STOP WARS – PRAY THE ROSARY!

Read the entire article here:  Peace and the Fatima Message by David Carolla

On July 13th, 1917, an apparition of Our Lady of Fatima, Mary, appeared and asked the children to pray the Rosary in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary. She said that war is a punishment for sin and that only she could bring an end to the war. She promised to perform a miracle to inspire belief in Her appearances at Fatima and to confirm Her requests, which took place in October 1917.

Divine Mercy Sunday removes punishment due to sin, and increases a loving relationship with God the Father

You have heard me say that I grew up in a family of 13 children. My parents were of Hispanic descent. They married in 1939, when every penny mattered, and life was a daily struggle. Their hard work and quiet resilience taught me lessons of perseverance and gratitude that stay with me today. We never saw any disagreements or disrespect between our parents. Among the siblings, respect was expected, but in times of need, discipline was administered fairly and without bias by either of our parents.

Our family relationships often reveal deeper truths about how we connect with others and with the divine. The way we relate to our parents can serve as a powerful reflection of how we understand and experience our relationship with God the Father. This connection provides insight into love, guidance, forgiveness, and trust—core elements that shape both earthly and spiritual bonds.

Understanding this parallel can enrich our family life and deepen our spiritual journey. Even if strong parents were not present in one's life, through reflection and prayer, we recognize how sin, including generational sin, can cause brokenness in families. But God the Father desires mercy. Family life inevitably involves conflict and mistakes. Parents' willingness to forgive and ask for forgiveness are models of God's grace within families. I have nine children and twenty-one grandchildren, and we, too, have experienced the same grace, allowing mercy and love to prevail in our relationships with each other. It does not mean we, as individuals, are sinless; it means we exercise our ability to forgive with great care and purpose of letting love prevail.  

On Sunday, April 12th, we will observe Divine Mercy Sunday. It is a day likened to the Jewish day of atonement, dating back almost 4,000 years. It is more than just interesting but noteworthy to understand that after the Israeli people were led out of Egypt by Moses and were freed from slavery, instead of worshipping God, they worshipped a golden calf. Because my parents were of humble means, we avoided the golden calf syndrome, as we were accustomed to having less than most families. While my dad had limited opportunities for education, he had a profound understanding of God’s laws – the Ten Commandments.

Moses had been on Mt. Sinai for 40 days when he returned with the laws of God, the Ten Commandments, written by the finger of God. Descending from the mountain, Moses saw that the people of Israel were worshiping a golden calf. Moses, in his anger, threw down the two stones and broke them. He had the calf burned and ground into powder, mixed it with water, and made his followers drink it (Exodus 32:20). This served as punishment for their idolatry and the worthlessness of their idol, symbolizing the culmination of their sin. He then went back up Mt. Sinai for another 40 days of atonement, and then God had Moses construct the new tablets and chisel the Ten Commandments word-for-word, as they were first written on the first set. 

It was during this time that God made a covenant with His people, promising that in obeying His Commandments, He would send them a Savior. Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant and, through His death and resurrection, has opened the way to eternal salvation. The Ten Commandments are still active laws that must be obeyed to obtain eternal life.

Divine Mercy represents a renewal of our Covenant with God. Jesus revealed to Sr. Faustina Kowalska that if we trust in Him and follow certain steps, God the Father, through Jesus, is willing not only to forgive all sins but also to remove any punishment due to sin. No matter how serious our sins are, each one causes God sorrow. We are His children, and in His everlasting view. It would be a remarkable act of love if we went to confession with true sorrow for the offenses committed against God. But after receiving forgiveness, we made retribution for sin. If you cannot directly correct the harm caused by your wrongdoing, you can make reparation through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Divine Mercy Sunday is a day of atonement. It is THE DAY, given by God as a gift for us to receive the fruits of atonement - complete forgiveness and any punishment due to sin. 

I encourage you to read more about this amazing grace offered to us, as I have only provided a basic understanding. https://www.thedivinemercy.org/celebrate/greatgrace/dms

Let me say it plainly - it is a tragedy to die without atoning for sin, but what a grace to understand the need to participate with the graces God provides for complete reparation.

Observing the Feast of Divine Mercy:

• Mass on the Sunday after Easter (April 12) and receive Holy Communion

• Sincerely repenting of all sins in Confession (preferably before the Feast)

• Venerate the Image of The Divine Mercy 

• Pray for the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV

• Place your trust in Jesus

  
  

Suggestions for keeping peace within families and friends:

• Make forgiveness a regular part of your life. This habit helps mend wounds and shows our love for God.

• Deal with conflicts quickly and peacefully.

• Apologize sincerely when wrong.

• Choose to forgive even when it’s difficult.

  
  

The Impact of a Father’s Example on Spiritual Life:

The way a father interacts with his family leaves a lasting impression on how children view authority, love, and God’s character.

• A father who shows patience, kindness, and humility helps children develop a healthy image of God as loving and merciful.

• Difficult or absent father relationships can create spiritual struggles. Recognizing this allows individuals to seek healing and understand God’s unconditional love beyond human imperfections.  God loves unconditionally; it is sin that destroys families.

  
  

Please mark your calendar for this Sunday to observe Divine Mercy Sunday.

Pray the Rosary for Peace!