I recently saw a devotion on EWTN, The Caplet of Divine Mercy. I recognised the image of Jesus shown in the program (Jesus with white and red beams of light eminating from his heart) with images I have seen recently in various parishes and my local Catholic bookstore. I see this image before me so often lately that I thought perhaps it was the Spirit leading me to join in this devotion, so I bought a small booklet to learn more about it. It seems to me that this devotion is spreading pwerfully, but I am not certain I understand it.

In particular, I am wondering about the opening prayer of the Caplet, which begins, "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 fo the whole world...for the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and the whole world" Maybe I'm rather thick headed (an entirely real possibility) but I am not certain about how it could be possible for us mere mortals to offer to God the Body, Blood, Soul, etc of Jesus. Isn't this saying, God, I offer you Jesus? Why am I offering Jesus to God, when God is the one who offered Jesus to us? Is it the Jesus in me that I am offereing? Is this prayer saying "because of Christ's passion, have mercy on us and the whole world?" I'm not trying to be at all disrespectful, I just don't understand the concept of asking God to do what we're supposed to be certain He has done - as if God needs a reminder? Is this penance? I don't understand. I thought the caplet was beautifully sung and extremely reverent, but I guess I am just not getting the whole concept of this devotion. I would very much like to understand it, though. Anyone out there who can help? Thanks, Ave Maria, Dana

-- Anonymous, July 06, 1998

Answers

Response to Questions about Devotion of Divine Mercy

Dana, perhaps the offering of the "body,blood,soul and divinity of Jesus" is referring to the Eucharist at mass. I don't know if this is the correct answer - just an idea.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 1998

Response to Questions about Devotion of Divine Mercy

Maybe this means that you are offering Jesus as the reason you feel you can come to God for forgiveness, sort of like proof. Because of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus you can go to God in Jesus name and ask for his forgiveness, help, etc.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 1998

Response to Questions about Devotion of Divine Mercy

Dana,

The doctrine relating to the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is that His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity are present in the Sacrament under either species. The tiniest morcel of the Host is the entire Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord. That's why we can receive the Bread alone and still be receiving Jesus whole.

The devotion seems very centred on the Mass to me. You seem to be offering your Communion as part of the prayer "I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ..." and calling on His Mercy for the sake of the Passion (remember the Mass is the unbloody reoffering of the bloody Sacrifice of Calvary).

Has anyone read Blessed Faustina's diaries who could shed a bit more light on the symbolism behind the words Our Lord chose for this chaplet when He appeared to her?

God bless, Paul McLachlan

-- Anonymous, July 06, 1998

Dana,

I don't know if this will help, but these three sites seem to have a lot of information. http://www.catholictradition.org/mercy.htm

http://www.zephyr.net/webshots/divine/

http://aoife.indigo.ie/~antho/novena.htm

-- Anonymous, July 07, 1998

Dana, The Divine Mercy chaplet can be best described by the words Jesus himself had Sister Faustina place under that painting, which He instructed her to have made: "Jesus, I trust in You". The Divine Mercy devotion is an abandonment to Jesus' Mercy. That is why the slogan says JESUS I trust in You; emphasizing the Name, which means God Saves. Also, the offering of the Body, Blood, Soul, Divinity and Passion of Jesus is itself the shelter under which we are taking refuge when we trust in His Mercy.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 1998