I’m intrigued.
Just an aside re:upthread. I wish I had not seen the version on EWTN. I like the voices but it’s hard to watch them sing. Watching their facial expressions is a bit much. It reminds me…I get this picture…well, somewhere out there is a scene, maybe from a movie, maybe from America’s Funniest Home Videos, of a little kid singing. His facial expressions slay me every time as he probably imitates what he’s seen adult singers do. I’m really sorry to say it but I find it distracting and I can’t get those images out of my head.
Interesting note though: One of the singers is Catholic, another Assembly of God and the other African Methodist Episcopal.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I am not a big believer in the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Novenas, or anything else of relatively recent invention by our Church. I am, at heart, like the Apostles who would recognize none of these things, let alone the Latin Mass which was celebrated (and still is) as “holier” than the others.
As stated before or elsewhere, my belief in Saint Faustina came from two sources - first of all her quite informative narrative of the truly horrible nature of hell - sort of like being above the flames in the World Trade Center but with an eternal body that can’t be consumed, and from which there are no ledges to jump from to escape the tormet even by death. I also believe that Jesus did tell her to paint a picture to her - but most importantly - far more important than the picture itself, put as the inscription, “Jesus, I trust in you.”
The Divine Mercy Chaplet - a relatively recent “invention” by the Church, is based on Saint Faustina’s words about what she believed Jesus told her to say. Included are these words:
**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 and on the whole world.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.**
There is nothing contrary to the core Catholic teachings from the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles here, and indeed, what is here does indeed pass the “Holy Spirit Sense Test” for all Confirmed Catholics I have met, including myself.
But, like all of these modern movements, including those of Anne / Ana of Ireland who won’t even dare use her rare name, these are just passing fads and trends that have no real basis in miracles beyond the miracles we all experience every day - if only we would open our eyes and ears.
So far as a member of the other Churches participating in this, all I have to say is … great. Most of my friends, believe it or not, are Protestants and not Catholic, as I have long centered my life on Christ-centered relationships, which leads me to say that I would much rather be good friends with a good Protestant who knows the Bible that was created by Catholics than with a Catholic who knows all about the Saints and the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Novenas and the Rosary, but who knows absolutely NOTHING about Sacred Scripture. Based on my own informal poll, most Catholics fall into this category. I can not recommend the “Catholic Study Bible” enough, and eternal thanks go to Pope Pius XII - who some call “Hitler’s Pope” erroneously, for providing us all of these years later with a reliable version of Scripture in modern languages from source material even predating Jerome and his Latin Vulgate. One chapter from this Bible is worth far more than all of the Rosaries, Chaplets, and Novenas combined. ALTHOUGH - every little bit of prayer helps, so it’s not like I am asking those who believe that prayer makes a difference to give up their ways - I am not. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure that prayers of the world’s Nuns have so far 1) kept the world from thermonuclear extinction, and 2) kept the universe from exploding. But one thing I can assure you of … no one prays the Rosary or Chaplets in heaven. All that is there is what many of my Protestant friends already know … genuine adoration of Jesus Christ, His Father, and the Holy Spirit.
