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We must utilize the graces of Divine Mercy to fullest extent, reader says

I would like to make some comments on Divine Mercy.

In the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, our Lord told St. Faustina, “I desire that the first Sunday after Easter be the Feast of Mercy. Tell the whole world of my great mercy; that whoever approaches the fount of life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment” (#299-300). Our Lord is granting us many great graces with his Divine Mercy.

Our Lord gave St. Faustina the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. He states that “when they say the chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between my Father and the dying person not as a just judge but as a merciful Savior” (#1541). “At the hour of their death, I defend as my own glory every soul that will say the chaplet, or when others say it for the dying person, the pardon is the same” (811).

Our Lord told St. Faustina to “speak to the whole world about my mercy; let all mankind recognize my unfathomable mercy. It is a sign of the end times; after it will come the day of justice. While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fount of mercy” (#848).

Divine mercy is about the many graces that our Lord is giving us in this time of human history. We need to utilize these graces to the fullest extent.

- Paul Fuller | Richmond
 

Like pope, leaders must demonstrate moral courage in fight against evil

In the May 1 issue of The Criterion, Editor Emeritus John F. Fink wrote in the editorial about Pope Francis’ speaking out and recognizing the mass slaughter of Armenian Christians by Ottoman Turks which started 100 years ago this April.

This was the first genocide of the 20th century, which was followed by many more leading to the deaths of tens of millions of innocents.

Pope Francis has shown a courage that is lacking in our presidents. Both President Barack H. Obama and former President George W. Bush have failed to recognize the Armenian slaughter as genocide, despite both men referring to it as such when running for the office. The reason is thought to be strategic to avoid “offending” the current Muslim leaders of Turkey.

Today, 100 years later, genocide is occurring in Syria and Iraq in which Christians and Yazidis are being slaughtered because of their faith by Islamic fundamentalists in ISIS. Although some action is being taken, the world is not taking the actions it could to stop the murder.

If our leaders cannot demonstrate the moral courage to officially recognize a historically documented event from a century ago, how will they ever be able to fight against the evil that is happening today?

- Dr. Stephen O’Neil | Indianapolis