What Do You Think? Is the Divine Mercy Devotion Legit?

I've always felt a little queasy about the Divine Mercy Devotion. Personally, I don't pray it. Instead I pray the Sacred Heart novena which Padre Pio prayed every day. There are thousands of devotions in the Church. No one Catholic could pray them all. God gave us this abundance because we are like a huge flower garden. What nourishes one flower could kill another. The rosary is certainly a devotion for all that is like putting the best fertilizer on every flower in the garden. Most devotions aren't like that. 

Guest Post: Was Jorge Bergoglio St. Faustina's Greatest Cross?

By David Martin

On December 17, 1936, the renown mystic St. Faustina, known for her role in establishing the devotion to the Divine Mercy, penned two entries into her diary which warrant close examination today. Entries 823 and 824 appear to be closely related and occur chronologically without interruption. Without further ado, the first part of her statement [entry 823] is as follows.

"I have offered this day for priests. I have suffered more today than ever before, both interiorly and exteriorly. I did not know it was possible to suffer so much in one day. I tried to make a Holy Hour, in the course of which my spirit had a taste of the bitterness of the Garden of Gethsemane. I am fighting alone, supported by His arm, against all the difficulties that face me like unassailable walls. But I trust in the power of His name and I fear nothing."

— Diary of St. Faustina, 823

It is significant to note that St. Faustina on that day was making reparation for priests, an offering that brought upon her the worst suffering she had ever endured, and perhaps the worst she would ever endure. But too, on that bitter day of December 17, 1936, was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who would later reign as Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

Mercy and Madness

The Church dedicates the month of June to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Following, as it does, the month dedicated to Our Lady, we are placed securely between the immaculate heart of the Mother and the merciful heart of her Son, our Savior. It's a safe and secure place to be.

Our President also made the month of June special. He proclaimed it "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month" to coincide with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots the violent homosexual demonstrations in New York often seen as the beginning of the "gay rights" movement. As it began so it continues.

Jesus gave those devoted to His Sacred Heart twelve promises through his intermediary, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. These are the first four:

"I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.

"I will give peace in their families and will unite families that are divided.

"I will console them in all their troubles.

"I will be their refuge during life and above all in death."

When I read these, I hardly need to read the other eight to embrace this devotion. Peace in my family? Consolation in all the pains of life? The assurance of God's refuge when I'm dying? Thanks be to God!

Obama also made promises - to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act that protects marriage between one man and one woman and to eliminate "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" as a policy for hiring in the military. Promoting the gay agenda, hell on earth, is a priority for him.

Promises: twelve for heaven and two for hell. The choice seems obvious.