When I found out my dad was dying, I grabbed a few things from home and rushed to the hospital. I took a Bible, a cross, a rosary, a nightlight of the Holy Family, and a photo of my dad, sister, niece, and me. I stayed in the hospital two nights with my dad until my family brought him home. We were told that there was only a matter of days and hours left. I tried to imagine Jesus in the room with us for comfort by thinking that when my dad passes away, he would go straight from us into the arms of Jesus, how there would be no pain or sadness for him but only the purest joy he’s ever known. I thought of that comforting image and I prayed almost constantly. The prayer I silently repeated was the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
I went to a Catholic school growing up and had heard of the Divine Mercy Chaplet but had never prayed it myself during that time. The year before my dad was in the hospital, I went through a season of heartbreak and started praying more. I sought after prayers that could give me a miracle, hope, or even just some peace at night. This was when I learned how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and would pray it especially when I had anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and memories that kept me awake. The repetitive nature of the prayer calmed me and helped me fall asleep. It gave me something to do in what felt like a helpless situation.
The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a prayer brought to this world from Jesus through Saint Faustina. It focuses on the sacrifice of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross, and calls us to trust in God’s mercy which is greater than anything we will face in this world (how to pray the Chaplet).
The Chaplet repeats the prayers: “For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
And: “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.
And closes with: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
Having a parent near death was always a fear of mine, as it is for most of us. While the last few days with my dad were painful to endure, I was also surprised by the presence of peace. I felt a sense that everything would be okay no matter what happened. If God gifted a miracle and healed my dad, it would be okay. And if he went to heaven, it would be okay.
My dad passed away at the hour of Divine Mercy, three in the afternoon. This reassured me that God had heard all of my prayers and that His mercy was with my dad and me.
Since my dad’s passing over one year ago, the Divine Mercy Chaplet has been so special to me. I continue to pray it and have become amazed by how it’s the perfect prayer for so many situations. I pray it at night when I have too many thoughts, worries, and pains in my heart. I pray it when I feel hurt by my own mistakes, when I feel regret over the ways I’ve failed to love others. I pray it when I feel broken by the ways others have failed to love me. I pray it for people in my life and for those who used to be. I pray it over situations that feel hopeless.
Praying the Chaplet has given me a deep appreciation for what mercy is. Pope John Paul II called Divine Mercy “the greatest of the attributes and perfections of God,” and wrote “As a gift to humanity, which sometimes seems bewildered and overwhelmed by the power of evil, selfishness, and fear, the Risen Lord offers His love that pardons, reconciles, and reopens hearts to love. It is a 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 today: Jesus, I trust in You, have mercy upon us and upon the whole world.”
For most of my life, I never felt a strong connection to the word “mercy.” Mercy sounded like the high level relief from punishment granted to undeserving sinners including me. But now I appreciate mercy as the unmatched, infinite love of God which flows over us and fills in every hole in our hearts and lives left behind by pain and sin. If there was only one prayer I could share with my friends, the Divine Mercy Chaplet would be it. So I share it with you today on Divine Mercy Sunday. I pray that you feel God’s mercy and love fill the holes in your heart and bring you peace where you need it most.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23