Knights of Mercy Program

‘Knights of Mercy’ Program

A special call to all Knights of Columbus

Councils and Assemblies

A SPECIAL CALLING FOR THE KNIGHTS

Because the Knights have a special calling to assist the Church in its endeavors, and because we are in solidarity with the mission of the Pope, we must do our best to assist every parish in celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday. It is very clear, from the words of Jesus that this feast is to be a refuge and shelter for all souls, especially for poor sinners. As Knights we are called to do acts of charity and there could be no greater act of charity than to participate in the salvation of many lost souls.

This program is especially designed for Knights of Columbus councils / assemblies so that they may help our parishes to celebrate our new feast called Divine Mercy Sunday. One of the requirements of the proper celebration of this new feast is the veneration of the Image of the Divine Mercy and this is a very special opportunity to help our Church to save countless lost souls with the “Knights of Mercy Program”.

EXTRAORDINARY GRACES

How can this be, you might ask? Jesus made a promise for the total pardon of all sins and punishment for anyone that would go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on this Feast of Mercy which is named (Divine Mercy Sunday). Our Lord said “Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary of St. Faustina, entry 300)

To further put the Church’s stamp of approval on Our Lord’s promise and to help people to take advantage of it, the Vatican issued a special Plenary Indulgence in 2002 for Divine Mercy Sunday. The decree instructs priests to inform the faithful about the special indulgence and to lead the prayers for the indulgence. There are parishes that have not understood the benefits of celebrating this feast and this is where the Knights can really help out by providing resources and good instruction.

It is clear that the Church has established this feast as a means to completely renew the Church and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Christ. Pope John Paul II died on this new feast and left a message calling for a greater understanding of Divine Mercy. We can best help our individual parishes by equipping them with all the necessary information and an image of Jesus, which is central to the celebration.

We have many Catholics that have fallen away from the Church and from the good practice of their faith. Many more souls have not gone to Confession in a very long time and these poor souls could also perish for all eternity. What better acts of charity could we all do, as Knights, than to assist our parishes in celebrating this great feast which can provide for souls the forgiveness of all sins and punishment?

Our Lord said “On that day all the Divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. Tell souls about this great mercy of Mine, because the awful day, the day of My justice is near.” (Diary, 699, 965)

WE ARE CALLED TO EVANGELIZE

Pope John Paul II stated in his greetings in August 2002 “The theme for the 120^th Supreme Convention – (“Now Is the Time for the Great Catch”)- is a summons to ever trust in the Lord’s command to 'put out into the deep' ( Lk 5:4) in obedience to His word." Our Lord called out to His Vicar, Pope John Paul II, as He did to Peter “to cast our nets out once more” using Divine Mercy Sunday to obtain that Great Catch. We must help our Holy Father to let down these great nets of mercy. The results, as we remember from Luke’s Gospel, was an incredible catch of fish. In the same way, by trusting in the promise of Our Lord, for a complete pardon, we can bring home many lost souls on this great new Feast of Divine Mercy (Divine Mercy Sunday).

Our Lord said “How very much I desire the salvation of souls!... if only they were willing to accept My grace. The greatest sinners would achieve great sanctity, if only they would trust in My mercy.” (Diary, 1784) The graces on Divine Mercy Sunday are fully capable of totally restoring a terribly lost sinner to complete sanctity and in turn, that new found soul in Christ will radiate that merciful love to all others. We read in Sacred Scripture “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15, 16)

OUR LORD’S INSTRUCTIONS AND PROMISE

“Do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace.” (Diary, 1074) And His promise: “Souls who spread the honor of My mercy I shield through their entire life as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior.” (Diary, 1075)

It is crystal clear that we must, as Knights of Mercy, do everything that we possibly can to spread this message of Divine Mercy. What follows is a simple plan to ensure that every parish will be well prepared to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. This will bring about a great renewal in the Church and bring home many lost souls.

Divine Mercy image enthroned in a parish

This “Apostles” image is very similar to the Knights of Columbus image that traveled to many parishes during the year of prayer in honor of Pope John Paul. This image pictured was a gift to Saint Lucie Parish in Port St. Lucie by Council # 7514. It has proven to be a great consolation for many. On Divine Mercy Sunday the image was processed by the Color Guards and then enthroned. Get one placed in your parish!

THE SIMPLE PLAN

1. Check with your parish: Ask if your parish has an Image of the Divine Mercy suitable for veneration and large enough for everyone to see on Divine Mercy Sunday. If they need an image, the Knights could offer to purchase one for the parish. Our goal is to have the image venerated in every single parish as Jesus requested to be done on His Feast of Mercy (Divine Mercy Sunday).

2. Show your pastor the images: Before purchasing an image, check with your pastor to see which one he likes the best. Show him the different kinds that are available on this website by printing out the Online Catalog or view it with him on the parish office computer and let him pick it out. Some of the pastors will permanently install the images in their churches or in another facility. We have found that if the pastor selects the image then he will most likely take ownership of the devotion and the grand celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday in the parish.

3. Offer to have a procession: Make your pastor an offer to process with the Image of Divine Mercy using the Color Guards (if possible) on Divine Mercy Sunday. Remember that Our Lord asked that the image be solemnly blessed and venerated on this Feast of Mercy. There could be no greater recognition and veneration given to this special image than by the Knights of Columbus!

4. Approach your pastor once again: Ask your pastor if he has a copy of the Decree for the Plenary Indulgence for Divine Mercy Sunday. If he does not have a copy, print one out for him by clicking on the words above underlined in red on the website. He will appreciate the information that comes directly from the Vatican. Be sure to approach your pastor with very much respect.

5. Provide information about the feast: Also available on this website are many different articles about Divine Mercy Sunday that could be used for local and diocesan newspapers and there is also a very good parish bulletin. Try to focus on reaching those souls that have been away from the Church and those that have not been to Confession in a long time and are in need of receiving mercy.

6. Encourage your pastor: Try to encourage your pastor to announce the feast on Palm Sunday and especially on Easter Sunday when there are usually many people in attendance on these days that do not attend mass on a regular basis. These are the souls that could most benefit by participating in the offer of the special Plenary Indulgence that is always available on Divine Mercy Sunday.

7. Prepare your fellow members: Explain to fellow members about all the graces that are available on Divine Mercy Sunday. Provide information so that they may tell others about Divine Mercy Sunday. Many souls have fallen away from going to Confession on a regular basis. Our Holy Father has called us all of us to resume the practice of more frequent regular (monthly) Confessions.

8. Ask for extra Confession time: Ask your pastor if he could make extra time to hear the Confessions of those that have not confessed for Easter. According to a Vatican document, released in 2000, called "The Gift of the Indulgence" it is allowed for someone to go to Confession within about 20 days before or after the feast to receive the promise of the forgiveness of sins and punishment.

9. Do all you possibly can: Jesus said “Do all you possibly can for this work of My mercy. I desire that My mercy be worshiped, and I am giving mankind the last hope of salvation; that is, recourse to My mercy. My Heart rejoices in this feast.” (998) The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke: 10:2)

10.Let all priests know what Jesus said to say: “Tell My priests that hardened sinners will repent on hearing their words when they speak about My mercy, about the compassion I have for them in My Heart. To priests who proclaim and extol My mercy, I will give wondrous power; I will anoint their words and touch the hearts to whom they will speak”. (from the Diary, entry #1521)

11.Don’t forget that Divine Mercy Sunday is not “a private party for devotees” but instead it is what Jesus refers to as a “Refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially poor sinners”. (Dairy, entry 699) Make sure that your parish is doing everything that it possibly can to get everybody to come back to the practice of their faith. This is the “Reason for the Season” for this great Octave of Easter!

12.Trust in Jesus: Do all you can, check out the website www.mercysunday.com If you need any help just call 1-888-732-0722 and we will walk you through it. You will be making all of Heaven rejoice over many lost sheep coming home!

View the Online Image Catalog

Call Robert R. Allard, Director, A.D.M for more information at 1-888-732-0722

To purchase St. Faustina's Diary, contact The Marians at 1-800-462-7426.