![\"\"](\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/_-GKMR8mFGBs\/S7dFTVWHokI\/AAAAAAAAAfE\/TmjqoA4QVEY\/s1600\/Divine-Mercy-Novena-Jesus.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nAdmittedly, I jumped into this novena at the last minute<\/a>. But do you see the words at the bottom of the Divine Mercy portrait? Jesus I Trust in You. <\/em>Just so, I trust that suitable complementary material on the Divine Mercy will be forthcoming\u00a0to share with you.<\/p>\n On this second day, we pray for souls of priests and religious. These are the line officers on His Majesty\u2019s Ship. \u00a0Some have gone rogue, harming the innocent and doing great damage to the crew and to themselves. The many who merely do their duty honorably are being brushed with the same taint of scandal as the malefactors are. Our priests and religious need our prayers, both those who are guilty of criminal conduct and the majority who are innocent.<\/p>\n \u201cToday bring to Me the Souls of Priests and Religious, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Let us pray,<\/p>\n Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service, that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard \u2014 upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Before praying the chaplet, have a look at these thoughts on God\u2019s mercy. I came across them from the Summa Theologica <\/em>of St. Thomas Aquinas. Typical of Aquinas, this begins with a question, followed by the common objections \u201cagainst\u201d and then the arguments \u201cfor.\u201d Finally, Thomas replies to the objections. First the question,<\/p>\n Whether mercy can be attributed to God?<\/strong><\/p>\n Objection 1:<\/strong> It seems that mercy cannot be attributed to God. For mercy is a kind of sorrow, as Damascene says (De Fide Orth. ii, 14). But there is no sorrow in God; and therefore there is no mercy in Him.<\/p>\n Objection 2:<\/strong> Further, mercy is a relaxation of justice. But God cannot remit what appertains to His justice. For it is said (2 Tim. 2:13): \u201cIf we believe not, He continueth faithful: He cannot deny Himself.\u201d But He would deny Himself, as a gloss says, if He should deny His words. Therefore mercy is not becoming to God.<\/p>\n
\nAmen.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n