Reflection 129- Do Not Be Afraid Daily Reflections On Divine Mercy podcast

2:45

There is one thing, and one thing only, that has the power to free sinners from the fires of hell. That one thing is Mercy. God offers His Mercy freely and in abundance, but He has also chosen to offer His Mercy in response to our prayers when they are prayed with the utmost faith and childlike confidence. Jesus cannot refuse a heart that is pure and is filled with love for sinners. Your heart must become this way. You must strive to love sinners with such a burning love that the Lord is “obliged” to answer your request for Mercy. He obliges Himself out of love in response to the love you have in your heart (See Diary #873). Do you realize that you have a certain “power” over the Mercy of God? This is only so because the Lord wills it. He has willed to respond to the love you have in your own heart with an outpouring of His Mercy upon those whom you love. Your love, when pure and unwavering, becomes a door through which the Heart of Christ pours forth His grace. Reflect upon your love for sinners and place that love before the Lord as your powerful prayer. He will see your love and respond with abundant generosity. Lord, I love You and I love sinners. Help me to love all people more deeply and to offer that love to You as my pure prayer. May the love in my heart be the cause of Your own outpouring of grace and an instrument of Your Divine Mercy. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Featured image above: Christ and Sinner by Henryk Siemiradzki via Wikimedia Commons…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 167- Desiring the Lord to the Greatest Degree 2:51

1 day ago2:51

2:51

When you pray, and when you pray long and hard, the Lord will enter in. He will commune with you and unite His Heart to yours. You will experience these effects in various ways. One common effect is that the closer you are drawn into union with Christ, the more you will desire this union. And the more you desire this union, the more you will be drawn into union. Your prayer has a cyclical effect upon your union and your desire. This is good to be aware of so as to allow our Lord to use your desires to be drawn into greater holiness of life (See Diary #867). What do you desire the most in life? What is the treasure you seek? This is an important reflection to make in an honest and sincere way. “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Mt. 6:21). If the Lord is your greatest treasure in life, then your heart will be drawn to Him in a powerful way. You will desire intimacy with Him and that desire will draw you close. Reflect, honestly, upon what you desire and allow the insight you gain to reorder the priorities you have. Lord, please help me to make You the central Treasure of my life and to seek You and to desire You with all my heart. As I am drawn to You, increase my desire, and as You increase my desire, draw me closer. Lord, I pray that every aspect of my life may ultimately become consumed with a longing to serve You and Your holy Will. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Featured image above: St. Lawrence Distributing the Treasures of the Church by Bernardo Strozzi via Wikimedia Commons…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 166- The Power of Your Unity with Christ 3:10

3 days ago3:10

3:10

Imagine being All-Powerful, or being an intimate friend of one who is All-Powerful. There is a story of Pope St. Leo I, who lived in the fifth century, which reveals the power of God. It is said that Attila the Hun and his violent army sought to sack Rome. Pope St. Leo met Attila and “persuaded” him to turn back. Later, when Attila’s army asked why he turned back, Attila stated that he had been alarmed by a figure dressed as a priest who stood at the pope’s side. This figure was holding a drawn sword and acted as if he would strike Attila dead if he advanced. In fear, Attila turned around and left. This short story reveals the power of God to defend us against all wickedness. Though an angel may not appear in physical form next to you, you can be assured that if you are immersed in the Mercy of God, there is nothing you need to fear. All the powers of Heaven will be on your side. The Lord will defend you against every evil and will give you strength to accomplish all that gives Him glory (See Diary #858). Reflect, today, upon two things: 1) Your unity with Christ; 2) The power that flows from that unity. Do you trust that the Lord will protect you from all evil? Do you realize that fear is useless when you have faith and are clothed with the Mercy of God? Reflect upon this fact and surrender yourself more fully to the Lord who must become your Sole Commander in life. My Lord and my Sole Commander, I trust You with my life. I entrust to You my whole being, especially all things that tempt me to fear. Give me confidence in Your Divine Mercy and help me to rely upon You in all things without reserve. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Featured Image: Located on Flickr - Pope Leo and Attila the Hun by Nick Thompson via flickr…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 165- The Perfect Contrition 2:57

4 days ago2:57

2:57

When we become aware of our sins we may have various reactions. We may remain indifferent, or repent out of fear of God’s justice. But the ideal response is to turn to God with love and to have true sorrow as a result of that love. If we have a burning love for God, we will become attentive to even the smallest sin we carry. And every sin we see, we will desire to be rid of. This burning love brings us to an act of perfect contrition by which our love of God purifies the smallest speck of sin on our souls (See Diary #852). Do you see your sin? If so, how do you react to it? The way you react to your sin is a good measure of your love of God and Your trust in His Divine Mercy. If you react with indifference, your love is lacking. If you react in guilt and fear of punishment, your love is lacking. But if you react with trust in God and a total abandonment to His Divine Mercy, then the love you have in your life will become the source of even more Mercy poured upon you. Think honestly about your reaction to your sin and pray that the Lord will bless you with such an abundance of love for Him that you will be overjoyed at seeing that of which you need to repent. Lord, give me such a perfect love for You that I become aware of every sin in my soul that displeases You. As I see my sins, even the smallest of sins, give me the grace to run to You in trust so that Your Mercy will purify me and make me holy. I love You my dear Lord. Help me to love You more. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Featured image above: Repentance of St Peter by Gerard Segers via Wikimedia Commons…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 164- Longing for the Souls of Sinners 2:56

5 days ago2:56

2:56

When you see someone with manifest sin, what is your reaction? Many people react with disdain and harsh judgment. When someone breaks the law, we harshly condemn them. When someone lives an immoral lifestyle, we belittle them. Very often, our attitude toward the sinner is merciless. This is a problem. True, we must see sin for what it is and work to oppose it, especially when it affects others. But we must always hold in our hearts a deep love for sinners. We must have a longing for their repentance and always see the innate dignity they have as persons (See Diary #842). What is your reaction toward the sinner? Be honest and look first at how you react interiorly. We are all sinners. Some sins are more manifest than others and some live sinful lives in an open and obstinate way. But should we allow ourselves to condemn them? We must judge an objective action for what it is, but the person must never be judged. This is solely up to God. Reflect upon your attitude toward those with more manifest sins. Pray that instead of becoming harsh and critical you will long for their conversion and love them wholeheartedly despite their actions. Lord, give me a heart of mercy for sinners. Help me to love them with a burning love and to suspend my temptations to judge. May I long for all people with Your Heart of Mercy desiring their holiness. May I also be aware of my own sinfulness and daily seek Your merciful Heart. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Featured image above: Depiction of the Good Shepherd by Jean-Baptiste de Champaigne via Wikimedia Commons…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 163- Glorifying God in Your “Wretchedness” 3:32

6 days ago3:32

3:32

Do you see the wretchedness of your own soul? Some may be offended by such a question. But if we understood the Mercy of God, and realized that it is our “wretchedness” that enables Him to be glorified the most, we would not shy away from such a thought. Many want to be holy and to see themselves as holy. It’s easy to think, “If I am good, God will be pleased.” But what we fail to realize is that God is glorified most when we see our littleness, our nothingness, and our wretchedness before Him. It is then that He can manifest His glory to the greatest extent through us. True, we have infinite dignity and value as persons as a result of being made in God’s image and as a result of God taking on our human nature. But in our actions, we are sinners incapable of doing anything good. When we realize this, we open the door for God to enter in and manifest His Mercy. We let Him act through our weakness and do glorious things. This is the way we give glory to God (See Diary #836). When you consider your holiness, do you tend to think highly of yourself, as if you have done many good things for God? This is pride. Humility is the virtue that allows you to see your weakness and complete dependence upon the Mercy of God. It enables you to realize that without Him, you can do nothing. It enables you to cry out with St. Paul, “Wretched man that I am” (Romans 7:24). But in that cry, you also perceive the unlimited Mercy of God using you in your weakness and, thus, become an image of His glory. Lord, help me to see clearly my weakness. Help me to humble myself before Your greatness and, in that act, to be open to Your transforming power in my life. I give my littleness to You, dear Lord. Manifest Your glory through me as You desire. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Image: The Publican and the Pharisee…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 162- Light Dispels the Darkness 2:55

7 days ago2:55

2:55

Light dispels the darkness. Scientifically speaking, we know that light and dark are not opposing forces; rather, dark is the absence of light. And when light enters in, the darkness is no more. So it is with the Mercy of God. Without Mercy, our souls are dark. We fall into doubt, confusion, fear and despair when Mercy is absent. In this case, we are left in utter darkness where the filth of sin can reign. But God desires to bring the light of His Mercy. When this happens, and when we open our souls to this gift, the darkness of doubt, confusion, fear and despair vanish. They cannot remain where the Light of Mercy resides (See Diary #831). When you look at your soul, what do you see? Is there darkness? Do you see its foul effects? Do you see doubt, confusion, fear or despair? Do you see sin? If so, the Lord desires to dispel the darkness that breeds these burdens and bring forth His merciful Light. Reflect upon the part of your soul that appears to be in most need of His Mercy. Know that He wants to enter that area of your life and waits on you for the permission to do so. He will wait for you to let Him in. Lord, please come into the darkness of my soul. Bring forth the bright rays of Your Light and dispel all that is not of You. Come refresh me and renew me, Lord. Help me to see and to know Your great love. I desire to live in the Light of Your Mercy, dear Lord. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Image by Myriam Zilles from Pixabay…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 161- The Singular Love Given to You 2:53

8 days ago2:53

2:53

When pondering the love and the Mercy of God, it is tempting to see His love in a more general way, as if it were something evenly distributed to all people in the same way. But God’s love for you is something so much more than a general gift to all people. It is deeply personal and singular, being offered specifically for you, out of love for you. God does not see you as one of many; rather, He sees you as a singular focus of His love. Each and every person is loved by God in this singular and unique way. Thus, you are loved as His one precious child for whom He has offered His life. Know that God loves you as you. He knows every detail of your life and pours His grace upon you (See Diary #824). How aware are you of the unique and singular love God has for you? His love is personal in that you are an object of His burning Heart of Mercy. God is fully capable of loving each and every person in this way, seeing each one as His precious child and loving each person in their uniqueness and even in their sins. Let yourself, today, experience this personal and abundant love of God in your life. It will sustain you in all things and help you to always know that you are loved above all. Lord, I love You and adore You and thank You for loving me with a perfect love. Help me to receive Your unique gift of love offered to me as Your precious child. May I return this love for You by acknowledging You as my one and only Lord and God. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Featured image above: Liberation of St. Peter by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo via Wikimedia Commons…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 160- The Mercy of Confession 3:20

9 days ago3:20

3:20

Have you discovered the great joy of going to Confession? Some do not consider the Sacrament of Confession to be a great joy. Instead, they see it as a painful and humiliating experience. But perhaps some need the humiliation of an honest confession to help break them out of their sin. Others, those who sincerely seek the abundant Mercy of God, will take great delight in going to Confession because they see the glorious effect it has upon their soul. Seek to love Confession. Pray that it becomes something that you long for as you anticipate the wonderful fruits of this holy purification (See Diary #817). When is the last time you went to Confession? If it has been a while then this reflection is for you. The Lord is calling you to receive the Mercy He has infused into this glorious Sacrament. By going to Confession and receiving absolution you are encountering Jesus Himself. It is He, hidden within the priest, who absolves you and cleanses your soul. Do you believe this? Do you want this grace for your soul? Reflect upon that which deters you from Confession. It may be inconvenience, or a busy schedule, or fear, or distrust of a particular priest. Whatever it is, keeping you from this Sacrament, allow the Lord to remove it. The Lord loves you and is calling you to His Merciful Heart. Rejoice in that fact and foster within your soul a holy longing to receive all that He wishes to bestow through this sacred gift of Mercy. Precious Jesus, I entrust myself to Your Mercy and pray that I will be open to this gift as You desire to bestow it. I pray that I may have a burning desire for the Mercy You wish to offer me through this Sacrament. Humble me Lord, and help me to confidently open the wounds of my soul to Your healing grace. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Featured image above: The Confession by Jacques Émile Édouard Brandon via Wikimedia Commons…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 159- Mercy at the Hour of Your Death 3:40

10 days ago3:40

3:40

Every time we pray the “Hail Mary” prayer, we pray for the sacred hour of our death. In so doing, we entrust that hour to our Blessed Mother so that she will intercede for us at the moment we need it the most. Another holy prayer to pray in preparation for that hour is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Too often we fear the moment of our death. And though this is understandable to a certain extent, we must allow our Lord to reveal to us the importance and sacredness of that holy moment. Everything in this life must be but a preparation for this last hour of our earthly life. If we have sought the abundant Mercy of God throughout life, then we will be assured of His Mercy at our passing to the next. If we have not, we must still trust that His Mercy is infinite and, as long as we have breath and life, He offers to flood us with His holy gift (See Diary #811). Do you fear the hour of your death? Or do you fear the hour of the death of your loved ones? While this is normal and understandable, we must strive to see that hour as an hour of great Mercy. God loves, with a profound love, the soul who is in this last hour of life. He looks with holy anticipation upon the soul desiring the full and imminent union that awaits. Reflect upon your sacred hour. Know that our Lord desires to begin your preparation for this moment today by continually increasing His Mercy within you. Allow that Mercy to pour forth and allow it to prepare your heart for the moment that you are privileged to see our Lord face to face. Blessed Mother, please pray for me now and at the hour of my death. Dear Jesus, I desire that my heart be always prepared for the moment when You call me to Yourself. May all I do in this life become a preparation for that moment of passing, and may I receive in this hour an abundance of Your Mercy. Lord, please also give me the grace to help prepare others for this sacred hour and to pray for them fervently when that time comes. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Featured image above: The Death of Saint Louis by Ary Scheffer via Wikimedia Commons…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 158- The Content of Your Speech 3:11

11 days ago3:11

3:11

The content of your daily speech is a clear reflection of the content of your soul. So what does your speech reflect? Very often you may find that your conversations throughout the day have been about superficial and worldly matters. Though some casual conversations of this sort are normal and healthy, you should also be able to point to regular conversations that speak of the glory of God and your life of faith. You should be able to see daily words of charity and holiness. And you should see words that build others up (See Diary #804). Reflect upon your conversations of the past week. What have they been about? Have you fallen into the trap of being cunning or harsh? Have you criticized or put others down? If so, these conversations reveal your soul. At times, your conversations may not fall into the category of sin, but may be dominated by worldly and unimportant things such as a fascination with wealth, or entertainment, or jokes or the like. Though none of these may be evil in and of themselves, if they are the dominant content of your speech then there is little room for the Lord. Seek to make your words and daily conversations a reflection of your deep love of Christ. Let your speech become an outpouring of the Mercy of God alive in your life. This is one key way through which God reveals the sanctity of your soul and uses you to bring holiness to others. Lord, I surrender to You my speech. I give to You every thought I have and every word that comes forth from my mouth. Please use my words to reveal Your glory and the Mercy that permeates Your Heart. May this Mercy also permeate my heart and flow forth from my lips as an invitation to holiness for all. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 157- Moral Decision Making 3:19

12 days ago3:19

3:19

Do you ever struggle with making the right moral decision? This happens as a result of our fallen human nature. We are easily confused in life and can easily fail to grasp the Mind and Will of God. So what should you do? Know that your conscience is a sanctuary to which the Lord must be invited. When invited, He will come and dwell there to teach you all things. When facing decisions in life, pray, seek counsel from others, and seek the many truths revealed through Scripture and our Church. These are all sources of the Mercy of God. Afterwards, if you have truly sought the Lord and His holy Will, act as your conscience commands. Listen to it, trust it, and act on it. If in the future you see that you have erred, do not hesitate to change. But do not hesitate to move forward in the way that you hear our Lord directing you. He is a God of abundant Mercy and the pure and holy intention you have gives much joy to His Heart (See Diary #800). Do you struggle with making decisions in life? Do you worry that you are offending our Lord? If so, let go of these worries for they may be the result of a scrupulous conscience. Instead, do your due diligence by seeking the reasonable advice of others whom you trust, seek guidance from the Scriptures and from our Church, pray and abandon yourself to God and His holy Will, and then trust your conscience and act. Think about that decision that you may struggle with right now. Work through this process and leave the rest to our merciful Lord. Lord, help me to seek Your holy Will in all things, to come to know Your holy Will and to act on it with full confidence. Give me, also, the grace of humility to change when I see that I have erred. Bless me, dear Lord, with a clean conscience so that I may glorify You always in freedom and love. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Featured image above: Saint Augustin by Philippe de Champagne via Wikimedia Commons…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 156- The Lord is Our Refuge 2:35

13 days ago2:35

2:35

There are times in life when fear enters into your life. You may have some daunting task before you, or may be walking down a path of the unknown. These, and many other experiences in life, can become a cause for fear and anxiety. Fear of the unknown can especially become all consuming. But it need not be if the Lord is with you and is your constant Refuge. Jesus desires that you turn to Him in childlike trust and simplicity, knowing that He will lead you through life every step of the way. We need not fear if our eyes and heart are fixed on Him. He will never leave us (See Diary #797). What is it that you fear the most in life? What is it about your future that worries you? Does that which is unknown to you cause much anxiety? Know that the Lord desires to free you of these heavy burdens by inviting you to take refuge in His Sacred Heart. By turning to Him, as a child, you will be freed of the fears that are quite burdensome. Ponder your fears this day and then turn to the Lord in perfect abandon. As you do, He will lift them from you, replacing them with His perfect peace. Lord, I turn to You in my anxiety and fear. I trust You in all things and pray that You increase my capacity for faith and hope in You. Please become my refuge and give me the confidence of a child, to turn to You in my time of need. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Featured image above: Peter's denial by Anton Robert Leinweber via Wikimedia Commons…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 155- Facing Judgment with Grace 3:15

14 days ago3:15

3:15

One painful experience you may face is that of the rash judgment by another. At times, others will look at you with judgment and disdain for reasons out of your control. Perhaps they will identify some small fault and magnify it in such a way that they use it as the lens through which they see your whole life. This can be quite painful and can evoke much disordered emotion. But it doesn’t have to. The only thing you can do in the face of rash judgment is to forgive and seek to offer Mercy. But how do you do this? It is only possible if you are first hidden within the Mercy of the Lord. If you allow your eyes and heart to gaze continually upon His Mercy, and if you allow Him to cover you with that Mercy, then one effect will be that the harshness of others will not enter into your soul. Instead, when pierced with this lance, your heart will pour forth the Mercy that our Lord has poured upon you in abundance (see Diary #791). Reflect, today, upon two things: 1) Are your eyes fixed, intently, upon the Mercy of God? Does His Mercy cover you, shield you and hide you from the cruelty of the world? 2) If so, when you are an object of scorn or ridicule, do you allow the Lord to open your heart so as to pour forth His Divine Mercy? He wants to use your heart to be an instrument of His own sacred and pierced Heart. You allow Him to use you only when you first allow Him to consume you with His Mercy. Lord, consume me with Your Mercy. May I find in You my dwelling place and may my heart become fully united with Yours. As my heart becomes one with Yours, dear Lord, use it as a source of Mercy for others. When pierced, allow it to pour forth Your grace in abundance. I give my heart to You for Your perfect purpose and Will. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.life Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Image: Giorgione, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons…

Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy

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Reflection 154- Silent and Humble Adoration 3:00

15 days ago3:00