The Divine Mercy Devotion

The Second Sunday of Easter commemorates this devotion of St. Faustina, essentially an emphasis on the forgiveness of God our Father.  Hence, in English, this devotion is also known as "Devotion to the Mercy of God."

One aspect of this devotion is the prominent placement in church of the image of Christ, with rays of mercy coming from his heart.  San Rocco has such an image prominently displayed in front of the church, near the statue of Mary. 

This devotion is very much in accord with the liturgy, which is directed to the Father through Christ. Using rosary beads, people pray the Divine Mercy chaplet, in which each bead is used for a prayer to the Father.  The prayer is short and, using the beads, is said fifty times, in five decades.  At the end, the people sing the Holy God, the Trisagion, which is commonly sung in the various liturgies of the Eastern Churches.  A short phrase is added at the end, "and on the whole world."  The prayer itself, said over and over again, is "Eternal Father, I offer you the body and blood, soul and divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and on those of the whole world."  The Trisagion, sung at the end, is "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world."  How excellent it is, in our generation, to have a new devotion, promoting prayer to God the Father through Christ! 

In summer, 2000, San Rocco Oratory welcomed Father Seraphim Michalenko, MIC,who came to speak of the Mercy of God devotion and to lead the people in the chaplet.  Around 300 people gathered in the grotto area, where Father Seraphim spoke from a raised platform.   This devotion took place in the evening.  After personal testimony and the chaplet, Father Seraphim led further prayers inside the church building itself.