Divine Mercy Sunday

Happy Divine Mercy Sunday everyone!!!
Never mind the fact that it was actually yesterday. A ton of things came up last night right when I was originally planning on writing this. So this is as good as we're going to get.

I posted a you tube video the other day titled "Easter and Books!". Well, it was titled something else first and then I changed it to be more relevant. But you get the idea.
Here's the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMODBXbVxYE
I mentioned six books I've bought recently (If you'd like to know the titles, check the description box of the video), one of which was  Divine Mercy in My Soul by St. Faustina Kowalska. a.k.a. the young polish nun who Jesus chose to spread the Divine Mercy message to the whole world. Basically, it's her diary where she recorded everything Jesus told her.

I'm sure that most the people reading this know all about that, so I'm not going to go into the history of it. However, I would like to share my experience with the Divine Mercy Novena leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday.
This year was the first year I've prayed it, much thanks to praymorenovenas.com. It started on Good Friday and concluded on the seventh day of the octave of Easter (Saturday).

It. Was. Amazing.

Normally when I see in my inbox that there's a new novena coming up, I have to come up with some random intention to pray for. With this novena, there's a specific intention  included every day. With each day of the novena, you immerse certain souls in the sea of God's mercy and draw them into Christ's most compassionate heart- from religious to unbelievers to lukewarm followers.
There's almost nothing more awesome than that.
It was so calming- a spiritual peace would come into my soul as I said the first words of the novena each time. And praying the Divine Mercy Novena for nine days straight really made me aware of how praying for mercy for yourself and others gives us humility and allows us to be more patient and merciful ourselves.

I'm only 50 pages into St. Faustina's Diary, and already highlighting and notes can be seen on almost every page. It can be very random- a description of a trip to a shrine in one entry and then a deep reflection on forgiveness and tons of other mind-blowing things that only the Holy Spirit could have inspired.
Just as Jesus promised St. Faustina that she would receive many graces, so can we receive graces just from reading His message through her words.
I would highly recommend getting a copy if you're interested.

Divine Mercy is a devotion that every Catholic can fall in love with- especially with the Year of Mercy coming up.
It has already helped me have a stronger faith and prayer life, and it's only been a little over a week.
I can't wait to read even more and become more devoted to our Lord's mercy!

May you be constantly reminded of how much God loves you and that His mercy is unconditional no matter what happens in your life.

Easter✞

HAPPY EASTER!!!
It's always kind of bothered me that we don't have a special way to say "Happy Easter". Like "Merry Christmas". "Merry Easter" just sounds wrong.
And bunnies. Why bunnies?

But do you know what's more important?!?
Jesus.

I was going to have this whole long post about Lenten reflections, but then it was almost midnight and with only about 30 minutes of Lent left, I figured that it wasn't worth it. I also figured that you've had enough of my vague and deep ramblings. So instead I have something that is in no way vague and is straight to the point; a graph.

 

 

I can't measure the "amount of holiness" inside of me, but from what I can remember, it went something like this. Let's agree to ignore the first 3/4 of it. Now that last week- that was pretty fantastic.

I finally got myself to much-needed confession, was filled to the brim with awesome graces that made me feel finally close to God again, went to mass and stations, prayed, etc. The Triduum was pretty great too. I used to think that I had to be overwhelmed with intense emotions when thinking about anything related to Christ's Passion. But you don't, you just have to be there with Him, hold Him, wait for Him.

 

There's this image I've had in my mind over the past few weeks: walking the road to Calvary with Jesus, picking up my cross every day, and finally being worthy to die and rise with Him. Halfway though Lent, when I found myself not moving forward at all, I thought I wouldn't make it and that I'd be left behind. It wasn't until after He came back for me that I realized that I am and never will be worthy do die with Him. Even Peter, his right hand man, refused to be crucified the same way. It doesn't depend on if I'm worthy or not, it depend on if I'm willing to receive His mercy or not.

 

 

 

Easter, oh Easter. Is there really a certain way you're supposed to feel around Easter time? It's not warm and cozy like Christmas.

 

It's calm. The soft rain trickles onto the pavement. The green grass shoots up its roots inch by inch. The flowers open their buds and the degrees slowly rise. Everything is new.

There's joy. The joy of running into Christ's arms. Even just 3 days without Him is agonizing. His arms around you, relief flowing out of you from His embrace. Silence. Because no words need to be said between you. For my soul, being with Him is enough, and everything else is not enough.