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     This weekend we observe the Second Sunday of Easter, more and more coming to be considered by many parishes as Divine Mercy Sunday as we finish up Easter Week on Friday and Saturday, the Octave of Easter. For the readings, liturgy, and meditations for Divine Mercy Weekend, click on DAILY LITURGY FOR THE WEEKEND.

Friday, April 9: Easter Friday
Eighth Day of the Novena for Divine Mercy

First Reading: Acts 4: 1-12
Psalms: Psalm 118: 1-2, 4, 22-27
Gospel Reading: John 21: 1-14

Saturday, April 10: Easter Saturday/Easter Octave
Ninth Day of the Novena for Divine Mercy

First Reading: Acts 4: 13-21
Psalms: Psalm 118: 1, 14-21
Gospel Reading: Mark 16: 9-15

SUNDAY, April 11: SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

First Reading: Acts 2: 42-47
Psalms: Psalm 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24
Second Reading: 1 Peter 1: 3-9
Gospel Reading: John 20: 19-31

   The Second Sunday of Easter supersedes the Feast of Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr who is traditionally commemorated on this day.

      The principal patron saint of Cracow in Poland is Saint Stanislaus who was born near that city in 1030. Because he had been born of noble parents they could afford to send him to Paris in France where, while studying there, the fruits of a vocation to the priesthood came to full flower. Returning to Poland he became a priest and was designated to be a preacher and canon by the bishop of Cracow at that time, Bishop Lampert Zula. The fame of Stanislaus' sanctity and preaching prowess spread throughout the city and beyond and he was sought out by many for spiritual direction. In 1072 Bishop Zula died and Stanislaus was appointed his successor at the age of 42. Though he did not want this office, he humbly accepted it with a special emphasis on the poor. Stanislaus angered the King of Poland at that time - King Boleslaus II who had just been victorious over the Russians at Kiev. Though Boleslaus was a great king militarily, his morals left much to be desired and Stanislaus rebuked him for his way of life, threatening excommunication if the king did not mend his ways as a role model of the people in the highest office of the land. Rather than repenting, Boleslaus called for Bishop Stanislaus' head by ordering his assassination. However three times the soldiers the king had commissioned to do this dastardly deed failed. So incensed was Boleslaus that he took it upon himself to silence good Stanislaus, bursting into the church where the Bishop was celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on April 11, 1079 and the evil king became the vehicle by which Stanislaus attained martyrdom in the Church. He was buried in St. Michael's church in Kalka, Poland and canonized two centuries later by Pope Innocent IV in 1253, when the Holy Father declared him the first Polish saint to be officially recognized as a martyr. To this day Stanislaus is looked upon by the Polish people as the symbol of Polish nationhood.

Monday, April 12: Easter Weekday

First Reading: Acts 4: 32-37
Psalms: Psalm 93: 1-2, 5
Gospel Reading: John 3: 7-15

      This weekend we conclude with DIVINE MERCY NOVENA with the Eighth Day of the Divine Mercy Novena and the Ninth and Final Day of the Divine Mercy Novena.

"Today bring Me the souls who are detained in Purgatory, and immerse them in the abyss of My Mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My Justice. It is in Your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My Justice."

     Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your Justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your Mercy may be celebrated.

      Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your Mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

It is greatly recommended the above novena intentions and prayers be said together with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

"Today bring Me souls who have become lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My Mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My Soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will." For them the last hope of salvation is to run to My Mercy."

     Most Merciful Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure Love let these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your Mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your Love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your Power.

      Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your Mercy. Amen

It is greatly recommended the above novena intentions and prayers be said together with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

      Devotion to Divine Mercy is conveyed through the Chaplet of Divine Mercy as Jesus imparted to Blessed Sister Faustina Kowalska when He relayed, as recorded in her diary "Divine Mercy in my soul", "Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you (1541)...Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death (687)...When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the Merciful Savior (1541)...Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this Chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My Infinite Mercy (687)...Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will. (1731).

      Following is the formula for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, prayed on the regular beads of the Rosary. It is most appropriate to pray it at 3 o'clock in the afternoon which is the "Hour of Great Mercy" as Jesus said to Blessed Faustina: At three o'clock, implore My Mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the Hour of Great Mercy...In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion. (1320).

      The Chaplet begins with the OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, and the APOSTLES' CREED. Then on the large bead before each decade one recites:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

On each decade of the small beads, pray the following:
For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

At the end of the Chaplet recite three times the following prayer:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Then conclude with the following prayer said three times also:
O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as Font of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

      It is recommended to offer each decade to the wounds of Christ, such as the first decade in reparation for the wound in HIs Right Hand; the second decade in reparation for the wound in His Left Hand, the third decade in reparation for the wounds in His Sacred Feet; the fourth decade in reparation for the wounds in His Head in which the Crown of Thorns crushed His Sacred Skull; and the fifth decade in reparation for the wound in His side in which Blood and Water gushed forth as a Font of Mercy for all generations.

      The Novena to Divine Mercy, which Jesus asked Blessed Faustina to begin on Good Friday, 1937 is for nine days from Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter) which is the Feast of Divine Mercy. Jesus told her, By this Novena [of Chaplets and particular intention each day] I will grant every possible grace to souls. (796).

Events this weekend in Church History

      This weekend we commemorate the anniversaries of the death of two Popes and the election of another. Friday marks the 1,284th anniversary of the death of Pope Constantine while Pope Donus passed away 1,321 years ago this Sunday. Saturday is the 444th anniversary of the election of Pope Marcellus II whose pontificate lasted only three weeks. For other events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history this weekend, click on MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

Historical Events in Church Annals for April 9:

715 A.D.


Death of Pope Constantine who helped Spain maintain the faith and introduced the gesture of kissing the foot of St. Peter's statue. Born in Syria, he was elected on March 25, 708. During his seven year papacy he was carried off to Constantinople by force, yet used this to his advantage by bringing about some form of peace between the Church and the Byzantine Empire. He also encouraged the Christians of Spain in their fight against the infidels.

1483 A.D.


Death of Edward IV, King of England. His brother Richard becomes the "Protector" of Edward's son - twelve year-old Edward V.

1486 A.D.


Maximilian I is crowned King of Germany during the reign of Pope Innocent VIII

Historical Events in Church Annals for April 10:

787 A.D.


The first organ in France is installed in the Church of Saint Cornielle in Compiegne, France by Pepin, King of France and future Holy Roman Emperor.

1191 A.D.


England's Richard I leads his army out of Sicily, leaving the area vulnerable to the Hohenstaufen forces and greatly hurting the Papal States power.

1555 A.D.


Pope Marcellus II is elected the 222nd in the line of Peter, but he does not last a month, dying on May 1, 1555. He was the last Pope to maintain his baptismal name. In just three short weeks he would stamp his own sense of austerity and justice on the curia. He would interest himself greatly in the Russian and Mongolian peoples and, after his death, Pierluigi da Palestrina would compose the famous "Mass of Pope Marcellus."

Historical Events in Church Annals for April 11:

678 A.D.


Death of Pope Donus, the 78th successor of Peter and the Pope who brought an end to schism in Ravenna. Born in Rome, he was elected on September 2, 676. During his two year pontificate he also encouraged the bishops to support the new schools in Germanic Gaul and that of Cambridge in England.

1079 A.D.


The martyrdom of Saint Stanislaus, Bishop of Cracow, who was slain by King Boleslaus II of Poland while Stanislaus was celebrating Holy Mass.

1506 A.D.


Construction begins on the new Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican under the guidance of Pope Julius II who enlisted the talents of Michelangelo and Raphael.

1512 A.D.


The Papal Troops and the Holy League armies are badly defeated by the French at Ravenna, Italy but the plight of the alliance of the Holy League leads to help from the Swiss troops which results in driving France from Italian soil and creates the evolution of the famous Swiss Guard who guard the Vatican today.

"Come to Me. Drink freely from the Font of Divine Mercy and do not grow weary. "

      Those words above come from Our Lord on the Fifth Sunday of Lent in 1994 and they pertain just as much on Divine Mercy Sunday this year as ever before. In Message #472 Jesus invites all His children to share in His Passion so that we might all share in His glorious Resurrection. His Blessed Mother prefaces this in her St. Patrick's Day Message #471 to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart when she encourages her little ones to emulate Patrick's devotion to the Holy Trinity and seek to fully accept the Cross and walk with her Divine Son. For Messages 471 and 472, click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

Message Four Hundred-seventy-one, March 17, 1994

      Beloved Hidden Flower, how I love you. That which has been shown to you shall come to pass in the fullness of God's Time.

      Beloved children, as you celebrate in worldly ways this feast of St. Patrick, I solemnly tell all my children that you would do better to meditate on that infused knowledge imparted to St. Patrick, which was to spread the eternal truth of the Most Blessed Trinity. On this day, be mindful that at all times your thoughts, words, and deeds are before the Triune Divinity. The Oneness of God cannot be comprehended by your finite mind, but God imparts to humble souls the understanding of this sublime mystery which leads the soul to intimate union.

      Therefore, I beseech all of you to prostrate yourself before the Triune Divinity and beg of God the grace to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and to be one with my Divine Son's Passion! O! If only you could realize how great it is to love my Son's Passion and be a living, loving victim offered to the eternal Father.

      This, my children, shall prove to be a year that many will recognize as the River of Sorrow. I feel your sorrow and I intercede for you before the Triune Divinity. Prepare your hearts and souls by deep love, abiding trust, and faith that is unshakable.

      I love and bless you. Thank you for responding to my Call!

Message Four Hundred-seventy-two, March 20, 1994

      Beloved Hidden Flower of My Mother's Immaculate Heart, be at peace for I am with you.

      Please tell all My children that it is My Mercy which allows them to pass through the crucible of suffering now so that they may come closer to Me and love Me with all their being.

      Little children, soon you will celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation! O! What a solemn feast. Contemplate well the fathomless Mercy of God in this Mystery; I, your God, became man in the ever-immaculate womb of Mary, and in My obedience I subjected Myself to all of man's pains and sorrows. My crucifixion began at this moment, and culminated on Calvary.

      Therefore, learn from Me. You must walk as I walked -- a life of loving obedience intertwined with suffering and Perfect Love for 33 years. Why then do you grow weary of My Mother's messages?

      Why do you seek for more than that which is given? O! Be not of shallow faith for that is what placed the Cross on My shoulder! O! Be not of little trust, for My grief at your lack of trust caused Me to fall three times on My way to execution! O! Be not of little love, for this nailed Me to the Cross upon which I surrendered My spirit to My Father, and which allowed the soldiers' lance to pierce My Sacred Heart.

      Come to Me. Drink freely from the Font of Divine Mercy and do not grow weary. I solemnly tell you: Keep your eyes upon Me and seek the Holy Spirit, that you live My Mother's messages. All that has been revealed shall come to pass.

      And, little children, do not be concerned over temporal things. Keep watch upon your soul, for the Justice comes swiftly. Trust in Me, and all that you truly need shall be given unto you. Enter into the Refuge of My Sacred Heart and let all who are called come together as the first Christians lived.

      I am with you and I bless you. Solemnly do I say to you: Prepare!

     We continue with this new series that debuted the beginning of the year, bringing you on a regular basis three times a week the Princes of the Church. Our forty-first red-hat we feature, in alphabetical order is Cardinal Angelo Felici, former head of both the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" who received his red-hat in Pope John Paul II's Consistory of June 28, 1988. For more on Cardinal Felici, click on COLLEGE OF CARDINALS COLLECTION

41.   Cardinal Angelo Felici

      Even though he is nearly 80 years-old, Cardinal Angelo Felici started out young, very young in service to the Church. Born on July 26, 1919 in Segni outside of Rome, he enroled in the Pontifical Diplomatic Academy at the age of 23 as a sub-deacon and received a special age waiver from Pope Pius XII to be ordained the same year on April 4, 1942. After completing his studies he entered Vatican diplomatic service at the unusual age of 26 in 1945 being weaned by the best when he became a member of Cardinal Tardini's First Department of the Secretariat of State (Section for General Affairs and Council for Public Affairs of the Church as well as the Council of Cardinals and Bishops) in July of that year. For 19 years he learned the ins and outs of curial politics as well as diplomatic policies. In February, 1964 he was appointed Under-Secretary of the Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs which was restructured three years later by Pope Paul VI to become the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church and on June 28, 1988 would be renamed by Pope John Paul II as Secretariat of State.

      On July 22, 1967 Pope Paul VI ordained him bishop, bestowing the honor of Titular Archbishop of Cesariana and naming him Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the Netherlands, a position he held until 1976 when he became Nuncio to Portugal and three years later to France where he remained until 1988 when, in the Consistory of June 28, 1988 John Paul elevated him to the cardinalate. He received the titular church of Sts. Blaise and Charles in Catinari as a cardinal deacon and was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints a few days later on July 1, 1988, an office he held until resigning in 1995 to become President of the Pontifical Commission 'Ecclesia Dei' for that year before the mandatory retirement age of 75.

      Since then Cardinal Felici's curial expertise and long service experience has been helpful through his memberships in the second section of the Secretariat of State, the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, the Congregation for Bishops, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Congregation for the Clergy and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

March 25th Medjugorje Monthly Message

    Dear children! I call you to prayer with the heart. In a special way, little children, I call you to pray for conversion of sinners, for those who pierce my heart and the heart of my Son Jesus with the sword of hatred and daily blasphemies. Let us pray, little children, for all those who do not desire to come to know the love of God, even though they are in the Church. Let us pray that they convert, so that the Church may resurrect in love. Only with love and prayer, little children, can you live this time which is given to you for conversion. Place God in the first place, then the risen Jesus will become your friend. Thank you for having responded to my call.

For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE AND MORE

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April 9-11, 1999 volume 10, no. 70   DAILY CATHOLIC