Trust is an important part of my faith. But even when I am in that place of trust, I am always amazed at how God works in my life. I would love to tell you that I always had this trust but that is not so. It’s something Our Lord is teaching me day by day. Aren’t we lucky to know that our God is a patient and loving God.
My life hasn’t been easy. And I know that many of you reading this can say the same. The ups and downs, the bad seasons and the good seasons are all a part of life. We have all had our crosses to carry.
In those times of trial, I feel very thankful for my Catholic faith. One thing I love about the church is the many prayers and novenas which are taught to us. When we are in need and don’t have the words, those prayers are there for us. And they speak to everyone. Every person of every faith can pray these prayers that have been passed down for generations. Many were given to a person during a vision and many of these holy people are now Saints within the Catholic church.
One particular prayer which is a big part of my prayer life and which has helped me get through tough times is The Divine Mercy Chaplet.
In 1935, St. Faustina received a vision of an angel sent by God to chastise a certain city. She began to pray for mercy, but her prayers were powerless. Suddenly she saw the Holy Trinity and felt the power of Jesus’ grace within her. At the same time, she found herself pleading with God for mercy with words she heard interiorly:
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; for the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us. (Diary, 475)
As she continued saying this inspired prayer, the angel became helpless and could not carry out the deserved punishment (see 474). The next day, as she was entering the chapel, she again heard this interior voice, instructing her how to recite the prayer that our Lord later called “the Chaplet.” This time, after “have mercy on us” were added the words “and on the whole world” (476). From then on, she recited this form of prayer almost constantly, offering it especially for the dying.
In subsequent revelations, the Lord made it clear that the Chaplet was not just for her, but for the whole world. He also attached extraordinary promises to its recitation.
Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you (1541). Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death (687). When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the Merciful Savior (1541). Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this Chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy (687). I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy (687). Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will. (1731) ~ https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/chaplet-history
A few years ago, I was carrying a heavy cross. A cross that I knew I could only handle with Our Lord. I couldn’t do it without Him, of that I was sure. I am so very thankful that I had this Chaplet and prayer to help me with the anguish my heart was feeling. I knew that the only thing I could do was to put all my trust in Him.
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!
There were days, when my brain wouldn’t stop sending me bad thoughts and worries, and it was those days when I needed these prayers the most. Over and over, again and again I prayed “Jesus I trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you!”
As I prayed and watched everything unfold during those three years, I grew in faith and trust. God was in control. The resolve might not be what I expected, but God took care to make sure that my life was my own again. All would be well.
When I look back on this season of worry, I can truthfully say ‘thank you Jesus”. Thank you for taking care of me during this Cross; thank you for teaching me to pray without ceasing and thank you for giving me The Chaplet of St. Faustina when I needed it most.
The Lord is my first thought in everything I do. He is the reason I do what I do. I want to share His love and this prayer of trust with everyone. Our Lord loves us so much! He is with us every day. Even when we don’t feel His presence, He is, as the song says, “A Bridge over troubled water.” Guiding us through all the seasons of our lives. We just need to step out of the way and walk with Him.
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!
