Reading Assignment #31: Diary entry 1540, and 1541

“1540 (124) January 28, 1938. Today the Lord said to me, My daughter, write down these words: All those souls who will glorify My mercy and spread its worship, encouraging others to trust in My mercy, will not experience terror at the hour of death. My mercy will shield them in that final battle…

1541 My daughter, encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given to you. It pleases Me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet. When hardened sinners say it, I will fill their souls with peace, and the hour of their death will be a happy one.

Write this for the benefit of distressed souls; when a soul sees and realizes the gravity of it sins, when the whole abyss of the misery into which it immersed itself is displayed before its eyes, let it not despair, but with trust let it throw itself into the arms of My mercy, as a child into the arms of its beloved mother. These souls (125) have a right of priority to My compassionate Heart, they have first access to My mercy. Tell them that no soul that has called upon My mercy[…]”

Excerpt From: Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. “Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul.” iBooks.

5 thoughts on “Reading Assignment #31: Diary entry 1540, and 1541”

  1. Hello everyone!

    The only thought I had about these passages that wasn’t already better said by everyone else is that they sort of reinforced for me how Christianity is a bit of a paradox. I think G.K. Chesterton talked about that a lot, but I could be mistaken. You know, like how the first shall be last and the last shall be first, in order to be rich we have to become poor, wise we have to become simple, that sort of thing. Anyway, the whole point about how the people that need His Mercy the most are the ones that have first dibs on it…..that’s not usually how we humans operate, is it? At least I don’t anyway, I’m much more interested in seeing justice served than mercy given I think. But what a comforting thought…..that even though I screw up so badly and so often, even though what I deserve for the things I’ve done is eternal separation from Him, He still forgives me and wants to be merciful to me, if only I ask Him for it. What a great and wonderful God we serve!

  2. #1540
    Again, we are not to keep this awareness of His Divine Mercy to ourselves but readily share it with anyone we come up to who is in need of hearing this message of hope & mercy. One part of a sentence that struck me, was, “will not experience terror @ the hour of death,” leads me to believe this earth has quite a “purification,” in it’s future.

    #1541

    In this reading the 1st paragraph refers to sharing with others the chaplet. The part where He would grant all they ask for, is incredible. I;m sure the granting of such favors would only be to help their souls. Then He mentions the last hour of their death being a peaceful/happy one. This is very reassuring.

    The 2nd paragraph Our Lord refers to enlightening distressed souls to the depths of their sins & asks them to turn to His mercy, never despairing. This made me think of somewhere in the bible where the question was asked about our sins being exposed to all — who could endure it? We must stay focused on His compassionate heart. There is our salvation.

    How hopeful the last part of this reading is! If we pray the chaplet before a dying person- Christ will stand between us & His Father & be the merciful Savior. What incredible hope for all of us!!!

    God bless, Colette

  3. My first thought after reading both of these passages was of being with my Mom right before she died. I just wished I had the chaplet to say for her because she was so scared. Knowing what a powerful prayer it is, it would have been the perfect help for her. Sister Gabriel and I just talked to her about Jesus and His love. I trust in His mercy that He was with her and the prayers for her and my Dad were answered. I feel so fortunate and blessed I had them for parents.

    The chaplet is part of my life every day!! With all the chaos in this world and the problems in the USA it is comforting to know that this prayer is so powerful!! We do have to TRUST in His mercy.

  4. Greetings,

    1540 & 1541. Taking both of these selections together these are quite incredible promises: 1.) That if I glorify His Mercy and promote devotion to His Divine Mercy, I will be shielded at the hour of my death from any terror; 2.) (In praying the chaplet we ask “atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world”) it pleases our Lord to grant everything asked by the chaplet (in which we ask atonement); 3.) Our prayers as members of the faithful, in God’s economy, are applied to hardened sinners who will receive peace and a happy death.

    As an aside, one of those Gene and I mourn who died recently emailed us in April, “Thanks for the Divine Mercy card. Divine Mercy Sunday is probably the most eagerly awaited weekend for me each year. What a gift to everyone.” Jesus, through St. Faustina urges us to promote this gift. Jesus then addresses distressed souls, those overwhelmed by the gravity of their sins — Do not despair. Throw yourself on My Mercy as a child into your mother’s arms — you have 1st access to My Mercy! Note this is all recorded around the end of January, 1938, the year of St. Faustina’s death in October. Bonnie.

    I am reminded of my year at Alexian Brothers Hospital being trained as a Chaplain after I retired in 1992. Each day consisted of the morning teachings with the afternoon for on the floor “practice.” During that year I attended over 100 plus deaths ministering to those dying as well as their families, and if appropriate praying together with them. I wish I knew the Chaplet then. “… 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.” Lord, could my Chaplets now be retroactive?! Gene.

  5. Peace,

    I regret not knowing the power of the Divine Mercy chaplet, earlier in my life; So many people I could have prayed the chaplet for during their last moments on earth. Now, as knowledge of the power of Divine Mercy unfolds for me, I again feel a “call to action” to promote God’s Mercy. I know my efforts are small and sometimes – one step forward and two steps back – but I pray I may continue. That sentence also struck me ” Will not experience …..” and got my attention too.

    God continually reassures me that saying the chaplet is part of His goodness; throughout the Diary, He states His desire to give us Mercy. The promises of what saying the chaplet will bring is something I am trying to get my arms around and understand. I am comforted and appreciate knowing that the “distressed” (def. suffering from anxiousness, sorrow, or pain) “have first access to His Mercy” and I pray, given the opportunity, I may share His Mercy with the distressed people I meet.

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