Divine Mercy question? Thanks!

[Megan7]

Hello,

I read in another thread that traditionalists do NOT pray the Divine Mercy.

Could someone please explain why, I have no idea ?

Thanks for the help!

PAX,

Megan

 

[SaintPatrick333]

This is news to me. Hope someone answers, I’m interested in knowing also?

 

[TrueLight]

There was a somewhat long thread on this not too long ago:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=664793&highlight=divine+mercy&page=10

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I do. I think it is a wonderful devotion, very appropriate for our times.

 

[Granum_Frumenti]

There was a somewhat long thread on this not too long ago:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=664793&highlight=divine+mercy&page=10

Thanks for the link! The thread is shorter if you skip over the extensive derailing (first concerning the SSPX, later concerning “independent priests”), and the on-topic posts were informative.

Without too much experience with the subject, I was already guessing the “Vatican II” objection.

Also, some time ago I’d seen the objection concerning devotion to the Sacred Heart on one webpage, but I haven’t had any clear idea how widespread that objection was. (I give that objection as much weight as I would to objecting to devotion to the Precious Blood because it’s supposedly a distraction from the Sacred Heart, or objecting to the rosary because it’s supposedly a distraction from the Sacred Heart, or…)

Among self-identified traditionalists, is there a significant difference in acceptance of the devotion between those who are in communion with Rome and those who aren’t? (That aforementioned webpage is from someone who isn’t.)

 

[Chatter163]

Incorrect. I myself attend an FSSP parish and MANY of our people, myself included, follow the Divine Mercy devotion.

 

[TrueLight]

I don’t know many traditionalists who would attend the Divine Mercy Conference.

 

[ImmaculataFides]

I thought I posted the answer to this in another thread? Anyway, some don’t. Many still do. I will post the reason why below, from the Angelus magazine:

The Angelus
June 2010

Questions and Answers
by Fr. Peter R. Scott

What are we to think of the Divine Mercy devotion?

Many people have certainly received graces from the devotion to Divine Mercy propagated by St. Faustina, and her personal piety was certainly most exemplary. However, this does not necessarily mean that this devotion is from God. It is true that Pope John Paul II promoted this devotion, that it was through his efforts that the prohibition was lifted on April 15, 1978, and that he even introduced a feast of Divine Mercy into the Novus Ordo. However, the fact that good and pious people receive graces and that Sister Faustina was pious do not necessarily means that it is from heaven. In fact, it was not only not approved before Vatican II. It was condemned, and this despite the fact that the prayers themselves of the chaplet of Divine Mercy are orthodox.

Condemned by the Holy Office

There were two decrees from Rome on this question, both of the time of Pope John XXIII. The Supreme Congregation of the Holy Office, in a plenary meeting held on November 19, 1958, made the following decisions:

The supernatural nature of the revelations made to Sister Faustina is not evident.

No feast of Divine Mercy is to be instituted.

It is forbidden to divulge images and writings that propagate this devotion under the form received by Sister Faustina.

The second decree of the Holy Office was on March 6, 1959, in which the following was established:

The diffusion of images and writings promoting the devotion to Divine Mercy under the form proposed by the same Sister Faustina was forbidden.

The prudence of the bishops is to judge as to the removal of the aforesaid images that are already displayed for public honor.

What was it about this devotion that prevented the Holy Office from acknowledging its divine origin? The decrees do not say, but it seems that the reason lies in the fact that there is so much emphasis on God’s mercy as to exclude His justice. Our sins and the gravity of the offense that they inflict on God is pushed aside as being of little consequence. That is why the aspect of reparation for sin is omitted or obscured.

The true image of God’s mercy is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, crowned with thorns, dripping precious blood. The Sacred Heart calls for a devotion of reparation, as the popes have always requested. However, this is not the case with the Divine Mercy devotion. The image has no heart. It is a Sacred Heart without a heart, without reparation, without the price of our sins being clearly evident. It is this that makes the devotion very incomplete and makes us suspicious of its supernatural origin, regardless of Sister Faustina’s own good intentions and personal holiness. This absence of the need for reparation for sins is manifest in the strange promise of freedom from all the temporal punishment due to sin for those who observe the 3:00 p.m. Low Sunday devotions. How could such a devotion be more powerful and better than a plenary indulgence, applying the extraordinary treasury of the merits of the saints? How could it not require as a condition that we perform a penitential work of our own? How could it not require the detachment from even venial sin that is necessary to obtain a plenary indulgence?

Presumption in the Writings of Sister Faustina

The published Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalski (Marian Press, Stockbridge, MA, 2007) also indicates several reasons to seriously question the supernatural origin of the more than 640 pages of voluminous and repeated apparitions and messages. The characteristic of any true mystic who has received supernatural graces is always a profound humility, sense of unworthiness, awareness and profession of the gravity of his sins. Yet this humility is strangely lacking in Sister Faustina’s diary. On October 2, 1936, for example, she states that the “Lord Jesus” spoke these words to her: “Now I know that it is not for the graces or gifts that you love me, but because My will is dearer to you than life. That is why I am uniting Myself with you so intimately as with no other creature.” (§707, p. 288). This gives every appearance of being a claim of being more united to Jesus than anybody else, even the Blessed Virgin Mary, and certainly more than all the other saints. What pride, to believe such an affirmation, let alone to assert that it came from heaven!

Continued…

 

[ImmaculataFides]

I thought I posted the answer to this in another thread? Anyway, some don’t. Many still do. I will post the reason why below, from the Angelus magazine:

The Angelus
June 2010

Questions and Answers
by Fr. Peter R. Scott

What are we to think of the Divine Mercy devotion?

Many people have certainly received graces from the devotion to Divine Mercy propagated by St. Faustina, and her personal piety was certainly most exemplary. However, this does not necessarily mean that this devotion is from God. It is true that Pope John Paul II promoted this devotion, that it was through his efforts that the prohibition was lifted on April 15, 1978, and that he even introduced a feast of Divine Mercy into the Novus Ordo. However, the fact that good and pious people receive graces and that Sister Faustina was pious do not necessarily means that it is from heaven. In fact, it was not only not approved before Vatican II. It was condemned, and this despite the fact that the prayers themselves of the chaplet of Divine Mercy are orthodox.

Condemned by the Holy Office

There were two decrees from Rome on this question, both of the time of Pope John XXIII. The Supreme Congregation of the Holy Office, in a plenary meeting held on November 19, 1958, made the following decisions:

The supernatural nature of the revelations made to Sister Faustina is not evident.

No feast of Divine Mercy is to be instituted.

It is forbidden to divulge images and writings that propagate this devotion under the form received by Sister Faustina.

The second decree of the Holy Office was on March 6, 1959, in which the following was established:

The diffusion of images and writings promoting the devotion to Divine Mercy under the form proposed by the same Sister Faustina was forbidden.

The prudence of the bishops is to judge as to the removal of the aforesaid images that are already displayed for public honor.

What was it about this devotion that prevented the Holy Office from acknowledging its divine origin? The decrees do not say, but it seems that the reason lies in the fact that there is so much emphasis on God’s mercy as to exclude His justice. Our sins and the gravity of the offense that they inflict on God is pushed aside as being of little consequence. That is why the aspect of reparation for sin is omitted or obscured.

The true image of God’s mercy is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, crowned with thorns, dripping precious blood. The Sacred Heart calls for a devotion of reparation, as the popes have always requested. However, this is not the case with the Divine Mercy devotion. The image has no heart. It is a Sacred Heart without a heart, without reparation, without the price of our sins being clearly evident. It is this that makes the devotion very incomplete and makes us suspicious of its supernatural origin, regardless of Sister Faustina’s own good intentions and personal holiness. This absence of the need for reparation for sins is manifest in the strange promise of freedom from all the temporal punishment due to sin for those who observe the 3:00 p.m. Low Sunday devotions. How could such a devotion be more powerful and better than a plenary indulgence, applying the extraordinary treasury of the merits of the saints? How could it not require as a condition that we perform a penitential work of our own? How could it not require the detachment from even venial sin that is necessary to obtain a plenary indulgence?

Presumption in the Writings of Sister Faustina

The published Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalski (Marian Press, Stockbridge, MA, 2007) also indicates several reasons to seriously question the supernatural origin of the more than 640 pages of voluminous and repeated apparitions and messages. The characteristic of any true mystic who has received supernatural graces is always a profound humility, sense of unworthiness, awareness and profession of the gravity of his sins. Yet this humility is strangely lacking in Sister Faustina’s diary. On October 2, 1936, for example, she states that the “Lord Jesus” spoke these words to her: “Now I know that it is not for the graces or gifts that you love me, but because My will is dearer to you than life. That is why I am uniting Myself with you so intimately as with no other creature.” (§707, p. 288). This gives every appearance of being a claim of being more united to Jesus than anybody else, even the Blessed Virgin Mary, and certainly more than all the other saints. What pride, to believe such an affirmation, let alone to assert that it came from heaven!

Continued…

 

[Chatter163]

I don’t know many traditionalists who would attend the Divine Mercy Conference.

I do, including a former pastor of mine, an FSSP priest.

 

[TrueLight]

I do, including a former pastor of mine, an FSSP priest.

Cool.

 

[Megan7]

There was a somewhat long thread on this not too long ago:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=664793&highlight=divine+mercy&page=10

Dear TL,

Thank you!!!

 

[Monica4316]

Incorrect. I myself attend an FSSP parish and MANY of our people, myself included, follow the Divine Mercy devotion.

I also attend an FSSP parish and I also follow the Divine Mercy devotion. It helped lead me to the Church. I’ve also heard sermons from traditional priests about Divine Mercy feast day etc. I think it’s a great devotion.

 

[Dempsey1919]

The Divine Mercy devotion is very traditional and a lot of traditional Catholics follow it. Personally, I see it as another aspect of the devotion to the Sacred Heart.

 

[Basilios]

Some SSPX Priests preach against it. But I have a devotion to it. When I was a Novice in a Traditionalist community we were encouraged to pray the chaplet at 3pm in our cells for dying sinners.

 

[sparkfrompoland]

I have often wondered why traditionalists seem to have a problem with any private revelation since Fatima (although Akita does from time to time get a look in)
www.divinemercypopes.com

 

[Filioque]

I think because it was promoted more universally during the Pontificate of Pope John Paul, there are many who label themselves Traditionalist who look at the devotion with supsicion.

I really did not pay much attention until I got word of my brother in law’s death. When we first met almost 30 years ago he was a lapsed Mormon who would spew the most anti-catholic venom. When my sister started to return to the Faith, she invited her parish priest to dinner. When Fr. S arrived, my now late brother in law said, I Hate the Catholic Church, I Hate Priests, and I especially hate Fr. S. The reply he got was, Nice to meet you too. What is it that you hate about the Catholic Church. He went on to list all the horrible teachings and actions of the Church. Fr. S told him, "Well I hate all those things too. Pity that they are not what the Church teaches, or we could both hate it. He encoraged a still suspicious ex-mormon to pray the Divine Mercy devotions, and four years ago he was recieved into the Church at St. Peter’s in Rome. He became a daily communicant, crediting the Divine Mercy devotions to his conversion and died on his way to Mass with the words, My Jesus, My Mercy as the last thing he said.

 

[Lormar]

I think because it was promoted more universally during the Pontificate of Pope John Paul, there are many who label themselves Traditionalist who look at the devotion with supsicion.

I really did not pay much attention until I got word of my brother in law’s death. When we first met almost 30 years ago he was a lapsed Mormon who would spew the most anti-catholic venom. When my sister started to return to the Faith, she invited her parish priest to dinner. When Fr. S arrived, my now late brother in law said, I Hate the Catholic Church, I Hate Priests, and I especially hate Fr. S. The reply he got was, Nice to meet you too. What is it that you hate about the Catholic Church. He went on to list all the horrible teachings and actions of the Church. Fr. S told him, "Well I hate all those things too. Pity that they are not what the Church teaches, or we could both hate it. He encoraged a still suspicious ex-mormon to pray the Divine Mercy devotions, and four years ago he was recieved into the Church at St. Peter’s in Rome. He became a daily communicant, crediting the Divine Mercy devotions to his conversion and died on his way to Mass with the words, My Jesus, My Mercy as the last thing he said.

How absolutely beautiful! God is good. I hope those are my last words as well.