Homegrown Catholics: April 2021

There is much to be said about the Mercy of Jesus, but I will summarize here before listing the activities. TheDivineMercy.org has all the information you could ever want to know about the history, book, prayers, images, chaplet, etc. The lesson is that we can better understand how to accept mercy, be merciful and have complete trust in Jesus.

His love for us is so great it as an ocean and our sins, our troubles, are but a drop in that ocean that swallows it up. It is deep, endless and limitless. According to the mystic, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalksa, it saddens Jesus how many do not accept His mercy. He gives it freely, but it must be desired and received. That it pours out of Jesus such that when we ask for His mercy, he gives us more than what we need in hopes that we will share it with others. Are we not vessels for God, emptied of ourselves so that the Almighty can fill it?

Dear friends, if there is anything I recommend near the importance of the Mass, Sacraments, Adoration and the Rosary it is praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. It's an opening of the floodgates in this Time of Mercy God himself has ordained before his Time of Judgement. This chaplet is prayed on your rosary, with words given to St Faustina by Jesus to ask for His mercy. It can be prayed for the conversion of sinners, personal intentions, or the specific intentions of the Novena.

The image above includes the words "Pray and Play Chaplet" because I believe it is good to pray with two or more souls. I have a blog post all about Nurturing Friendships with Hospitality and Prayer{link} where you can include this chaplet during your time with friends. We've been so blessed that when we're in a group and all our smartphone alarms go off at 3pm, we feel comfortable taking a few minutes to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy together. Or to at least pause to pray "Jesus, I Trust in You!"

Where a basic 5 decade rosary takes 20 minutes or so, the chaplet can be said in as little as 7 minutes. It is very easy to slip this into your day with an "ocean" of graces for the effort. Some pray this once a year as a Novena, the 9 days before Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter). Others pray it every Friday at 3pm. Our family chooses to pray it daily at 3pm to end our homeschool day. Three O'clock in the afternoon is called the Hour of Great Mercy reflective of the time that Jesus died on the Cross.

{DIVINE MERCY PDF FILE}

There are so many wonderful resources out there, including apps, cds and videos to follow along in recitation or the sung version. Here are a few links to these audio versions.

About the Divine Mercy for Kids

Chaplet Resources

Chaplet spoken by Children

Chaplet spoken by Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

Chaplet spoken by Sister of Life

Chaplet spoken with visual guide

Chaplet Song, traditional

Chaplet Song w words on screen

Chaplet Song by His Own

Chaplet Song by Donna Gibson

Divine Mercy Intecessors on Relevant Radio

DIVINE MERCY PRAYER GUIDE

I have created a simple printout to have 2 guides per sheet of paper. It has the Chaplet prayers. It also has the 9 day Novena daily intentions when prayed leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter). You can find this in the {DIVINE MERCY PDF FILE} I've linked here.

Coloring as you pray:

If your children like to color a rosary as they pray, I recommend this coloring sheet included in my {DIVINE MERCY PDF FILE}, or one of these other lovely versions created by

Foundation of Jesus the Divine Mercy https://jesusthedivinemercy.com/how-to-begin-the-divine-mercy-chaplet-kids-group

The Catholic Kid https://www.thecatholickid.com/how-to-pray-the-divine-mercy-chaplet-kids-coloring-page-cnt-mls/

Wee Little Miracles http://www.weelittlemiracles.com/2012/04/easter-with-family-with-divine-mercy.html

DIVINE MERCY ACTIVITIES

My pinterest board is where I collect crafty ideas I've seen online before. Visit this link to view my collection about The Divine Mercy. https://www.pinterest.com/HGCatholics/divine-mercy-activities/

Divine Mercy Curtain:

This is a new family tradition by request of our children, to hang a shimmery red and blue curtain to walk or run through. It reminds us of the rays of mercy, and the littles exclaim "Jesus, I Trust in You!" as they run through it! [Curtain https://amzn.to/3GWNxII ]

Divine Mercy Sundaes: Ice cream sundaes with a cherry heart, and red and blue sprinkles of mercy. Otherwise setup a whole make-your-own sundae buffet for this feast!

I really enjoyed making a Divine Mercy themed cake with our son for his First Holy Communion on this feast day.

Simply dab some food coloring at the top center, then use a spatula to spread it outwards into the frosting. We found the chocolate cross in the Easter treats, and the gold gumballs and blue chocolate sixlets at Walmart in the party section. The chalice is in a set on Amazon.

Divine Mercy Jesus Pastel Art: Using painter's tape, section off two triangles as seen in the example. Color in with red and blue oil/chalk pastels, or any other art medium. Pull off the tape and fill in with your own artistry of Jesus.

Divine Mercy Statue: Make your own paper statue to have on your prayer altar or in your room. A great group activity! Print on cardstock from the {DIVINE MERCY PDF FILE} to color, cut, fold and glue.

D is for Divine Mercy

Sacred Heart Window Art: Using painter's tape, create the outlines of your image. We chose the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary and Chaste Heart of St Joseph. We added the rays of Divine Mercy shining onto our country. Using a sponge brush, mix tempura washable paint with a drop of dish soap and dab onto your window. When mostly dry, pull off the tape to reveal a stained glass window! Fill in as much or little as you'd like. It washes off easily with soap and warm water.

Coloring Mercy: A basic search online you can find many coloring sheets for Divine Mercy. This one I created is from the First Reconciliation Pack {link} about a Mercy Prayer in the Mass. Also included in the {DIVINE MERCY PDF FILE}

Merciful Heart Scapular: With some effort, I made a scapular using wool and embroidery floss. This would be another crafty way to make a wearable Divine Mercy image.

Peg Doll Jesus: My children LOVE painting peg dolls. Below you can see one painted as Divine Mercy Jesus. You could also paint a St Faustina and St Pope John Paul II who are advocates of the Divine Mercy. Wood peg dolls {link}, acrylic paints {link}, and a final coat of clear coat paint {link} are all you need. Chose your clear coat based on type of use, as we use clear spray paint, there are nontoxic varnishes that are safer if littles may chew on the toy. There are a few great tutorials online how to paint saint peg dolls if needed.

{DIVINE MERCY PDF FILE}

DIVINE MERCY IN YOUR HOME

Seal the Doorposts: Cover your threshold with the Lamb of God by printing your favorite image of Jesus of the Divine Mercy, laminating it and sticking it to your front door. Ask God for his divine protection over your home. Read more about it here https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/seal-doorposts

Prayers & Scripture Posters: Having images of Jesus in your home has a way of helping us focus on him, and I believe that having prayers posted encourage further contemplation and praying without ceasing. I have a clear sleeve in our bathroom that I rotate prayer posters so as long you're sitting there, you can learn or recite a prayer. Here are a few examples. I've included some in my {DIVINE MERCY PDF FILE}