last week and they answered, everything, everything. Then one student said, heaven (right on!). Eternal life is everything the Father has, which now belongs to the Son. Jesus. own words confirm that when he said the Father and I are ONE.

Are you beginning to get an image of what OUR GOD has done for us? In all of human history has any god done more for the people then our God has done for us? An Infinitely Merciful God sends His only Son as Mercy to save a sinful world. In sister's diary she says that in all of eternity we will not be able to fathom the Infinite Mercy of God. When you were Baptized, symbolized by the white rays, you were Baptized into Christ Jesus and therefore now have everything that belongs to Jesus, making us not slaves but friends. In His Mercy and knowing human nature as it is, knew sin would still be a part of out lives and so He set up, in the Church He founded, a means by which we can confess our sins in sorrow and receive absolution and do a penance to make things right with God, but there seems to be a temporal effect still lingering that must be satisfied. That brings us back to this day as stated in Sister's diary, to Confess our sins and to go to Communion on THIS DAY, all punishment due to sin is not only mitigated but wiped clean as if you are newly Baptized. It is not totally clear how close to this day you must go to confession but it seems to be that as close as possible is all that is asked. In other words, sincerely do the best you can and God will take care of the rest.

This brings us to the point of the red rays on the image, which stand for the Eucharist. Many homilies could be preached and not be able to exhaust the subject. The point I want to make for today's feast is that the Eucharist is alive. When the priest hold the Host high, can't you hear Jesus saying, Peace, be with you. I'm alive, it is really me. Likewise the Chalice held high, 'Peace, be with you,. almost a silent scream, 'I'm alive, it is really me.. We respond as did Thomas, "My Lord and My God."

What a joy it is for me to share this message with you, in this parish, where by the way, the carved image of Divine Mercy was first displayed. What a Glorious account of the Mercy of God. What return can we make to a God so Merciful to us? One priest I know answered that question by saying we are to be Merciful to Mercy. Meaning to live out the fullness of Mercy granted us in a way that is pleasing to God and inspiring to all those we meet. After all, it is in God's Mercy that we are what we are and in His Providence who we are, that His kingdom may be made present on earth as we pray in the Our father, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."



Everything I've said to you today would have no meaning whatsoever if Jesus had not risen from the dead: but He has risen, He is Alive and He says to every one of you present today, 'PEACE BE WITH YOU! I am alive, my Father has accepted the Atonement I made for your sins. Eternal Life is yours, Live it.'

Delivered at Our Lady of the Angels Church on Mercy Sunday, April 7, 2002, by Deacon Kaas.

Originally posted at:

• "The Divine Mercy: A Homily, Mercy Sunday 2002"
  Devotion to the Divine Mercy; on Brendans-Island.com

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'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.

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About readings for Divine Mercy Sunday, 2002: We go through a three-year cycle of readings, named A, B, and C.¹ We're in "B" now, so Sunday's readings are:

• Acts 4:32-35
• 1 John 5:1-6
• John 20:19-31

The second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, 2002, was in the "A" cycle. I think the readings then were:

• Acts 2:42-47
• 1 Peter 1:3-9
• John 20:19-31

At least, that's what they were on March 30, 2008, another Divine Mercy Sunday in the "A" cycle.²

More reflections:

• "Reflections from Sauk Centre's Our Lady of Angels Church"

Related posts:

• "Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday: 'I'm Alive'"
  Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas (May 1, 2011)
• "Second Sunday of Easter 2010: and Mercy Sunday"
  Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas (April 11, 2010)
• "Coming Up: Divine Mercy Sunday"
  (April 9, 2010)
• "Divine Mercy Sunday: a Few Words, a Link or Two"
  (April 19, 2009)
• "Reflections on Isaiah, 2nd Corinthians, the Gospel of Mark, and Saint Faustina"
  Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas (March 7, 2009)

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¹ There's a pretty good introduction to our liturgy and the three-year cycle online:

• "Liturgy"
  Bible, USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)

² The earliest liturgical calendar I could easily lay my hands on was from 2008:

• "Liturgical Calendar 2008 for the Dioceses of the United States of America"
  (archived from usccb.org/liturgy/current/2008cal.pdf on April 4, 2012)
  Committee on the Liturgy, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday: "I'm Alive"

Readings for May 1, 2011, Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday:

• Acts 2:42-47
• 1 Peter 1:3-9
• John 20:19-31

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Mercy Sunday 2011

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
May 1, 2011

Mankind will not find Peace until it turns with confidence to My Mercy. Words spoken by Jesus to St. Faustina and recorded in her diary.

This community is unique in that we have been promoting devotion to Divine Mercy for well over 30 years. To the best of our information we are the first community to be dedicated to Divine Mercy along with our Diocese as by the Words of our then, Bishop Speltz. What this all means to us and to the world would fill not only one book but many books. By the words from her diary we are told that the Infinite Mercy of God can not be fathomed by all the Angels and Saints combined, making God's Mercy a Mystery beyond anything you and I can comprehend. And yet is the only Hope of mankind. Don't try to figure it out: just believe, and accept it.

Does God have a plan for us? It seems so, for you see in 1904 the corner stone for St. Paul's Church was laid at 3:00 in the afternoon on the 2nd Sunday of Easter: that would come to be called Mercy Sunday by John Paul II in the year 2000. At the same time Sister was declared a Saint of the Church. Then on the eve of Mercy Sunday, 2005, John Paul II dies. This very weekend he was declared Blessed, by Benedict XVI in Rome. Plus, for almost 2000 years 3:00 has been held in special remembrance as the hour that Jesus died on the cross, in other words the hour of great Mercy.

A little side light: when St. Paul's was remodeled, for some reason the statue of the Sacred Heart was not reinstalled. Was this, too, in God's plan: that a place should now be left open for a statue of the Divine Mercy? I often say, "don't tell God, He can't do that!"

Lets take a look at our carving of the Divine Mercy. You will note that on the Holy Card - a picture of our carving - that there seems to be an aura surrounding the image. The photographer who took the picture could not account for the bluish tinge, nor could those he consulted. Was God trying to tell us something? Well don't tell God, "He can't do That!"

A very long story, at this point, must be shortened, because of time restraints. I was asked 30 sum years ago to carve a statue of the Divine Mercy, knowing absolutely nothing of the message or the devotion. That's not really a surprise, as the approval of the Message of Sister's diary was approved only a short time earlier, which is another story. But because a centerfold article in a Divine Love Paper, four of us men, along with our pastor, wanted to bring here to central Minnesota the message and the benefits of the Mercy of God.

We learned later from the diary, that when Jesus asked for a image of His Mercy and the painting was completed, sister cried because the painting wasn't near what she had seen of Jesus as Mercy. Jesus told her that it was not in the paint or the talent of the artist, but in the hearts of each who come before His image.

First you will notice that this carved image is done in a style that maybe we're not used to. For the face is more of an icon, a reflection of the Eastern Church, that is from Poland. The idea here is that you are to superimpose on the image the Christ you carry in your heart upon the image depicted. Therefore maybe you see Jesus the Merciful just a little different the anyone else.

We learned from the diary that the image was to be painted with a brush, I didn't know that. But I have a habit of painting my carving with thinned down paint, with a brush, but light enough for the gain of the wood to show through. The Cross is to remind us that the Resurrection is not complete without the Cross. The white and red rays remind us of Baptism and Eucharist.

At the time I didn't know that the imaged depicted Christ appearing to the Apostles in the upper room, and that he was appearing through the door. If you examine the carving by hand you will find that there is no back: as apparently Jesus had not fully appeared through that door. Now that brings up a story too interesting to let slide by. Matter of fact, it is my favorite part of the story because it is wrapped up in the Old Testament and authenticates the whole message of Mercy.

This is from Leviticus 16.¹ This is the third book of the Old Testament, and is one of the books of the law. This the Day of Atonement. The account records for us of the death of Aaron's two son who having approached the Lord's presence died, and we are told for offering unholy fire.² The footnotes³ remind us that the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies only once a year on this Day of Atonement. And this, to make a sin offering for the people. There is much more in Leviticus 16 that you all should read and get a handle on. For my purpose what I want you to hold firm is that when the High Priest comes from the Holy of Holies alive this is a clear indication that God had excepted the Atonement offered by the High Priest. Remember this as we turn back to the image of the Divine Mercy.

Jesus is appearing through the door of the upper room and saying, "Peace be with you." When He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord, Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Did you make a connection with Leviticus 16? More then anything Jesus is saying, I'm alive. I'm alive, the Father has accepted the Atonement that I made on your behalf. Breathing on them Jesus sends them out to carry on His mission of Mercy in the forgiveness of sin.

Can you think of any message of the God's that is more Merciful then that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? For the gift of God's Mercy can truly bring Peace to those who have confidence in His Mercy. Echoing the song of the Church, "Jesus Christ is Risen, He is Risen indeed!"

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'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.

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More reflections:

• "Reflections from Sauk Centre's Our Lady of the Angels Church"

Somewhat-related posts:

• "Second Sunday of Easter 2010: and Mercy Sunday"
  (April 11, 2010)
• "Coming Up: Divine Mercy Sunday"
  (April 9, 2010)
• "3rd Sunday of Easter: A Reflection"
  (April 26, 2009)
• "Divine Mercy Sunday: a Few Words, a Link or Two"
  (April 19, 2009)
• "Reflections on Isaiah, 2nd Corinthians, the Gospel of Mark, and Saint Faustina"
  (March 7, 2009)

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¹ Leviticus 16.

² Leviticus 10:1-2.

³ Levtiticus 16, NAB, footnote 1: which in turn cites Exodus 25:17, Exodus 26:33-34, and Hebrews 9:3-12. Also see Leviticus 16, NAB, footnotes 3 and 5.

Second Sunday of Easter 2010: and Mercy Sunday

Readings for April 11, 2^nd Sunday of Easter 2010:

• Acts 5:12-16
• Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19
• Jn 20:19-31

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3:00
Mercy Sunday 2010

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
April 11, 2010

It is the very Mercy of God that make us who and what we are. It is the Mercy of God through whom we receive the talent that fulfills the plan of God in our lives and in the Church for that matter.

It is now 28 years that we have celebrated Mercy Sunday here in this church. It was in the later part of 1980 that I became aware of what has come to be called Devotion to the Divine Mercy. What I want to share with you isn't about me but what God can do through a simple member of His flock.

I am by nature one who works with his hands and for that reason even before 1980 I was seriously considering giving up wood carving because of the pain in my hands. But because this was not a part of God's plan for me, and because I had attended a service here in this church and experienced a reality that my hands no long hurt. Now I wondered, what is God's plan?

It wasn't long when I was approached by one of the men that come to be called the Mercy gang. Would I carve and image of the Divine Mercy. I said to my wife, he doesn't know what he is asking? Wasn't long when again one of the members of the Mercy Gang showed me a paper with the story of the Divine Mercy. By this time all of you here know full well the story. Then having met with the rest of the men, I told them, OK I'll carve Divine Mercy and you guys do the rest. If you want to hear God laugh tell Him what you will or won't do.

By the early Spring of 81 the carving was done. It should have taken much longer but for some reason business was slow. But as I recall we were able to pay our bills, so what more can one ask.

There is so much to this story we don't have time to share, for example how was the carving accomplished according to the Diary of St. Faustina when we hadn't ever seen it at this time? How was it completed in an iconic style, that is a style of the East. How was Mercy Sunday declared here in Sauk Centre long before it was declared in Rome?

Then a new twist came to be when one day Father Todd asked me to carve St. Faustina. I responded that my hand had become so painful that I just couldn't even think about it. Well I did think about it and prayed about it and decided that wanted to do it. So the next time I saw Father I told him I would carve St. Faustina, but no time limit, when she's done she is done.

With the help of Dentist friend we made a cast of Mary's face of a Carving that stand in my shop, along with a cast of her hands and these were used to complete the carving of St. Faustina.
She now stand in the wall of the Confession room here in the back of the Church. Were better place for her to stand guard then at the seat of Mercy. Welcoming the repentant and declaring the Mercy of God with the words at her feet, "Jesus I trust in You!

A simple reminder: There is no place on earth that has what we have here in this Church. Two wood carvings centered in the devotion to Divine Mercy, carved by a simple member of God's flock. No one else has such as we have and I have promised not to make copies.

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'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.

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More:

• "Reflections from Sauk Centre's Our Lady of the Angels Church"

Poland's President Dead: People Live and People Die, and I Don't Know Why

Polish president Lech Kaczynski and about eight dozen other people died when the airliner they were in crashed in Russia.

You've probably heard about that already.

I wrote about Poland's national tragedy yesterday, in another blog:

• "Polish President Lech Kaczynski Dead: Poland, Russia and Videos"
  (April 10, 2010)

Something more, from EWTN News:

"Pope offers condolences, prayers for Polish people after plane crash"
EWTN News/CNA (April 10, 2010)

"The Holy Father expressed his sorrow over the death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and those accompanying him on a flight to Russia on Saturday morning. Pope Benedict remembered all of those who died and implored 'a special blessing to the people of Poland from God omnipotent.'

"According to CNN, President Kaczynski, his wife, top members of the Polish government, army and several Church authorities were on the plane that went down just seconds from landing at the airport of Smolensk, Russia. The aircraft apparently clipped some trees with a wing as it made its way through heavy fog. Reports vary on the number of people on the plane, but counts run from 89 to 132 people, none of whom survived.

"The delegation was headed to the small village of Katyn...." (More, below.¹)

This is a terrible weekend for all the people of Poland.

Today, by the way, is Divine Mercy Sunday. I've written about that before:

• "Coming Up: Divine Mercy Sunday"
  (April 9, 2010)

A Little History

The Divine Mercy devotion comes from Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun. There's quite a history to this devotion. The short version is that it was not allowed for quite a while, because of a poor translation from Polish. Then we got a pope who had grown up speaking Polish. That's Karol Józef Wojtyła. English-speaking people are more likely to remember him as Pope John Paul II. John Paul noticed discrepancies between the previously-accepted translation and what Sr. Faustina had actually written - and the Divine Mercy Devotion was accepted.

Polish Tragedy Just Before Divine Mercy Sunday? Does That 'Mean Something' - or Not?

I don't think life is one random event after another, with no rhyme or reason.

But I don't try to read 'Great Spiritual Meaning' into everything that happens. When I stub my toe, I think it's likely that it happened because I was careless. I think it's quite unlikely that God was 'Smiting Me, a Sinner.'

I'm well aware that I'm a sinner, reliant on God's mercy. But I rather doubt that God is standing by with a rolled-up spiritual newspaper, waiting for a chance to whack me.

As for so many prominent Poles - many of them known Catholics - being killed just before Divine Mercy Sunday? This may have some 'Deep Spiritual Significance.' If so, it may also be one of those things that I simply can't understand.

Then, if a news report I read is right, one fellow missing the plane. Surely that must 'mean something.' Sure, it probably does. But I don't know what.

That's okay: God's God and I'm not. (I've read Job. I don't expect to understand everything God does.)

And I'm certainly not going to whip up something and claim that God was doing something for a reason I think is cool. That's something I definitely do not want to be explaining to Him when I go through my final judgment. I've got enough trouble as it is.

How God's will and Poland's national tragedy are related is just one more thing that I don't know. (See Being Conventionally 'Spiritual,' Accepting Uncertainty (January 20, 2010)) It's not that I'm incurious. I'd love to know all the answers. But that doesn't always happen.

So, what am I doing about this spiritual conundrum? Filing it with all the other things I don't have a final answer for, and moving along.

God willing, I'll go to Mass this morning, receive my Lord in the Eucharist, and start my family praying a novena for Pope Benedict XVI.

What Novena?

The Knights of Columbus suggest that we pray a novena for Pope Benedict XVI, from April 11 to April 19.

"Novena for Pope Benedict XVI"

kofcsupreme, YouTube (April 05, 2010)
video, 1:01

(The video's been shrunk to fit this blog's format. If it won't display properly here, please try it on YouTube.)

Related posts:

• "Coming Up: Divine Mercy Sunday"
  (April 9, 2010)
• "Novena for Pope Benedict XVI, April 11-19"
  (April 5, 2010)

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¹ More of that excerpt:Something more, from EWTN News:

"Pope offers condolences, prayers for Polish people after plane crash"
EWTN News/CNA (April 10, 2010)

"...The delegation was headed to the small village of Katyn, a few kilometers from Smolensk, in a landmark visit to observe the 70th anniversary of the execution of more than 20,000 Polish officers during World War II.

"Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his telegram to the acting President of the Polish Parliament, Bronislaw Komorowski, that it was with 'profound sorrow' that he learned of the deaths of those who were on their way to Katyn.

"He remembered the president, the exiled ex-president of the Republic Ryszard Kaczorowski, Army chaplain and Bishop Tadeusz Plozki, Orthodox Archbishop Miron Chodakowski and Evangelical military pastor Adam Pilsch by name.

"He entrusted all of the victims of the crash 'to the goodness of merciful God' and prayed, 'May He take them into his glory.'..."

Coming Up: Divine Mercy Sunday

That's not one of the familiar "Divine Mercy" images. It's the Merciful Jesus Carving that generally stands in a corner of St. Paul's church sanctuary here in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

One of the guest posts in this blog was written by the man who sculpted the statue. (March 7, 2009) He wrote another homily, "The Divine Mercy: A Homily, Mercy Sunday 2002" (April 7, 2002), that's on the Brendan's Island Website.

Divine Mercy Sunday: April 11, 2010

I've written about Divine Mercy Sunday before. One thing that's special this year is a novena for Pope Benedict XVI that starts the day after tomorrow: Divine Mercy Sunday, April 11, 2010. I've written about that before, too. ("Novena for Pope Benedict XVI, April 11-19" (April 5, 2010))

A novena is a set of prayers said over a nine-day period. Wait: I've said that before, too.

Related posts:

• "Novena for Pope Benedict XVI, April 11-19"
  (April 5, 2010)
• "Saints: That's so Medieval"
  (February 14, 2010)
• "3rd Sunday of Easter: A Reflection"
  (April 26, 2009)
• "Divine Mercy Sunday: a Few Words, a Link or Two"
  (April 19, 2009)
• "Reflections on Isaiah, 2nd Corinthians, the Gospel of Mark, and Saint Faustina"
  (March 7, 2009)

Divine Mercy devotion in Sauk Centre, Minnesota:

• "Devotion to The Divine Mercy"
  In Sauk Centre, Minnesota
• "The Divine Mercy: A Homily, Mercy Sunday 2002"
  (April 7 2002)

More, from the Vatican:

• "Mass in St. Peter's Square for the Canonization of Sr. Mary Faustina Kowalska"
  (April 30, 2000)
• "Mary Faustina Kowalska 1905-1938

Other "Divine Mercy" Websites:

• Marians of the Immaculate Conception
• "encouraging the faithful to follow her example by living the virtues she lived in the service of God."
• EWTN's Divine Mercy pages

Divine Mercy Sunday: a Few Words, a Link or Two

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday: the second Sunday of Easter.

There's a devotion to the Divine Mercy in Sauk Centre, where I live, that's into its third decade. The whole community was dedicated to the Divine Mercy in 1982, the year my wife and I married. There's a bit more detail about the local devotion in a Mercy Sunday homily from 2002.

There's a chaplet and a novena associated with the Divine Mercy devotion. (A chaplet is a collection of prayers, a novena is a set of prayers said over a nine-day period.)

And, a great deal more information at:

Marians of the Immaculate Conception
Association of Marian Helpers
Stockbridge, MA 01263-0004

1 800 462 7426

www.marian.org

Reflections on Isaiah, 2nd Corinthians, the Gospel of Mark, and Saint Faustina

Something Different

This post is a change of pace: Reflections on the readings of February 22, 2009, Saint Faustina, and a local devotion; written by Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas. All I've added is this introduction, and links to the readings for that day:

Readings for February 22, 2009, the Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time:

• Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25
• 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
• Mark 2:1-12

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Saint Faustina Homily

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
Feb. 22, 2009

Three very short reflections on the Readings and then I will share with you why I am here.

From Isaiah: God's Love for us is firmly established. Though God may chastise us for some wrong, it is always an expression of God's Love. God never grows weary of Loving and Caring for us, even when we grow tired of serving God.

From 2nd Corinthians: God's promises are trustworthy. God's "Yes" is always "Yes" and God's "No" is always "No". We do not have to wonder about the will of God for us. God provides a reliable context in which we can seek, find, and pursue God's will.

From the Gospel of Mark: Jesus was and is utterly holistic. He did not divide life into separate compartments. He did not separate physical and spiritual well-being. Health and salvation were both important to Jesus, and He recognized that in all of us they are intricately connected.

On this date from the Diary of Sister Faustina: February 22nd, 1931 we read: Sister Faustina sees a vision of the Lord Jesus, who tells her to paint an image according to the pattern she sees. About 28 years ago, in this community, a local wood carver carved an image of the Divine Mercy that he did paint according the rule you just heard.

Today we come together to honor, now Saint Faustina raised to the Altar by John Paul II on Mercy Sunday of the year 2000 while at the same time declaring that the 2nd Sunday of Easter would be forever called Divine Mercy Sunday. The importance to this community and to this parish, of our devotion to Divine Mercy, is of Infinite and Eternal Value.

I am, by God's Grace, that wood carver. Little did I know what I was getting into when in the late 70's I had bought some carving tools. Working with them for a little while I remember coming up from the shop, spitting and sputtering, that if I couldn't make tools better then that. My Agnes, God Bless her, simply said, "WELL". That was the beginning of my efforts to make carving and engraving tools, now numbering about 84 pieces. I brought them along for you to see, but please don't touch as they are very sharp. I like to call this story, "a page in the life of a wood carver."

By this time, this date, I've carved, Divine Mercy, St Isador, Our Lady of Fatima, Crosses and many non-church pieces. So Father Todd must have had an idea that maybe I would carve St. Faustina, but I told him my hands were so bad that I didn't think it was possible. Thinking and praying about it I really wanted to do it. So the next time I saw him I said. OK, Father, I'll carve you St. Faustina, but no time limit, when she's done she's done. OK, he said, what will she cost me? I responded, "IF! I can pull this off she will be so priceless you couldn't afford Her."

If memory serves this was about the first of November. Gluing together butternut of the same supply of Wood that was used in Divine Mercy and Mary and making a rough pattern, I was past the point of getting out of this. And with the help of my son Lawrence we began the roughing out. I moved her to the upstairs shop so I could work on her whenever. In the beginning with chisel and mallet I could work only for very short while. Either the wood had become harder over the years or I have become weaker. Maybe both, you suppose?

Doc. Jim helped with the molding and casting of her hands and face. Her face is taken from the face of Mary who stands in my shop and cast in dental stone. This then was put on a wood carving machine, that I also built, I was able to rough out her face. Enough so, that I didn't have to go through all the clay work for a normal model. Her hands however are cast in dental stone and installed as such. And are my wife's hands half size, that I used for Mary's hands. You may wonder why cast her hands, the reason being that hands are very hard to carve and I have the perfect set in Mary's hands.

A week ago or so the Fathers and Cindy had to come to my house to see how she was coming along. You know me, I had to tell them a story: I told them that while I was carving her I would talk to her from time to time and she never gave me any back talk, until the last day. I had just set her hands while she was on her back and when the glue dried I set her up and hollered, that's not what I wanted. In a flash it came to me that now her right had was raised in Blessing and the left hand is calling you and me to the Mercy Seat of The Merciful Jesus. The Sacrament of Confession is that Mercy Seat. She got the last word anyway!

Sister's Diary is full of the Mercy of God, but it stands out most sublimely in references to the Sacrament of Mercy. So to have this image of Saint Faustina in the wall of the Confessional is to invite you and me to that Sacrament. But also to fulfill what she said in her Diary, that her work of Mercy wouldn't really start until after her death.

Do you remember the last words of the Isaiah reading? "You burdened me with your sins, and wearied me with your crimes. It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake, your offenses; your sins I remember no more."

Sister records in her diary of a time when one of the sisters learned that Faustina was talking with Jesus and was begging her to ask Jesus if He had really forgiven her sins. Faustina reminded her that she goes to frequent confession, but please ask Him if he really forgives me. So to keep peace she did ask and Jesus said that he had really forgiven her but that she keep bring them up.

Let us be clear about one thing! Catholics do not and never will worship statues or woodcarving. However we are taught to see beyond the image to the one presented. So we honor Saint Faustina for no other reason then that God has honored HER. And has given her to us to help us on the way to the Mercy Seat of Almighty God.

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More:

• "Reflections from Sauk Centre's Our Lady of the Angels Church"