The Fatima and Divine Mercy Messages are Grace and Mercy for the World

This weekend First Saturday is followed by the Divine Mercy Sunday – uniting these beautiful messages of grace and mercy together. What a great time to go to confession and open our hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

These two messages are intimately tied together, one following the other, given just prior to the outbreak of unprecedented evil in the world, an outbreak that is impacting us today. It is why we need to pay attention to God’s special requests of us through these important messages.

Just as in the time of the Annunciation, Mary gave her “yes” to God’s plan, which paved the way for her Divine Son to come into the world, in 1917 Mary came to prepare us for His Divine Mercy by asking for our “yes” at Fatima. She readies our hearts to receive her Son through her own Immaculate Heart, from which God’s graces flow and to which God entrusted the peace of the world. Everything Mary does is perfectly united to her Son, so our devotion to her brings us closer to Jesus. In establishing devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at Fatima, God intends our consecration to Mary to open us more fully to the Heart of Jesus, which is love and mercy itself. Thus, the Divine Mercy message, many believe, is an extension of the Fatima message.

Sister Lucia’s vision of the Holy Trinity at Tuy, Spain, and the words “Grace and Mercy”, which flowed down like water from left arm of Jesus on the cross over the altar below, seem to parallel the red and white rays emanating from the Heart of Christ in the Divine Mercy image, representing the Blood and Water that cleanses and saves sinners. Jesus told St. Faustina that His message of mercy was  “mankind’s last hope for salvation,” and that “mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to my mercy.”

Fatima and the Divine Mercy message are forever linked to the 20^th century and are a bridge to the third millennium. Given the state of the world today, it is imperative that we listen to what Our Lady and Our Lord ask of us. We can begin to live these two messages by praying a Rosary and a Chaplet of Divine Mercy every day for peace in the world and for the salvation of souls.

This weekend, take advantage of the great mercy Jesus wants to pour out on you. Present to Him your deeds of mercy by participating in the First Saturday devotion of reparation for sins against the Immaculate Heart and salvation of souls, and then give yourself to Him on Divine Mercy Sunday to be cleansed of all your own sins. You will thus bring down graces and mercy upon yourself and the world. Whether you make your confession on Saturday or Sunday this weekend, sincerely repent of all your sins and place your trust in Jesus. And remember – be merciful to others through your actions, words and prayers!

Note:  If you cannot receive Holy Communion on both days, offer your Sunday Mass communion in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate and Sacred Hearts.

Barb Ernster is the National Coordinator/Communications Manager/Editor for the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA.