Blessed Virgin Ma

At a vigil mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2007, the John Paul II Centre for Divine Mercy was consecrated to Our Blessed Motherunder the mantle of the Immaculate Conception.

She who was conceived without sin represents mercy in its purest form.

Mary had no need of restoration as she did not suffer Original Sin and, as such, then is able to lead us to her son who is The Divine Mercy of God.

She stands with us at the foot of the Cross as we draw life from Jesus crucified. We are purified in the blood and water that flowed from his side. This blood represents the Eucharist, the lifeblood of souls and the water, the Sacraments of Baptism and Reconciliation where we are washed clean in the Holy Water of Christ.

On December 8, 2007, Cardinal Hummes, the Prefect for the Congregation for the Clergy issued a letter, with the blessing of the Holy Father, asking that every diocese in the world establish a Eucharistic Adoration chapel or Shrine Church to pray for priests and vocations. He also initiated an invitation to all women to embrace their spiritual maternity, to adopt priests in prayer for their sanctification.

Eucharistic Adoration for the Sanctification of Priests and Spiritual Maternity (.pdf)

As the John Paul II Centre was consecrated to Mary on that day, we understand this to be our special call. Mary was and is the Mother of the Eucharist, we also respond in mercy to be Men and Women of the Eucharist.

HAIL MARY FULL Of GRACE,
THE LORD IS WITH YOU

Father Gillespie is the Preacher and Retreat Master at Montfort retreat houses in Litchfield, CT, and Bay Shore, NY. He is responsible for planning and presentation of weekend retreats and programs of formation in the spirituality of St. Louis de Montfort. His ministry includes itinerant preaching of parish missions, days of renewal and recollection in English and Spanish, Youth retreats and Catechetical programs for youth and adults. He is the author of Preparation for Total Consecration according to St.Louis de Montfort and Presenting Total Consecration (DVD). Fr. Gillespie is Acting Director at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Island. He serves as the Managing Editor of Montfort Publications, and National Moderator of the Association of Mary, Queen of All Hearts.

Fr. Gillespie is the Spiritual Director of The Legion of Mary Regina Cordium Praesidium. He was born in Jim Thorpe, PA. He graduated from Weston Jesuit School of Theology, MDiv, STL in Systematic Theology. He was ordained in 2006 at St. Mary Gate of Heaven Church, Ozone Park, NY

Pope Francis’ prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God!” You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God. Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.

We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy,you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

Amen

Prayer of John Paul II For Divine Mercy

As a gift to humanity, which sometimes seems bewildered by the power of evil, selfishness, and fear, the Risen Lord offers His love that pardons, reconciles, and reopens hearts to love. It is love that converts hearts and gives peace. How much the world needs to understand and accept Divine Mercy!

Lord, who reveals the Father's love by Your death and Resurrection, we believe in You and confidently repeat to You:

Jesus, I trust in You,
have mercy on us and
on the whole world.
Amen

From the message that our Holy Father of beloved memory prepared for the Regina Caeli on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 3, 2005. On April 3, it was read by a Vatican official to the faithful after Mass at St. Peter's for the eternal repose of the soul of John Paul II.

Chaplet of Divine Mercy

The Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy website has outlined the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for us. Rather than redo their good work, we're providing a link.

Click here to go to the Chaplet.

"Yes, I feel it; even though I had on my conscience all the sins that can be committed, I would go, my heart broken with sorrow, and throw myself into Jesus' arms, for I know how much He loves the prodical child who returns to Him. It is not because God, in his anticipating mercy, has preserved my soul from mortal sin that I go to Him with confidence and love...."

St. Therese of Lisieux

Salve Regina (Latin Text)

Salve Regina, Mater Misericordiae vita
dulcedo et spes nostra salve,

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae,
ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina - English Translation)

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy
our life, our sweetness and our hope.

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

A Prayer for Canada

O Heavenly Father, we commit this our beloved land to the Kingship and Lordship of Jesus Christ.

We ask you to renew our country in the power of the Holy Spirit, that all Canadians may bow their knee and confess with their tongue that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We pray that our political leaders receive Wisdom and Knowledge from on high to govern this land according to Your Sovereign Will and that we may prosper in Justice and in Peace, in Love and in Truth until our Lord is indeed the King of Canada from coast to coast, from sea to sea.

We pledge a covenant of prayer and witness so that the powers of evil be defeated and the enemy of God, Satan be subdued.

Let Jesus Christ be Sovereign in every City Hall, every Parliament and every Court in our land until the day of His Glorious coming.

Amen

St. Joseph, Patron Saint of Canada, pray for us.