I loved watching this show last evening on EWTN television. Great teachings on the Holy Eucharist!
“Living Divine Mercy” show
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Tag Archives: Divine Mercy
“St. Faustina’s Incredible Journey”
I recently sat down with Fr. Mark Mary and enjoyed a lovely and blessed discussion on the spiritual life and St. Faustina’s incredible journey. I was at the EWTN television network in Irondale, Alabama when I bumped into Fr. Mark Mary when I was coming out of the chapel from Mass. We chatted a bit and Father invited me on his podcast. We just had to figure out when we would fit it in. Since I was there to film three shows and was all booked up, it turned out the podcast would have to be at the “last minute”! Seems to be the story of my life. 😉 I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation.
Diary of a Future Saint: Faustina’s Incredible Journey
Hot off the press! Releasing NOW!
Diary of a Future Saint: Faustina’s Incredible Journey
“Young children are capable of great holiness. This book will help them get there!”
— Ralph Martin, S.T.D., Director of Graduate Theology Programs in the New Evangelization, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Archdiocese of Detroit
Finally, the inspiring story of Saint Faustina for young readers!
Far from a mere gathering of historic details, this is an engaging and readable biography. In her personal, conversational style, Donna-Marie is simply telling the story of one of her favorite saints. It’s a compelling story and, as it unfolds, she invites her readers to think about their own relationship with Christ, offering them practical ways to model their lives on Faustina’s. Though geared primarily for young people, this is perhaps the fullest and richest biography of Saint Faustina and will be a great blessing for young and old alike.
— Vinny Flynn, best-selling author of 7 Secrets of Divine Mercy
Book description:
Born Helena Kowalska, a simple Polish peasant farm girl at the dawn of the 20th century, Faustina was chosen by God to teach the world about His unfathomable Divine Mercy. Though mocked, ridiculed, and unbelieved, she earnestly followed Jesus’ commands, the Blessed Mother’s instructions, and saintly wisdom to tread an amazing mystical journey, filled to overflowing with gifts and graces to glorify God. She went on to become one of the world’s most popular saints. Befriend this lovable, down-to-earth saint through the work of celebrated author Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, an authority on the life of St. Fasutina and master storyteller, who presents St. Faustina’s life in this page-turning novel for all ages.
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Buy your autographed copy here: $15.95 U.S./ dollars plus shipping.
For purchasing when outside the United States, order here: $15.95 plus shipping
Longer book description:
In Diary of a Future Saint, an authority on the life of St. Faustina, master storyteller, and celebrated author Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, brings to life the incredible story of one of the world’s most popular saints, and according to St. John Paul II, “the great apostle of Divine Mercy in our time.”
This true biography reads like a page-turning novel and is written for ages ten and up. Helena Kowalska, once a poor Polish farm girl, whose family struggled during the years of World War I, perseveringly navigated many obstacles to follow her call to religious life. Even her pious parents stood in her way. One day, after a shocking visit from Jesus, Whom appeared covered in blood, the startled young aspirant fled to the nearby church, eventually eloping with Jesus in order to finally enter the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland during the 1930s.
Crossing over the threshold to religious life was an arduous journey for Helena, whom experienced crippling blows when doors shut in her face by the congregations that deemed her undesirable. With less than three years of formal education under her belt, Helena was considered to be no-one special, from a low rung of society. Therefore, when the door at the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy finally opened to her, the Sisters placed Helena in the “second choir” or class of nuns, responsible for the domestic duties.
Yet, it was there among the pots and pans, the dirty laundry, the vegetable gardens, and beggars at the gate where Jesus communed with His little bride. Helena, whom was later named Sister Maria Faustina, would flourish in the spiritual life hidden behind a cloak of humility. Saint Faustina received many graces and gifts (such as a hidden stigmata, visions, revelations, the gift of contemplation, bilocation, levitation, reading human souls, a gift of prophesy, deep knowledge of God’s mercy and of the Blessed Trinity, and mystical espousal). However, she never let on to anyone, with the exception of her directors, that Jesus Himself was instructing her to tell the world about His unfathomable Divine Mercy.
Divine Mercy is not a new revelation, for God has always been merciful. Yet, Heaven saw fit that Divine Mercy would be revealed in a new way. On the evening of February 22, 1931, Sr. Faustina was in her cell when Jesus appeared to her in the image of the Divine Mercy, which took her breath away! Jesus gave her explicit instructions in propagating His image and His promises to those who venerate the image. The young visionary also communed with the Blessed Mother, whom also guided her.
Early in religious life, Sr. Faustina’s Guardian Angel escorted her to Purgatory where she learned the need to pray for the holy souls. She also experienced Hell and all its chasms and observed many unspeakable torments. She learned that almost all souls perishing in Hell were ones who did not believe in Hell’s existence while on Earth. Sister Faustina had many enthralling experiences with holy angels and dreaded demons. Jesus asked Sr. Faustina to record her experiences, which she hand wrote in notebooks. Today, St. Faustina’s writings are known as the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska.
Saint Faustina’s Diary is God’s loving message of Divine Mercy for our world. Though Helena Kowalska was considered to be insignificant and uneducated, she was obedient to God’s designs on her soul and eventually raised to the altar as a canonized saint, Jesus’ “Secretary and Apostle of Divine Mercy.” Faustina’s humble faith and trust in God gives us great hope for our own lives.
Please visit the Marian Press website to learn more or to purchase there.
Stay tuned for additional endorsements to be posted.
Talking about forgiveness
I had the blessing and pleasure of chatting once again with Chris Sparks on “Sparks of Mercy” podcast. We discussed a tough topic. You can read the episode details below.
EPISODE DETAILS
It may be the hardest teaching Christ ever gave us: “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Lk 5:44). How do we live it? With her customary cheerfulness and down to earth practicality, author Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle takes the impossible into the realm of the commonsensical, offering practical advice on living loving mercy toward our enemies and so transforming our modern world. To order “Divine Mercy in a Woman’s Life: Milestones Along The Way” visit ShopMercy.org.
You can tune in at any time to listen to this recording. I suggest you get yourself a beverage and pull up a chair. It’s a 40 minute (or so) podcast.
Have a listen!
Divine Mercy Novena starts Good Friday!
Remember to start your Divine Mercy Novena on Good Friday! You can click here to go to the Marian’s website for all of the prayers. I will try to post Youtube videos throughout the novena. Pray for me please and I will be praying for you!
Jesus, I trust in YOU!
Donna-Marie on Springfield’s “Real to Reel” show
I presented a Divine Mercy Women’s Retreat Day at St. John the Evangelist parish in Agawam, Mass. last October. I gave two talks on Divine Mercy in a woman’s life with St. Faustina as our guide and conducted a workshop in which the women could share of their hearts — their struggles and joys, and how they have navigated various issues, to whom they looked to and for whom they spiritually mother — and just so much more.
It was so wonderful to spend precious time with the women gathered there. Springfield Diocese’s “Real to Reel” television show interviewed me and some of the beautiful women who attended the event. You can see the interview below.
Click on the video below to watch
Watch the entire show or scroll to the timer at the 11:52 point and it will end at about 19:30.
Divine Mercy Prayer Cord!
Brand new! New inspiration! A Divine Mercy prayer cord specifically created with men in mind. However, it’s also suitable for women as well. For yourself or for gift giving. It consists of 10 knots on a leather cord with lovely intricately designed medals. You can keep it in your pocket or purse. It can be a comfort to you in times of stress by simply holding it. After it is blessed, it will become a sacramental. The Saint Benedict Crucifix has been blessed already with the full exorcism blessing. It is created as a prayer cord on which you can pray the Divine Mercy chaplet on the 10 knots. One can pray the five decades on the Divine Mercy chaplet using this prayer cord. It comes with a red velvet bag and prayer cards.
It sells for $18.95 plus shipping. Or, two for $34.95!
To receive by First Class Mail (in the U.S.), please use the payment button below:
To receive by Priority Mail (in the U.S.), please use the payment button below:
For orders outside the United States, please use payment button below:
To purchase 2 for $66.99, with First Class postage, please use payment button below:
To purchase 2 for $66.99 with Priority Mail Postage, please use payment button below:
To order TWO outside the United States, please use payment button below:
Divine Mercy in a Woman’s Life!
Featured
I am very excited to share that my newest book — a labor of love for girls and women (written during the pandemic) will release soon!
Pre-order your AUTOGRAPHED copy NOW!
Four words effectively describe just how it is that the beauty and mystery of the feminine genius can stand up heroically to a broken and wounded world, resultant of the fall of our first parents: the Mercy of God. Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle’s book Divine Mercy in a Woman’s Life: Milestones Along the Way this important truth.
— Fr. Wade Menezes, CPM, Fathers of Mercy assistant general and EWTN series and radio host
This is a book for women of every age and in every season. The message of mercy can find a home in every season of our lives and this book guides the way.
— Leah Darrow, founder of Lux Catholic and author of The Other Side of Beauty
Here is a book that is original, profound, practical and potentially life-changing for readers. Divine Mercy in a Woman’s Life is a work that will enrich, engage and expand the feminine heart. The author provides rich content full of beauty and truth that leads readers on a spiritual journey of inner healing that culmi- nates in divine intimacy. I pray that women of all faiths will take up and read this amazing gift of grace. Highly recommended!
— Kathleen Beckman, author, A Family Guide to Spiritual Warfare and Praying for Priests
I will give you a SNEAK PEEK of the Introduction of the book to offer you a sense of what to expect.
“Jesus, I trust in you.” The message of Divine Mercy, given to us by Jesus through the writings of St. Faustina, are indeed words to live by, especially in these challenging times. Whether it’s the continued fallout from the coronavirus, political unrest, or problems striking closer to home with struggles in our per- sonal lives and families, women need to cling to this message of hope more than ever and learn more about the Divine Mercy message itself. Donna-Marie’s book helps us do both and then some, and is a greatly needed and timely resource for women of all ages.
— Teresa Tomeo, author and syndicated Catholic talk show host of “Catholic Connection” and “The Catholic View For Women”
Divine Mercy in a Woman’s Life is a wonderful book of spiritual and theological reflections and prayers, looking at a woman’s relationship with God through the lens of one of the greatest religious figures of the 20th century. Cooper O’Boyle’s soul-stirring meditations, heartfelt stories, and beautiful insights on a woman’s experience with Christ’s Divine Mercy provides spiritual food that will nourish and strengthen the reader’s prayer life in a deeply intimate and personal way. Divine Mercy in a Woman’s Life plants the seeds of wisdom in the rich soil of human experience that, when watered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit in an open heart, will undoubtedly bring forth fruit of sacred joy in the lives of women everywhere. An absolute must-read!
— Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, author, Father Augustus Tolton: The Slave Who Became the First African-American Priest
Women inspire other women. In Divine Mercy in a Woman’s Life, Donna-Marie offers many spiritual lessons from Jesus, the Divine Mercy, and His Apostle of Divine Mercy, St. Faustina. The author also shares her own life and experiences, along with other compelling true stories, inviting the reader to pause, act, and pray for God’s mercy. This book will enrich the faith of the women who read and pray with it.
— Fr. Edward Looney, host of the podcast “How They Love Mary” and author of A Lenten Journey with Mother Mary
Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle has taken the frequent messiness of women’s lives and turned it into something astonishingly beautiful. Every woman will find herself in this book and at the same time will discover the astonishing beauty within. Well done!
— Marge Steinhage Fenelon, award-winning author, retreat leader, internationally-known speaker, and Catholic media personality
Donna-Marie is truly anointed by God in many ways, especially her gift of writing! This beautiful book is so powerful and such a great resource to serve to equip Catholic women to be more like the woman described in Proverbs 31:26-31. Divine Mercy in a Woman’s Life is like a training manual for girls and a guide- book for women that uses St. Faustina’s writings as a guide and leads us through the many milestones a female encounters from birth to death, giving us expert advice along the way to help us become more holy and pleasing to our Lord. Every Christian woman should own this book. And for men, it’s a great book to give to your daughter, your wife, or your girlfriend.
— Gail Buckley Barringer, founder, Catholic Scripture Study International
Women need a lavish experience of Christ’s Divine Mercy as a balm of grace. Divine Mercy in a Woman’s Life fuses the Divine Mercy message with real life in every stage of womanhood. Because we women are so poured out, it’s only necessary that we have His Mercy pour in. This beautiful book is a little spring of Divine Mercy for His ladies.
— Alexis Walkenstein, evangelist, producer, author
You can pre-order your copy below by using the button. You will then receive one of the first autographed copies. Lord willing, my book will release very soon. I hope that you will share the news of my upcoming book so that today’s girls and women will learn valuable life lessons from our sister St. Faustina and our Lord Jesus, our Blessed Mother, and the saints!
Pre-order your AUTOGRAPHED copy NOW!
Reflecting on 9/11
My friend June who had worked nearby to the horrifying devastation that occurred on 9/11 paused to reflect upon the events of her day, and nineteen years later, has shared her thoughts with me.
“I was living in Westchester County, north of New York City,” she recalled, “and taking the Metro-North commuter railroad to Grand Central terminal on the East side of New York City each day.” This began her trek to work, which she did so often, she could probably do it in her sleep!
It began as a typical work day for June. Buses, taxis, trucks, and cars were out in full force. Shop owners were opening their doors for business, while conversations emanated from newsstands and breakfast kiosks, and the unmistakable satisfying rich aroma of freshly brewing coffee wafted through New York City’s air.
My friend recalled her typical morning, “I would then walk to my office at the Verizon location at 42nd Street and 6th Avenue.” Every day, June naturally took in the day-to-day New York City sights and sounds as she walked briskly to get to work.
Looking south from 6th Avenue, the view was dominated by the twin towers.
Though the daily sights and sounds along June’s commute were pretty much predictable, she remembered that on that particular morning, she had made a point to pause and make a mental note of appreciation of the incredible beauty that caught her eye.
June told me, “As I reached 6th Avenue and approached the Verizon building, I recall looking south, seeing the towers, and thinking what a beautiful day it was. Without a single cloud, the sky was an incredible rich blue.”
Mental note taken, she kept up her swift morning pace and got to the office for what she imagined would be yet another true to form work day.
That striking eye-catching beauty that June had gazed upon earlier and so much more was about to quickly evaporate. As June recalled, “I was on a call, when someone came to my office to tell me that a plane had hit one of the towers.”
Dumbfounded, June went over to one of the offices with a view south and “saw just one tower standing.”
“For the sake of His sorrowful Passion…”
She immediately turned to God. June said, “I prayed for everyone, including friends who were working at the Verizon building across the street.” Within minutes, a second plane hit the other tower. As June watched in utter disbelief, she shared, “The second tower fell.”
She added, “I recall praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for all the souls.”
The Empire State Building is just eight blocks from the Verizon 42nd Street building. “Fearful that a third plane might target the Empire State Building,” June said, “about 11 AM, upper management advised us to vacate the building and head home.” June made immediate arrangements with her brother who was working at the same location. They met in the lobby, along with another worker, who headed out with them. June said, “Because no trains were leaving from Grand Central, we decided to walk to my brother’s home in Queens.”
June deeply reflected and continued to share her experience, “By 11 AM, with almost all traffic stopped and no planes flying overhead, and the hushed tones of other people nearby, midtown New York City was eerily quiet.” She told me that suddenly everything had dramatically changed. There were, “No engines humming, no impatient horns tooting, no boisterous crowd conversations.” None of that was left—it had totally, frighteningly dissipated into thin air, it seemed.
June called to mind, “It was spooky without all the noise of daily hustle and bustle.” She vividly remembered, “With so many walking—heading uptown, walking across the bridges usually filled with vehicles—the visual was like that of refugees walking miles to safety.”
Eerie silence remains vividly in her thoughts
June could not forget. “Everyone was focused on the billowing smoke where the towers had been downtown.That frighteningly eerie silence is still very vivid in my thoughts.”
“We walked about seven or eight miles into the heart of Queens,” June shared. The siblings found a tour bus driver who was willing to take them a few miles farther. June said, “At that point, off the bus, we neared the famously heavily traveled Long Island Expressway.”
June recalled the experience. Even eerier still, “With no vehicles traveling on the Expressway, the only sounds we heard were the booms of fighter jets flying overhead.”
June’s brother contacted a parish priest who is a good friend stationed at a church about three miles from where they were at the time. “The priest had to navigate through police blockades but did reach us about an hour later.” June will never forget that long journey when, amid countless others who suddenly found themselves in the same inconceivable predicament, the three of them kept putting one foot in front of the other to get to safety.
“We started our journey at 11 AM and reached my brother’s home about 4 PM.”
It was a trek that June, her brother, their priest friend, and thousands of others would never forget. June said, “I stayed with my brother overnight. The following day, he was able to drive me to the Westchester train station where I had left my car the previous morning.”
As June recollected, she stated a couple of times, “I can hardly believe that all this, and more in the months that followed, happened 19 years ago!” It is still so very fresh in the minds of countless people.
June counted her blessings and told me, “We were fortunate to have been far enough uptown to only see the macro picture of what was happening, but our friends who worked at the Verizon building across the street from the towers saw, felt, and experienced everything within a couple of hundred feet.”
June stated, that because of the unimaginable horrendous trauma, “A number of them suffered from PTSD afterward and still have difficulty today.”
Sadly, in addition to the horrifying devastation thousands have experienced and have even perished from, many others suffer from “survivor’s guilt,” and, as June pointed out, “many are reliving the trauma of seeing everything close up.”
June shared with me, “My brother and I pray each year for the deceased and also for the survivors, those friends and heroes who were there that day and those who worked later at the site doing rescue, recovery, and cleanup.”
June encourages us, “If you haven’t had an opportunity to go to the memorial and museum, both are beautiful solemn tributes.”
“A Hard Life Redeemed” TV Interview with Ralph Martin
I recently visited with Ralph Martin President of Renewal Ministries on 2 of his television shows: “The Choices We Face.” It was a blessing to share the faith with Ralph. The shows were aired recently on EWTN TV. You can see the first one “A Hard Life Redeemed” here below. I hope that you enjoy it. God bless you!
Discussing Divine Mercy with Ralph Martin and More!
I hope that you have had a very blessed Divine Mercy Sunday yesterday. No doubt, it was an unusual one since we are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Nevertheless, Jesus’ promises are very real and His Mercy is available to all.
The Marian’s at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusettes put on a tremendous presentation yesterday on Divine Mercy Sunday. It aired through EWTN television. You can see the Mass here on Youtube.
When speaking to His Apostle and Secretary of Divine Mercy, St. Faustina, Jesus has always emphasized that His Mercy is especially for the most hardened sinners. Let us never hesitate to turn to God and ask for His Mercy. He is waiting.
Last September, I had the privilege of meeting up with Ralph Martin, S.T.D. in the television studio in Michigan to film two shows for his series, “The Choices We Face.”
Ralph Martin is the President of “Renewal Ministries” and Director of Graduate Theology Programs in the New Evangelization at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit. I have known about Ralph for many years and finally met him a few years ago at a Catholic Leadership Conference where we both spoke. Ralph is known worldwide as a sincere and talented dynamic speaker and evangelizer. I thoroughly enjoyed our time together and feel very blessed to have been on his shows.
Before, during, and after the filming, we enjoyed fascinating conversations about Divine Mercy, St. Faustina, and my book 52 Weeks with Saint Faustina: A Year of Grace and Mercy.
Ralph also surprised me by adding another book and additional Saintly friends into the mix. You’ll see that on our shows.
I want to let you know that the first show will air tomorrow (April 21, 2020) on EWTN television. After giving you the schedule, I’ll also let you know another way in which to watch.
UPDATED to say that I heard from someone that the show aired on Boston Catholic TV today (Monday). Perhaps, it is now available in their archives.
Here’s the Schedule for EWTN
FIRST WEEK OF AIRING:
The first show will air on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at 5:00 PM ET. It will air again on Friday, April 24, 2020 at 6:30 AM ET.
The second show will air on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 5:00 PM and will re-air on Friday, May 1, 2020 at 6:30 AM ET.
THE SECOND WEEK OF AIRING:
The first show will air on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 5:00 PM ET. It will air again on Friday, October 23, 2020 at 6:30 AM ET.
The second show will air on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 5:00 PM and will re-air on Friday, October 30, 2020 at 6:30 AM ET.
The Diary Is Not in Chronological Order
Many don’t realize that the Diary of St. Faustina is not in chronological order. It is a treasure trove of amazing wisdom on God’s Divine Mercy and contains direct teachings from Jesus Himself! However, since the order of writings is not chronological, sometimes people get a bit confused when reading it. I encourage everyone to stick with it! It will definitely help your spiritual life and growth in holiness.
As well, I want you to know that I have written 52 Weeks with Saint Faustina in a chronological order. I go through St. Faustina’s entire life and put it all into 52 topics that are relevant to the spiritual life. I researched heavily and relied only upon strictly approved sources. I wove pertinent messages from the Diary all throughout my book. The book is appropriate for the laity and religious alike.
You don’t need to start the book in January. You can start at any time of the year and read at your own pace, read straight through, or pause weekly and ponder the week’s teaching for a period of a week before moving to the next teaching.
I really believe that St. Faustina helped me to write the book! I had her relic with me all throughout the writing and asked for her intercession all throughout. I think readers might find the Preface and the Afterword interesting, for I disclosed personal sentiments and experiences.
I Feel Honored
I am humbled and blessed by the Foreword by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC.
He wrote:
Can I make a bet with you? I bet that if you take up this book and spend 52 weeks with St. Faustina, these weekly meditations will change your life. Why am I so confident about that? Because Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, a great Marian Helper, popular author, and EWTN show host, has created about as faithful and as thorough a presentation on the spirituality and the writings of St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), the Secretary and Apostle of Divine Mercy, as I’ve ever read. It’s a deep dive into the life and writings of one of the greatest mystics in the history of the Church, a religious sister who was given to us by God specifically for the times we are living in today.After all, St. Faustina died just before World War II; not in the Middle Ages; not in the time of the apostles; nothing like that. She’s a modern saint whose teachings are timeless, and who has helped bring about more miracles than most other saints. How? She shared the Divine Mercy message and devotion with the world.I’ve been preaching and practicing the Divine Mercy message and devotion for more than a decade now, especially since I joined the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. I’ve met people whose lives have been transformed by their encounter with St. Faustina in her work the Diary of Saint Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul, and with the Divine Mercy message and devotion. I’ve heard stories of miracles such as people being healed of incurable illnesses. I’ve been told about stubborn lapsed Catholics and resistant non-Christians finding their way to church, coming to the regular practice of the Sacraments, and changing their lives forever. I’ve seen how powerful it is to preach the Divine Mercy, touching hearts that all the fire and brimstone in the world could not change.So again, I challenge you to spend a year — 52 weeks — with St. Faustina. And I make this promise: If you spend time every week for the next 52 weeks doing the reading, meditating on what you learn, praying the weekly prayer, and performing the weekly works of mercy, your life will be touched by grace in ways you can’t even imagine right now.Saint Faustina changes lives. The Divine Mercy message and devotion that she was given by Jesus, a reminder and a prophetic restatement of the classical Gospel teaching on the mercy of God, changes lives.And when you’ve completed spending your year with St. Faustina, I hope you do two things. First, I hope you plan to make another 52 weeks with St. Faustina again someday. Second, I hope that you share this book with someone who you think would find it a blessing. After all, Jesus said to St. Faustina, “Souls who spread the honor of My mercy I shield through their entire life as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior” (Diary, 1075). Donna-Marie has certainly earned that promise from Jesus, the Divine Mercy, by writing this book. You can, too, by sharing what you read with your family, friends, and neighbors.Come spend 52 weeks with St. Faustina. Let your life, your mind, and your heart be renewed. Come meet St. Faustina, and let her lead you to a deeper relationship with Jesus, the Divine Mercy; Mary, the Mother of Mercy; and the whole Communion of Saints. May Jesus, the Divine Mercy, bless you, and may Mary, the Mother of Mercy, always keep you safely under her mantle.
–Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, “Fr. Joseph, MIC,” Director, Association of Marian Helpers, October 5, 2018, Feast of St. Faustina
In addition
I feel very honored that Ralph Martin told me on the show that 52 Weeks with Saint Faustina benefited his own life and that he felt my book was “…the best presentation in a clear, orderly way, of her spiritual teaching” that he knew of…
Ralph had also stated:
“I’m not usually keen about reading one of the 30 days or 52 weeks kind of books as I don’t usually find them going into depth enough to decently treat the saint they are focusing on. But it was different with Donna-Marie’s book. As I began to skim through it in preparation for doing a Television interview with her I realized that this book was different and I wanted to read it from cover to cover. This is the best integration of the main events of St. Faustina’s life and the best presentation in a clear, orderly way, of her spiritual teaching that I know of. I am very grateful for this book and highly recommend it.”
You can go to the Renewal Ministries website to see the shows there as well or click on the image below!
I hope that you can tune into the shows. As well, please share this post with your friends and loved ones. We all need God’s Divine Mercy. We also need to learn more about it.
Hopefully and prayerfully, Ralph’s and my visits on “The Choices We Face” will help. Jesus, I trust in YOU!
God bless you!
Donna-Marie
Divine Mercy Sunday Coming Up!
We are in the midst of praying our Novena to Divine Mercy and Divine Mercy Sunday is rapidly approaching. With most all churches closed right now due to the worldwide pandemic, how do we prepare? How can we receive the special blessings and indulgences?
I will get to that shortly.
First, I’ll share something from last year’s Divine Mercy Sunday at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusettes. I was invited to give a speech about St. Faustina and Divine Mercy to an audience of about 20,000. It was a frigid day in the Berkshires. Nevertheless, I felt unbelievably blessed to be there and to share about my friend St. Faustina, once a simple freckle-faced Polish farm girl who was called by God to tell the world about God’s unfathomable Divine Mercy.
Those of us on the stage there, where the main altar is situated were using hand warmers to prevent frostbite. I was wearing many layers, two coats, big clunky boots, and gloves and a hat. Yet, I and others were still shivering in the cold. Nonetheless, the bitter cold couldn’t deter us—God’s graces seemed just about palpable on that special day.
You can see the image of St. John Vianney in front of the podium. That is because the relic of the esteemed Saint’s heart had made its way to the Shrine at that time. It’s on that pedestal on the right. What a blessing to be so near to it and have the chance to venerate it earlier.
As Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC finished up his speech, I quickly shed one of my coats, and after I was introduced to the audience, I quickly approached the podium.
Here is my short speech in case you’d like to take a listen. 🙂
Divine Mercy Sunday 2020
This year, Divine Mercy Sunday will be very different from those we have experienced in the past. However, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC tells us not to be discouraged and not to worry. He gives us concrete straightforward instructions and helps us by telling us what we can do differently this Sunday (April 19, 2020) to make it a most important day in our life n receiving the Extraordinary Promise Jesus offers us on Divine Mercy Sunday.
Fr. Chris Alar, MIC instructs:
Do these three things on Divine Mercy Sunday with the intention to turn away from sin in your life:
- Make an Act of Contrition
Since you are unable to get to Confession, make an Act of Contrition, instead. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is ‘sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again’” (1451).
You thereby will be completely forgiven of all sins, even “mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible” (Catechism, 1452).
- Make a Spiritual Communion
Since churches are closed and you cannot receive Holy Communion, make a Spiritual Communion instead, asking God to come into your heart as if you received Him sacramentally — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. For instance, you can say this:
Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Blessed Sacrament.
I love You above all things and I desire You in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
As though You were already there,
I embrace You and unite myself to You;
permit not that I should ever be separated from You.
Amen.
Again, do this act of trust with the intent to return to the sacrament of Holy Communion as soon as possible.
- Say a prayer like this:
Lord Jesus Christ, You promised St. Faustina that the soul that has been to Confession [I’m unable, but I made an Act of Contrition] and the soul that receives Holy Communion [I’m unable, but I made a Spiritual Communion] will receive the complete forgiveness of all sins and punishment. Please, Lord Jesus Christ, give me this grace.
But there’s much more that he has to tell us, and I encourage you to read the entire post here. As well, please watch the video below and feel free to share this blog post far and wide.
As well, please watch Fr. Alar’s video below. Please also share this post to help others to prepare for Divine Mercy Sunday.
Enjoy the video:
Watch Fr. Chris Alar, MIC.
Finally, I’d like to also tell you that Fr. Gordon MacRae, a priest prisoner
posted about my book 52 Weeks with Saint Faustina: A Year of Grace and Mercy in his blog post today: “Divine Mercy in a Global Pandemic.” You can read it here.
Available at my website. Click here.
Please share this blog post to help others to prepare for Divine Mercy Sunday. Jesus, we trust in YOU!
God bless you!
Donna-Marie
Let’s talk about authentic JOY
The following is an excerpt from the Marian Press book 52 Weeks with St. Faustina by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle:
“Sow happiness about you … They should take leave of you with their hearts filled with joy.” — Diary, 55
Our spiritual exercise this week is all about joy. We will delve into how our desires for happiness must correspond to God’s desires for us, and that we can be joyful as we endure trials at the same time. Many times, St. Faustina’s joy was intertwined with tortures she felt in the spiritual life. This week, we learn authentic joy from St. Faustina and the other saints. Let’s get right to it!
God wants us to be happy. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that is possessed by angels and human beings. Joy grows in our souls out of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Saint Teresa of Calcutta used to say, “A joyful heart is a normal result of a heart burning with love.” She told her sisters that if they didn’t have joy in their hearts, they could pack up and go home. It might sound harsh, but she knew that the poor did not deserve to be served by grumpy nuns! She also often said, “Joy is a net of love by which we catch souls.” This is a bit similar to the phrase that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Speaking of which, no one wants to associate with a sour-faced person! Once when lacking the time to deal with pettiness, false piety, and grumpiness, St. Teresa of Avila said, “From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us!” The authentic joy that radiates from our loving souls can deeply affect those in our midst. As Christians, we are to exude joy. It actually will help to transform lives (our own, too!).
My former spiritual director Servant of God Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ, agreed with St. Teresa of Avila that our joy needs to be real. He also emphasized that our desires for happiness must correspond to God’s desires for us. In a lecture about joy, he said, “Who is the happiest being in existence? Who? God. And the most fundamental reason why God made us is that we might share in His happiness. Why go into the subject?” he asked. “Because Christianity is the religion of joy. There’s a sure way of turning people off or turning them away from the true faith if we who profess the faith are obviously unhappy. That is something, by the way, you can never mask. You can pretend to be happy. You can claim to be happy, but if you’re not happy, you’re going to reveal yourself. And finally, why go into the subject? Because even people who are more or less happy ought to be more happy.”
How do we become more happy and possess joy? Father Hardon explained, “Joy is satisfaction, or the satisfaction of having one’s desires fulfilled … But … only those desires satisfied which are truly good. What then is truly good which, once we get it and possess it, we are happy? [When] your desire corresponds with what God wants.”
One time when Sr. Faustina was given spiritual counsel by Fr. Andrasz, SJ, he told her:
Act in such a way that all those who come in contact with you will go away joyful. Sow happiness about you because you have received much from God; give, then, generously to others. They should take leave of you with their hearts filled with joy, even if they have no more than touched the hem of your garment. Keep well in mind the words I am telling you right now (Diary, 55).
She strove to do just that.
Torture and Joy Intertwined
Earlier, we discussed the time at Plock when Jesus revealed the Divine Mercy Image, and Sr. Faustina felt much uncertainty because there was no one who could tell her that she was on the right road. Then one day, one of the sisters heaped her anger upon Sr. Faustina. “You queer, hysterical visionary, get out of this room; go on with you, Sister!” She continued to lash out at her. Sister Faustina held her upsetness inside and rushed to her cell, where she fell down on her face before the Crucifix. She looked at Jesus, but she was speechless. “I could no longer say a single word,” she recalled (Diary, 128). Suddenly, Satan took advantage of her pain and planted doubts and discouragement in her mind. Sister Faustina thought, “How can one be sincere when one is so misunderstood? Jesus, Jesus, I cannot go on any longer.” She again fell to the floor under the weight of her anguish. “I broke out in a sweat, and fear began to overcome me.” She felt so alone. “Suddenly, I heard a voice within my soul. ‘Do not fear; I am with you.’ And an unusual light illuminated my mind, and I understood that I should not give in to such sorrows. I was filled with a certain strength and left my cell with new courage to suffer” (Diary, 129).
Even though Sr. Faustina felt a renewed strength after that trying incident, for some reason, she grew a bit negligent. In part, she was afraid of being deceived. She wrote, “I did not pay attention to these interior inspirations and tried to distract myself. But despite the noise and distraction, I could see what was going on in my soul.” God doesn’t leave us alone. He seeks us out. Sister Faustina wrote, “The word of God is clear, and nothing can stifle it. I began to avoid encounters with the Lord in my soul because I did not want to fall prey to illusions.” She continued, “However, in a sense,” she said, “the Lord kept pursuing me with His gifts; and truly I experienced, alternately, torture and joy” (Diary, 130). Sufferings were mounting and would soon come to a peak. Sister Faustina would make up her mind what to do about the doubts she was experiencing.
Something to Ponder
We know God wants us to be happy — truly happy. Yet, in the spiritual life, we will endure many trials. As St. Faustina shared in her Diary, she humbled herself in prayer before God when she was at her wits’ end with sufferings. God gave her peace and an abiding joy in her heart. We can be joyful and endure trials at the same time. The deep and abiding joy in our hearts is in knowing that in the end it will all work out. We know that there is eternal life, where we will indeed be happy forever with God in Heaven. When our hearts are heavy in anguish and trial, let’s be sure to always look up to God and ask for His help. Let’s ask for the gift of joy in our hearts, especially so that we can share that joy with others who might be struggling. Saint Teresa of Calcutta told me often, “Keep the joy of loving Jesus ever burning in your heart and share this joy with others by your thoughtful love and humble service.” That particular quote was taken from a personal letter that Mother Teresa wrote to me on October 5, 1988 (the 50th anniversary of St. Faustina’s death and now her feast day)!
A Merciful Action
All those around you in your family and beyond deserve to see your joyful demeanor and actions, and to hear your joyful words. It can be difficult when we are tired or suffering in some way. We need to pray for the graces and put forth the efforts. Carry out beautiful deeds of mercy this week with a joyful, loving heart!
A PRAYER OF MERCY FOR THIS WEEK
(To be prayed each day this week.)
Dear Merciful Jesus, help me to radiate Your love and joy to all I meet. Mother Mary, show me how. Saint Faustina, please pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen.
See this excerpt at the Marian Press website.
Special Endorsement!
Here is a wonderful endorsement sent to me today by Ralph Martin:
“I’m not usually keen about reading one of the 30 days or 52 weeks kind of books as I don’t usually find them going into depth enough to decently treat the saint they are focusing on. But it was different with Donna-Marie’s book. As I began to skim through it in preparation for doing a Television interview with her I realized that this book was different and I wanted to read it from cover to cover. This is the best integration of the main events of St. Faustina’s life and the best presentation in a clear, orderly way, of her spiritual teaching that I know of. I am very grateful for this book and highly recommend it.”
Ralph Martin, S.T.D.
Director of Graduate Theology Programs in the New Evangelization
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Archdiocese of Detroit
Saint Faustina and my trip to Renewal Ministries
I have been very busy of late and haven’t had the chance to blog much at all. However, I’ll pause from the deadlines to share a bit here today.
Not long ago, I was blessed to visit the Renewal Ministries television studio in Detroit, Michigan to film two television shows with Ralph Martin who had invited me to share with him on air about my new book 52 Weeks with Saint Faustina: A Year of Grace and Mercy.
It was a whirlwind trip, getting in one evening and up the next morning to be whisked to the studio to do the two shows before heading straightaway to the airport to fly back home. I think we got a lot accomplished that day of filming. All by God’s amazing grace.
The shows called “The Choices We Face” will air on EWTN television in the Spring of 2020. I will keep you posted. In my next blog post I will share something special that Ralph sent to me today…stay tuned!
Talking about Divine Mercy: Part One
EWTN television recently aired my visit with Johnnette Benkovic Williams on her Women of Grace show. We discussed my book 52 Week with Saint Faustina: A Year of Grace and Mercy as well as St. Faustina and God’s unfathomable Divine Mercy. You can see Part One here. Part Two is also in this link but you need to be a member of the Women of Grace website to view that one.
Unfortunately, the Part Two was pre-empted on the day it was to air. I don’t know when it might air. However, if you are a member of the WOG website, you can see it anytime. I still have not seen it myself! 🙂 I will keep you posted when I hear when Part Two will air on EWTN television.
Here is my book which can be read at any time of the year. It does not follow the Liturgical seasons. I hope that you get a chance to read it. Saint Faustina has a way of stirring hearts. You can purchase an autographed copy on my website.
“These Stone Walls” prisoner to pilgrimage with “52 Weeks with Saint Faustina”
I just found out yesterday that my book 52 Weeks with Saint Faustina fell into the hands of a prisoner. I don’t want to give away the story yet because I want you to get the chance to read his blog post on your own.
This is how he began his blog post…
“The GTL Tablet I purchased last year revolutionized life behind these stone walls, but I found myself quickly becoming dependent on its technology. Prior to the tablet, my only phone access was through a few outside collect-call-only telephones with poor connections. Depending on where we were living, there were up to 40 prisoners for each available phone. Just imagine living in a house with 40 adolescents sharing a single telephone. Not even Dante’s Inferno could depict such a scene.
In a New Hampshire winter, placing calls from prison meant long frigid waits outside in the howling wind and weather. After two winters of daily calls to TSW helpers in just that way, these tablets became available. I had heard rumors that they would have telephone capability, but I had serious doubts that this prison would ever allow such a thing. I was therefore shocked when my $149.00 GTL tablet arrived in April 2018 equipped with headphones, a microphone, and a phone app.
It worked great, and the prepaid calls placed through GTL were just a fraction over one-cent per minute compared with the up to 15-cents per minute we were paying for the privilege of getting frostbite. No more sharing a single telephone with 40 other prisoners. No more standing in line shivering early in the morning. No more having to talk on a phone after the last five guys sneezed on it. You get the point. The GTL tablet and its available features changed how life is lived here.
Until I dropped it…”
His story is really fascinating and you’ll see that it now involves my book, 52 Weeks with Saint Faustina: A Year of Grace and Mercy.
As well, this prisoner said he is going to pilgrimage with Saint Faustina and blog about it.
So, take a look at his blog post. I have no doubt that you will find the story fascinating. It is here.
Enjoy his blog post and let me know your thoughts in the comments. By the way, I dug further and read his back story. I won’t say any more for now to allow you to read it as well. Please pray for him. He surely needs our prayers.
