A Divine Mercy Meditation Novena: Weekly Message for 03-10-2020

Dear Fellow Digital Pilgrim, pax Christi:

As a child, I can remember being mesmerized by the process of oil painting.  I sometimes even preferred the Bob Ross painting shows over cartoons. Bob seemed to have a special power: he deftly applied a few strokes of paint onto a canvas and a majestic landscape would magically appear.  It was akin to God’s creating the world out of thin air!   

Despite this childhood love-affair, I never once took up a brush and tried to paint for myself.  Four years ago, however, I finally got a canvas and some oil paints and gave it a shot! While my first paintings did not inspire, I have by now a handful of humble paintings that eventually have graced a wall or two.   In the midst of my busy ministry, I relish the quiet and prayerful moments of slowly applying layers and layers of paint to create an image. These are some of the most creative and spiritual moments I have experienced. 

My second love affair has involved Divine Mercy.  Because of Divine Mercy, I am a priest today. The story of Divine Mercy, traced out in the pages of the diary of St. Faustina, reveals the slow and painful process of a very practical goal: to get an image of the merciful Jesus painted onto a canvas and hung in a church for the devotion of the faithful.  It seemed so simple a request of Jesus to Faustina, yet it took a lifetime of work. Last year I felt called to paint my own Divine Mercy image. It wasn’t that I wanted to do something better. Far from it! I just felt called to paint, simple as that. I will finish the painting this Lent, just in time for Divine Mercy Sunday.  

These small requests from Jesus, a whisper and a nudge to embrace mercy in your life, should not go unheeded.  Jesus seems to love these small acceptances of his love in our own life, and one accepted request from Jesus will always be followed by another. 

If you would like to know more about Divine Mercy and prepare yourself for this great feast day, RCSpirituality is providing you with two resources for your journey.  The first, a Divine Mercy Meditation Novena with my original painting of Divine Mercy. Sign up here.

Secondly, RCSpirituality is republishing my first book “I Saw His Face”.  In it are reflections and stories about powerful moments of Christ’s mercy.  This book is the fruit of another love of my life: missionary work in Latin America. Look for “I Saw His Face” to be released soon.

I hope you will join me!  God bless you and keep you this Lent!

Peace in Him,

Fr. Michael