It’s Easter Monday and there is a point I want to make about the Gospel reading of the day:
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them,
“Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.
Matthew 28:8-15
I always thought this was funny because if you think about it for a moment the level of absurdity is astounding. They wanted people to believe that a bunch of people with no military training who cut and run when Jesus was arrested were willing to confront armed soldiers of the Roman Empire to steal Jesus’ body without any fear of what kind of retaliation would come from Pilate for assaulting Roman soldiers or breaking a Roman seal.
Seriously? They really believed people were going to buy that?
Anyways here’s the novena prayers for day 4 of the Divine Mercy Novena ironically those Roman’s might have been some of those people Christ was talking about:
Today bring to Me The PAGANS AND THOSE WHO DO NOT YET KNOW ME. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.
Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
At the conclusion of the prayers pray the chaplet. Instructions are here.
The site for the National Shrine of Divine Mercy is here.
And here is the link to the April Indulgence Calendar for download from Dropbox where I upload the PDF for WQPH. The Easter season is a great time to earn indulgences.
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