[MUSIC] >> Fr. Pacwa: WELCOME TO EWTN LIVE! I'M FATHER MITCH PACWA AND THIS IS A PROGRAM WHERE I BRING YOU GUESTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. OUR GUEST TONIGHT IS ACTUALLY A WELL-KNOWN FACE TO MANY OF OUR VIWERS. YOU KNOW HER BECAUSE SHE'S A PROLIFIC WRITER ON SUBJECTS LIKE, THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY. SO MUCH, SHE GETS CALLED THE PURGATORY LADY! SHE ALSO HAS BEEN WRITING A LOT OF REFLECTION ON ST. FAUSTINA AND THE CONTENTS OF HER DIARY. SHE'S HERE TO SHARE WITH US HOW WE CAN MAKE LENT MORE MEANINGFUL BY MEDITATING ON THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST IN ORDER TO SHED HIS LIGHT AND GRACE ON OUR OWN SUFFERING AND SALVATION. SHE'S THE AUTHOR OF A BRAND NEW BOOK CALLED, PRAYING WITH JESUS AND FAUSTINA DURING LENT AND IN TIMES OF SUFFERING. JOINING US VIA SKYPE FROM CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, PLEASE, WELCOME SUSAN TASSONE. HOW ARE YOU? >> Voice: WELL, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU. I KNOW YOU ARE DOING WELL BECAUSE YOU ARE IN GREAT WEATHER. I THINK THE SNOW HERE IS TALLER THAN ME. IT'S SUNNY BUT THERE'S A LOT OF IT! >> Fr. Pacwa: WELL, I'M NOT REALLY IN WARM WEATHER. THE SOUTH IS UNDER A LOT OF COLD WEATHER. IT'S A GOOD REMINDER FOR US TO KEEP IN MIND, FOLKS, ESPECIALLY IN TEXAS, WHO HAVE HAD POWER OUTAGES AND ARE IN SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES IN SOME PLACES. SO, KEEP THEM IN YOUR PRAYERS. IT'S COLD DOWN HERE, TOO, IN ALABAMA. >> I THINK IT'S RELATIVE. YOUR CALL MAY BE WARMER FOR US. YOUR 20° IS PROBABLY A LITTLE HEAT WAVE FOR US. IT'S WINTER HERE AND LENT. SO, HAPPY ASH WEDNESDAY TO YOU, FATHER! >> AND TO YOU, TOO, HAPPY ASH WEDNESDAY. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF LENT. IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR US TO CONSIDER TWO THINGS. LENT IS DEFINITELY ORIENTED TO MOVING TO HOLY WEEK, THE WEEK WHICH WE RECALL THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST. NOT ONLY HIS ENTRANCE ON PALM SUNDAY IN TRIUMPH, BUT THE QUICK TURN THAT HAPPENED WHEN PEOPLE CRUCIFIED HIM. BUT TORTURED HIM BEFORE THAT. LIED ABOUT HIM IN TRIALS. AND ALL OF THESE WERE TREMENDOUS SUFFERINGS NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THE APOSTLES EITHER BETRAYED HIM WITH A KISS AS IN THE CASE OF JUDAS AND THEY RAN AWAY AND THE POPE DENIED EVEN KNOWING HIM! THIS IS A LOT OF PAIN AND SUFFERING ON LOTS OF LEVELS. THIS IS THE TOPIC OF YOUR NEW BOOK WITH HELP FROM ST. FAUSTINA. >> DIRECT HELP, JESUS AND FAUSTINA. I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU BECAUSE WE HIT A NERVE. I GOT A CALL FROM FATHER CAM BRA, AND I KNOW WHEN I GET A CALL, IT'S ANOTHER BOOK! HE CALLED ME IN MARCH, DURING THE LOCKDOWN, HE SAID YOU KNOW THAT BURGUNDY BOOK -- CALLS IT BY COLORS. AND I SAID, YOU MEAN PRAYER WITH JESUS AND ST. FAUSTINA. AND HE SAID, YEAH, YEAH. THE MEDITATIONS ON THE PASSION AND THE MEDITATIONS THAT FAUSTINA VISUALIZED AND THOUGHT, THEY ARE SO POWERFUL AND GRAPHIC, CAN YOU TAKE THOSE AND PUT IT IN ANOTHER BOOK. I SAID, NO! BUT AT THAT MOMENT, IT WAS FUNNY HE CALLED BECAUSE HE CALLED FOR ALL SIX BOOKS. I KNEW I WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THE PASSION DURING THE LOCK DOWN. AND SIX YEARS OF WRITING ON ST. FAUSTINA, THE PASSION COMES UP OVER AND OVER AND OVER. AND I MADE SURE OUT OF THE SIX BOOKS, THERE WAS ALWAYS A CHAPTER ON THE PASSION. SO, HE JUST CONFIRMED, I HAVE TO DO THIS. IT WAS THERE TO BEGIN WITH. SO, THE FOCUS OF THE BOOK, FATHER, IS COMING FROM THE ACTUAL WORDS OF JESUS AND FAUSTINA WHICH MAKE IT UNIQUE AND VERY SPECIAL. IT PERFECTLY ADDRESSES THE TERRIBLE TIME YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, EXPERIENCING NOT ONLY WITH THE WEATHER AND THE COVID, BUT THE TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS THAT WORK THROUGH TODAY. IT ATTRACTS BOTH. AND I REALIZED, THERE'S A LOT OF LENT BOOKS OUT THERE, AND YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE BANKS. 20 ZILLION BANKS. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT AND WHAT MADE THE BOOK DIFFERENT IS A CONTEMPORARY BOOK THAT HAS A COMBINATION OF JESUS AND FAUSTINA TOGETHER CONVERSING TOGETHER BACK AND FORTH, WHAT HE EXPERIENCED, HOW SHE SHOULD OFFER UP THE SACRIFICES, MODEL HIM. AND I WANTED TO CAPTURE THE WORDS ABOUT HIS SORROWS THAT HE SHARED WITH HER, HIS SACRIFICIAL DEATH THAT HE SHARED NOT ONLY WITH HER BUT WITH US. AND IT'S ASH WEDNESDAY THE BOOK STARTS OUT WITH SHROVE TUESDAY AND I P PURPOSELY DID THAT BECAE I LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT SHROVE TUESDAY, PIUS XII MADE IT THE DAY DEDICATED TO THE HOLY FACE. AND SHROVE TUESDAY MEANS TO ABSOLVE. THAT'S PROBABLY BEFORE MY TIME. YOU ARE A LITTLE OLDER THAN ME, BUT MAYBE YOU KNOW THIS, FATHER. IT WAS A TIME THAT PEOPLE WENT TO CONFESSION ON THAT DAY. SO, I STARTED WITH SHROVE TUESDAY. TODAY IS ASH WEDNESDAY AND I WANTED TO SHARE WHAT I WROTE TODAY ON ASH WEDNESDAY. THIS IS WHAT JESUS SAID. HE SAID, YOU PLEASE ME MOST WHEN YOU MEDITATE MOST ON MY SOAFERL PASSION. THE CONTEMPLATION OF MY WOUNDS IS OF GREAT PROFIT TO YOU AND IT BRINGS ME GREAT JOY. SO, WHAT IS THIS SAYING? WELL, IF YOU WANT TO PLEASE JESUS AND DELIGHT HIM, THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO THAT. THIS IS WHAT OPENS THE WINDOW TO PLEASE AND DELIGHT HIM. HE GOES ON, FATHER. THESE QUOTES ARE ALL FROM THE BOOK BECAUSE THEY START WITH SHROVE TUESDAY AND TAKE YOU ALL THE WAY TO DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY. THIS IS PART 1. AND JESUS SAID, THERE ARE FEW SOULS THAT CONTEMPLATE MY PASSION WITH TRUE FEELINGS. I GIVE GREAT GRACES TO SOULS WHO MEDITATE DEVOUTLY ON MY PASSION. THEN, HE SAYS AGAIN, MY DAUGHTER, YOUR COMPASSION TO ME REFRESHES ME. MEDITATING ON MY PASSION, YOUR SOUL ACQUIRES A DISTINCT BEAUTY. SO, WE HAVE JESUS ALSO IN THE BOOK LEADING FAUSTINA AND US THROUGH HIS PASSION AND THE STATIONS. WHAT I FOUND, TOO, FATHER, I HAVE THE STATIONS BUT THERE WAS ALSO MEDITATIONS IN BETWEEN THAT JESUS EXPERIENCED BEFORE THE GARDEN, BEFORE HE WEPT IN THE GARDEN. AND I WAS FILLING IN THIS AS WELL WITH THE STATIONS. AND YOU HAVE MEDITATIONS AND THEN YOU HAVE THE STATIONS. SO, WHEN YOU HAVE FAUSTINA SPEAKING AND SHE EXPERIENCED THE STIGMATA AND YOU DON'T HEAR TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT, FATHER. IT WAS INVISIBLE. I DIDN'T FIND IT, AND IT WAS HIDDEN IN THE DIARY. BUT SHE SAID THIS, SHE SAID, I SUFFERED PAIN IN MY BODY, MY HANDS, MY FEET, AND MY SIDE. JESUS IS SENDING ME THIS KIND OF SUFFERING THAT I MAY MAKE REPARATION FOR SINNERS. AND SHE GOES ON TO SAY, IN DIFFICULT MOMENTS, I MUST TAKE REFUGE IN THE WOUNDS OF JESUS. I MUST BE COMFORT, AFFIRMATION IN THE WOUNDS OF JESUS. THEN, I FIND THIS OUT, FATHER. AGAIN, IT'S FROM A PRIEST FRIEND. HE SAID, YOU KNOW, BEFORE VATICAN II, AND MAYBE YOU KNOW THIS, YOU ARE ONE OR TWO YEARS AHEAD OF ME, THAT WE OFFER THE STATIONS ON FRIDAY. AND THEN, THERE WAS A DEVOTION TO THE WOUNDS! I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. THERE WAS A DEVOTION TO THE WOUNDS. AND JESUS HAD A SPECIAL DEVOTION TO THE WOUNDS. AND I SAID, MY GOODNESS! SO, WHAT I DID, BESIDES THE 50 DAYS, THE NEXT CHAPTER OR SECTION OF THE BOOK, I CALL IT THE WOUND SECTION AND IT HAS THESE UNUSUAL, RARE PRAYERS AND LITANIES ABOUT THE WOUNDS. I HAD THIS THAT FOCUSED ON THE FIVE WOUNDS. I TOOK IT FURTHER THAN THAT. IT WAS NOT JUST FIVE WOUNDS THERE, IT WAS HIS FACE! AND THAT'S WHERE WE GET THE DEVOTION OF THE HOLY FACE ON TUESDAY. THEY SPAT ON HIM, SLAPPED HIM, INSULTED HIM AND THE BLOOD FROM THE CROWN OF THORNS CAME DOWN IN HIS EYES WHERE HE COULD BARELY OPEN HIS EYES BECAUSE THE BLOOD WAS CLOTTING. I READ THE DESCRIPTION. HE COULD BARELY SEE HIS MOTHER, LOOKING AT HIS MOTHER. SO, THERE'S THE PRECIOUS BLOOD LITANY, ONE OF THE FIVE OFFICIAL LITANIES OF THE CHURCH. AND I ALSO FOUND, FATHER, CATHERINE OF SIENNA WROTE A LITANY OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD THAT WAS BREATHTAKING. WE THAT IN THERE, THE HOLY FACE, SHOULDER POUNDS AND WE INCLUDED ALL THE WOUNDS, PRECIOUS BLOOD AND THIS PARTICULAR SECTION GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON HIS WOUNDS. AND ONE OF THE VERY IMPORTANT PARTS OF THIS IS THAT SO MANY F US PRAY THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET THAT WAS REVEALED TO ST. FAUSTINA. IN THERE, WE SAY, FOR THE TAKE OF HIS SORROWFUL PASSION, HAVE MERCY ON US AND ON THE WHOLE WORLD. AND IT IS HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE DEPTHS OF THAT IF WE DON'T MEDITATE ON THE PASSION OF CHRIST. AND UNDERSTAND WHAT HIS SUFFERING MEANT. AND TO BE AS CONCRETE AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS THE REALITY OF GOD BECOMING FLESH IS THAT HE REALLY DID SUFFER. THERE WAS A TEMPTATION TO HERESY IN THE FIRST CENTURY THAT WAS REPEATED MANY TIMES OVER THE CENTURIES. MAINLY, IT'S CALLED DOSSATISM. IT'S A HERESY THAT TEACHES JESUS SEEMED TO BE HUMAN OR LOOKED LIKE HE WAS HUMAN BUT REALLY IT WAS JUST A COSTUME. IT WAS NOT REAL. AND IT WAS A HERESY INFLUENCED BY A LOT OF THE ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN PAGANISM WHERE THE PAGAN GODS WOULD LOOK LIKE HUMANS BUT THEN GO RIGHT BACK TO THEIR DIVINE STATUS. AND THEY WERE JUST PLAY ACTING. THAT IS NOT OUR DOCTRINE. DOSSATISM WAS NOT REAL AND JESUS DID REALLY TAKE ON HUMAN FLESH, TOOK ON A FULL HUMAN NATURE. AND AS SUCH, HE REALLY DID SUFFER. THIS WAS NOT PLAY ACTING. IT WAS AUTHENTIC PAIN, TORTURE, AND MOCKERY. ALL OF THIS WAS DONE TO HIM. AND IT'S INSPIRED OUR ART OVER THE CENTURIES. I THINK THAT YOUR DESCRIPTION HERE -- CONTRIBUTION HERE IS PARTLY BECAUSE IN THE 1960'S, THE CRUCIFIXES WERE OFTEN REMOVED FROM THE CHURCHES IN THE 1960'S AND THE 1970'S. AND THE SUFFERING OF CHRIST WAS DEEMPHASIZED. AND STATIONS WERE DEEMPHASIZED, EVEN DURING LENT AND SOMETIMES STOPPED. AND INSTEAD OF MAKING THE STATIONS, PEOPLE WERE DOING LABYRINTHS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND WHEREAS, THAT MISSES OUT ON THE REALITY OF THE CHRIST REALLY SUFFERING FOR US. THIS IS WHAT I THINK THAT YOU BRING OUT SO NICELY. >> IT BRINGS YOU VERY CLOSE TO HIM. I WAS THINKING, TOO, FATHER, PRAYING WITH JESUS AND FAUSTINA DURING LENT. BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO NARROW IT TO JUST LENT, AND I ADDED, AND IN TIMES OF SUFFERING. BECAUSE WE SUFFER. I WANTED TO EXPAND THAT. THERE'S A REALLY UNIQUE SECTION IN THE BOOK, IN TIMES OF SUFFERING. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, BECAUSE WE SUFFER. FAUSTINA SUFFERED. SHE SUFFERED IN EVERY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. SHE SUFFERED PHYSICALLY BECAUSE SHE HAD A PHYSICAL ILLNESS, TUBERCULOSIS. SHE HAD THE STIGMATA WHERE SHE EXPERIENCED THE PASSION IN HER BODY. AND ALTHOUGH SHE WAS INVISIBLE, SHE SUFFERED EMOTIONALLY, FATHER BECAUSE THE SISTERS DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS SICK. IN FACT, THEY SAID, SHE WAS TRYING TO AVOID WORK. THEY MADE FUN OF HER, FATHER. AND THEY INSULTED HER. THEY CALLED HER DUMB. SHE SUFFERED MENTALLY BECAUSE SHE WAS CONCERNED, SHE HAD VISIONS OF JESUS AND MARY FOR THREE YEARS. AND YOU KNOW, SHE WAS DOUBTING HERSELF BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING CRAZY. AND SHE HAD THAT CONCERN, THAT FEAR. AND THEN, ON TOP OF ALL OF THE SUFFERINGS, SHE WAS GIVEN THE MISSION TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF DIVINE MERCY. AND HOW WAS SHE GOING TO DO THAT BECAUSE SHE LIVED IN THE CONVENT. I WAS TRYING TO PULL IN THAT SECTION, IN TIMES OF SUFFERING, REAL ACTUAL SUFFERING THAT SHE EXPERIENCED. AND JESUS COMING IN AND TELLING HER, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF SURGE SUFFERING. WHY ARE WE SUFFERING. WHAT'S THE VALUE OF SUFFERING, IS THERE ANY VALUE. AND AS FAR AS TEACHERS, JESUS WAS HER BEST TEACHER. JESUS TOLD HER HOW TO HANDLE SUFFERING. YOU CAN TAKE THESE DAILY WORK,- IF YOU WILL, WHICH INCLUDES SUFFERING AND FRUSTRATION AND YOU CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO A SACRIFICE. IT CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO A SACRIFICE, PEACE IN YOUR HEART, IN THE WORLD, PEACE IN THE WORLD, CONVERSION OF SINNERS AND EVEN THE SOULS IN PURGATORY. HE SAID THIS, FATHER, HE SAID THIS TO HER. JOIN YOUR LITTLE SACRIFICES TO MY SORROWFUL PASSION. THERE IT IS AGAIN. THE SMALLEST SACRIFICE FINDS GREAT VALUE BEFORE MY MAJESTY. AND THEN, HE TELLS HER WHY MEDITATING ON HER PASSION IS IMPORTANT TO HIM. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HIM? THIS IS THE SPOILER, FATHER. BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE. BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU. AND THERE'S A GREAT, GREAT QUOTE THAT, AFTER 6 YEARS, YOU THINK YOU HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING, IN THE DIARY, GOD MUST PUT BLINDERS ON BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FIT ANYWHERE ELSE. BUT YOU KNOW, THE ORDER, SISTER FAUSTINA'S CONGREGATION, THEY STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THE SISTERS PONDER GOD'S SALVATION STARTING WITH THE INCARNATION, PASSION, AND GLORY THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE. AND THE PASSION WAS PART OF HER CONSTITUTION THAT THE NUNS WERE TOLD TO PONDER FREQUENTLY. SO, THIS IS WHAT JESUS SAID. HE SAID, REMEMBER MY PASSION. AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE MY WORDS, AT LEAST BELIEVE MY WOUNDS. I CAME DOWN TO HEAVEN OUT OF LOVE FOR YOU. I LIVE FOR YOU, I DIED FOR YOU. I CREATED YOU. BEFORE I MADE THE WORLD, I LOVED YOU! MY LOVE WILL NEVER CHANGE. AND THE PASSION IS THE FULLNESS OF HIS LOVE. AND THIS IS WHAT ST. FAUSTINA SAID. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES. SHE SAID THIS, FATHER. "YOU CAN SAVE THOUSANDS OF WORDS WITH ONE WORD, A SIGH FROM THE MANGER, A SINGLE SIGH TO JESUS WOULD HAVE SATISFIED YOUR JUSTICE, BUT YOU YOURSELF, JESUS, PURELY OUT OF LOVE FOR US UNDERWENT SUCH A TERRIBLE PASSION. YOUR FATHER'S JUSTICE WOULD HAVE BEEN PROPITIATED -- THAT MEANS APPEASED -- WITH A SINGLE SIGH FROM YOU. AND ALL OF YOURSELF ABASEMENT IS SOLELY THE WORK OF YOUR MERCY AND YOUR INCONCEIVABLE LOVE. SO, SHE CAME TO KNOW, BY MEDITATING ON THE PASSION. SHE CAME TO KNOW THEM AGAIN, THE MYSTERY OF GOD'S LOVE. AND SHE SAID, THIS IS FAUSTINA, ALL OF OUR LOVES ARE IMMERSED IN HIS DIVINE MERCY EVERYDAY. THE MOST PROFOUNDLY IN THE SACRAMENTS OF CONFESSION, AND IN THE EUCHARIST. OUR MERCY IS DEEPENED BY SIFG THE SACRAMENTS AND SPANS OUR HEART TO BE MERCIFUL. SHE SAID, HIS MERCY IS LIKE A GOLDEN THREAD RUNNING THROUGHOUT OUR WHOLE LIVES. >> Fr. Pacwa: THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON, IN PARTICULAR FOR OUR TIME. WE CERTAINLY SEE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ANGER IN OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW AND THE VISIONS THAT MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO COMMUNICATE AS PEOPLE SEEK A VERY GOOD REALITY CALLED JUSTICE. BUT WE SEE THAT IT IS WITHOUT MERCY. AND MERCY IS PERCEIVED AS WEAKNESS. AND THERE'S A REJECTION OF MERS MERCIFULNESS. AND THIS APPROACH TO JUSTICE CHARACTERIZES MUCH OF THE 20TH CENTURY WHERE PEOPLE WANTED A JUST SOCIETY AND WERE WILLING TO KILL 300 MILLION PEOPLE IN ORDER TO GET IT. OF COURSE CREATING THEIR OWN INJUSTICE IN THE NAME OF SOCIALISM AND NATIONAL COMMUNISM AND SO ON. AND THIS IDEA THAT WE FIRST FIND MERCY FROM GOD AND THIS MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO BE MERCIFUL BECAUSE WE RECEIVE MERCY, THIS IS KEY. I DON'T THINK IT'S AN ACCIDENT THAT AS VARIOUS FORCES PUSH GOD OUT OF OUR CULTURE, OUR SOCIETY BECOMES INCREASINGLY MERCILESS. IT'S ONLY WHEN WE COME TO GOD, COME TO GOD MADE FLESH AND SEE IN JESUS CHRIST, THIS SOURCE OF MERCY FOR US, OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN. THEN, WE CAN SHOW MERCY TO OTHERS. THIS IS VERY KEY. >> THAT DIVINE MERCY WAS THE SAME AS WHEN FAUSTINA WAS HERE. AND SHE GETS IT OUT NOW AND IT'S APPROPRIATE, JESUS WANTS TO REMIND US OF HIS MERCY. THAT'S THE GREATEST ATTRIBUTE. YOU SAID IT, FATHER, TO BE MERCIFUL TO YOURSELF, TO BE MERCIFUL TO OTHERS. TO FORGIVE YOURSELF, FORGIVE OTHERS. AND IN DOING IT IN A CHARITABLE WAY IN TERMS OF, WHAT, SHARING DISAGREEMENTS WITHOUT BECOMING DISAGREEABLE AND TO TARGET DIVINE MERCY FOR COME ORTH AND -- COMFORT AND FOR DIVINE MERCY. THIS IS MUCH NEEDED. >> Fr. Pacwa: AND WE SEE IT AGAIN. JUST YESTERDAY, MORE PEOPLE WERE BREAKING OTHER PEOPLES' PROPERTY AS A WAY OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE. AND THEY END UP HAVING TO BRING DOWN THE POLICE UPON THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW. THIS IS, IT'S JUST IRONICALLY END UP DESTROYING YOURSELF WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO BE MERCILESS. YOU END UP DOING YOUR OWN PROJECTS WHEREAS MERCY OPENS UP THE PAY FOR US TO ACCEPT OTHER PEOPLE AS FELLOW SINNERS. THIS IS ONE OF THE OTHER GREAT THINGS ABOUT FOCUSING ON THE SUFFERING OF CHRIST AND THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS THAT HE ACCOMPLISHED FOR US. THAT WE ALSO BEGIN TO SEE THAT I'M LIVING IN THE WORLD OF MY FELLOW SINNERS. I NEED THE MERCY. I CAN GIVE MERCY TO OTHERS AND SHOW THEM LOVE BECAUSE I RECEIVED MERCY. IT'S A GREAT TO ME FIRST. AND THEN, I CAN EXTEND IT TO OTHERS. AND IN THE PRESENT CLIMATE, THERE'S SUCH A LACK OF THAT. WE HAVE TO RESPOND BY FOCUSING ALL THE MORE ON CHRIST AND NOT ON OURSELVES. >> YOU KNOW, EVERY PERSON WHEREVER SHE OR HE LIVES IS MARKED BY THE CROSS. AND SISTER FAUSTINA, HER STRUGGLES, IT WAS A CROSS FOR HER. JUST LIKE A FAMILY, A CONGREGATION IS MADE UP OF THE VARIOUS PERSONALITIES, VARIOUS WEAKNESSES AND BECAUSE IT'S MADE UP OF ORDINARY PEOPLE AND NOT ANGELS. SO, FAUSTINA SAW THE GOOD IN HER SUFFERING AND SHE RELATED THAT TO LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY. SHE SAW THAT HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS, THIS FRICTION, THAT IT PURIFIED HER OF SELFISHNESS OR DIFFERENT WEAKNESSES AND IT CREATED SPACE FOR LOVE. AND AS A RESULT, IT TRANSFORMED INTO A GOOD FOR HERSELF AND OTHERS. AND HER OWN PURIFICATION MADE HER CAPABLE OF GREATER LOVE BECAUSE SHE WAS BECOMING A FREE PERSON AND ABLE TO LOVE EVERY ONE, EVEN THOSE WHO WERE DIFFICULT AND NOT KIND TO HER NOT EVEN GOOD TO HER. >> I THINK THAT THIS IS VERY MUCH CONNECTED WITH OUR OWN PRAYER OF THE MORNING OFFERING, EVERYDAY. BECAUSE IN THE MORNING OFFERING, THIS IS A DEVOTION THAT WE JESUITS HAVE TRADITIONALLY PUSHED HARD AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS. ONE OF THE POINTS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO DRAW FROM, I OFFER YOU ALL MY PRAYERS, WORKS, AND SUFFERINGS OF THE DAY. THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO GIVE AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO BRING OUT, WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE EUCHARIST, IN MY TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY, I MENTIONED HOW AT THE OFFERTORY, WE OFFER UP, IT IS BREAD AND WINE. THE REASON WE HAVE BREAD IS BECAUSE GRAINS OF WHEAT ARE CRUSHED, MIXED WITH WATER, AND THEN BAKED. WE HAVE WINE BECAUSE GRAPES ARE CRUSHED, FERMENTED AND THEN BECOME WINE. THOSE ARE WONDERFUL SYMBOLS OF OUR SUFFERING WHERE WE GET CRUSHED, BAKED, AND FERMENTED BY LIFE. BUT THEN WE CAN TAKE OUR DIFFICULTIES AND OUR SUFFERINGS AND OFFER THEM UP WITH THE BREAD AND THE WINE AT THE OFFERING. THAT'S WHAT WE GIVE JESUS. THEN, JUST AS HE CONSECRATES THE BREAD INTO HIS BODY AND THE WINE INTO HIS BLOOD, SO ALSO DOES HE, AT THE MOMENT OF CONSECRATION UNITE OUR SUFFERINGS WITH HIS. AND AT THAT MOMENT THAT WE ESPECIALLY ARE REPRESENTING CHRIST'S DEATH ON THE CROSS, AT THE MOMENT OF THE CONSECRATION, THAT'S WHEN HE ALSO UNITES OUR SUFFERINGS WITH HIM SO THAT WE BECOME PART OF WHAT HE IS OFFERING. THAT'S WHAT ST. PAUL MEANT IN COLOSSIANS 1:24, 25. I MAKE UP FOR WHAT IS LACKING IN THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST BY MY OWN SUFFERINGS FOR THE SAKE OF HIS BODY, THE CHURCH, THAT I AM OFFERING THIS UP. FULFILLING OUT OF HIS SUFFERINGS, IN THE WHOLE BODY OF CHRIST FOR THE SAKE OF HIS CHURCH WHICH IS HIS MYSTICAL BODY. >> OUTSTANDING, FATHER MITCH. OUTSTANDING! TO TAKE IT A LITTLE STEP FURTHER, THAT'S THE POINT I WANTED TO COVER BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE SUFFER. AND A LOT OF LISTENERS ARE SUFFERING AT HOME. THEY ARE HOME BOUND FOR ALL KINDS OF REASONS. AND I WANTED TO POINT OUT AGAIN, THIS IS IN THE BOOK. WHAT JESUS HAS SAID IN THE TERMS OF THE VALUE OF SUFFERING AND HOW POWERFUL IT IS. HOW IT'S A FORM OF PRAYER. HE TOLD FAUSTINA, I HAVE NEED OF YOUR SUFFERING TO RESCUE SOULS. THERE WAS ONE PRICE AT WHICH SOULS ARE BOUGHT, THAT IS SUFFERING UNITED TO MY SUFFERING ON THE CROSS. SO, YOUR PRAYERS, FAST, MORTIFICATIONS AND LABORS, UNITED TO MY PRAYERS THAT THEY WILL HAVE POWER BEFORE MY FATHER. HELP ME TO SAVE SOULS. JOIN YOUR SUFFERINGS TO MY PASSION AND OFFER THEM TO THE HEAVENLY FATHER FOR SINNERS. THEN, HE GOES ON AND HE SAYS, THIS IS IN THE BOOK, YOUR SUFFERING WILL BECOME A SOURCE OF YOUR SANITYIFICATION. AND FAUSTINA SAYS, I SAW THAT MY SUFFERING AND PRAYER SHACKLED SATAN AND CLUTCHED MANY SOULS FROM THEIR CLUTCHES. AND MY SACRIFICE IS NOTHING ALONE BUT WHEN JOINED TO THE JESUS CHRIST, IT BECOMES ALL POWERFUL AND HAS THE POWER TO APIECE DIVINE WRATH. SO, THE IMAGE OF SHACKLING SATAN'S CLUTCHES -- SOUNDS LIKE A FAIRYTALE BUT IT'S TRUE -- YOU CAN SNATCH SOULS OUT FOR HEAVEN AND FRIGHTENING, YES, INVINCIBLE, NO. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER UP SACRIFICES AND YOUR SALVATION BY HELPING TO SAVE SOULS. >> THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT. WERE YOU GOING TO ADD SOMETHING ELSE THERE? >> YEAH. I JUST HAVE TO ADD THIS. THIS IS ANOTHER POWERFUL QUOTE BECAUSE, WE HAVE, IN TIMES OF SUFFERING AND IN NEED, THIS IS COMING FROM ST. FAUSTINA'S WORDS AND EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES. BUT AS I WRITE THE BOOK, THINK LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, WHAT IF I CAN'T PRAY. WELL, THIS IS WHAT JESUS TOLD FRAUSINE. SHE WAS FEELING SICK, TRYING TO OFFER HER SUFFERINGS AND MEDITATE ON HIS PASSION ONE DAY. AND SO, SHE COULDN'T. SHE COMPLAINED TO THE LORD AND SAID, I WANTED SO MUCH TO STEEP MYSELF INTO YOUR SORRY FERL PASSION BUT MY SUFFERINGS HAVE NOT ALLOWED ME TO DO SO. AND HE SAID, DAUGHTER, KNOW THAT IF I ALLOW YOU TO FEEL A MORE PROFOUND KNOWLEDGE OF MY SUFFERINGS, THAT'S A GRACE. BUT WHEN YOUR MIND IS THERE AND YOUR SUFFERINGS ARE GREAT, IT IS THEN THAT YOU TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN MY PASSION AND I AM CONFORMING YOU MORE FULLY TO MYSELF. FOR THOSE WHO CAN SAY, YOUR PRAYER IS A HUGE OFFERING. >> HENCE, THE MORNING OFFERING. THAT'S WHAT WE OFFER UP! WE HAVE TO TAKE A LITTLE BREAK. WE'LL BE BACK IN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES. PLEASE, STAY WITH US AS WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION WITH SUSAN TASSONE ON ST. FAUSTINA AND THE PASSION OF CHRIST AS A WAY TO PRAY THROUGH THIS LENT. PLEASE, STAY WITH US. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> ALL RIGHT! WE'RE SPEAKING WITH SUSAN TASSONE WHO HAS A BRAND NEW BOOK CALLED, PRAYING WITH JESUS AND FAUSTINA DURING LENT AND IN TIMES OF SUFFERING. THIS IS A BRAND NEW BOOK, BEEN OUT JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND IT'S AVAILABLE AT ewtn.com, ewtnRC.com AND IT'S ITEM 4276. YOU CAN GET IT AT ewtnRC.com. NOW, SUSAN, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US, TALKING ABOUT THIS, YOU OBVIOUSLY INTEND FOR THIS TO BE A DEVOTIONAL DURING LENT AND OTHER TIMES BY SUFFERING. THIS IS A GREAT TOOL TO USE AS THEY MEDITATE THROUGH EACH DAY OF LENT. >> RIGHT. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THIS, FATHER. I WANTED TO MENTION, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SUFFERING AND THE KINDS OF SUFFERING THAT SHE EXPERIENCED AND THE KIND OF SUFFERING THAT WE EXPERIENCE. IF YOU DON'T MIND ME SAYING THIS, I HAVE TO PLUG THIS FOR YOU. YOU DIDN'T PAY ME FOR IT BUT YOU HAVE A BOOK OUT, WHEAT AND TASRES. >> YEAH, WHEAT AND TASRES. YOU CAN FOCUS -- >> I TRIED TO DEAL WITH THE EXPBS SEXUAL ABUSE CRISIS, FROM A PERSPECTIVE AS, ONE OF THE APPROACHES, THE FIRST PART IS COMPARING APOSTLES AND THEIR MORAL FAILURES TO THAT OF THE CLERGY AND HIERARCHY AND THE MORAL FAILURES BY EITHER BEING ABUSERS OR BY NOT KNOWING HOW TO DEAL WITH THE ABUSE OR NEGLECTING IT, COVERING IT UP, ALL OF THE VARIETY OF THINGS THAT OCCURRED. BUT TO ME, THE PART THAT I SPENT THE MOST TIME PRAYING OVER. I PRAYED A LOT OVER ALL OF IT. BUT I, RIGHT BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT, THE PART THAT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME, I WENT THROUGH THE PASSION OF CHRIST. AND ALL OF THE VARIOUS TRIALS, SIX TIMES THAT THE SOLDIERS MOCKED OUR LORD, THEN THE PHYSICAL SUFFERING, SCOURGING, CRUCIFIXION AND CROWNING OF THORNS. I CONNECT THAT WITH THE SUFFERING OF THE VICTIMS OF ABUSE, THE CHILDREN THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR FRIENDS, AND THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE. VERY MUCH LIKE THE BASIC PRINCIPLE THAT YOU HAVE, AND THAT ST. FAUSTINA HAS, IN SCRIPTURE, THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAID IN ISAIAH 53, IT IS BY HIS STRIPES THAT WE ARE HEALED. AND THAT HEALING COMES TO US THROUGH CHRIST'S SUFFERING. SO, WE CAN RESONATE WITH IT, EXPERIENCE MEDITATION ON HIS PASSION AND SUFFERING AND DEATH AS A WAY TO ALSO FIND HEALING OF OUR OWN PAIN BY IDENTIFYING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF HIS SUFFERING WITH THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF OURS. >> EXACTLY. IT'S THE SAME, FATHER. I HAVE TO CATCH YOUR BOOK. BUT WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? HOW DO YOU COOPERATE TO HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING. CHILDREN, JESUS TOLD HER TO DO THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS. HE SAID, TRY YOUR BEST TO MAKE THE STATIONS. SHE SAID THIS, I AM DEEPLY MOVED FROM THE 12TH STATION, JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS. I THINK ABOUT THE OMNIPOTENCE OF JESUS, IN THE OPEN HEART WOUND OF JESUS, I POUR ALL POOR HUMAN INDIVIDUALS AND ALL THOSE THAT I LOVE, AS OFTEN AS MAKE THE CROSS. AND MOTHER ANGELICA SAYS WHEN YOU MAKE THE WAY OF THE CROSS, IT SOFTENS YOUR HEART AND MAKES YOU MORE COMPASSIONATE. AND I LEARNED, IT WAS ST. FAUSTINA'S FAVORITE DEVOTION. AND I LEARNED ANOTHER PERSON WHO WAS A BIG FAN OF STATIONS OF THE CROSS. THAT WAS ST. JOHN PAUL II II, HE PAID THE SAYINGS STATIONS OF THE CROSS, EVERY FRIDAY, WHETHER HE WAS IN A CHAPEL OR NOT. AND HERE'S A TRUE STORY. ABOUT HIM, THERE WAS A BISHOP THAT WAS VISITING THIS CONVENT AND IN THE EVENING, IT WAS TIME FOR THE SISTERS TO SHUT THE LIGHTS OFF. TIME TO RETIRE FOR THE EVENING. AND THE ONE NUN WENT TO THE CHAPEL AND SHE HEARD THIS RUSTLING SOUND. SHE WAS NOT SURE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. SHE LOOKED DOWN THE AISLE AND SHE SAW A BISHOP MAKING THE WAY OF THE CROSS ON HIS KNEES. SHE BACKED OFF, PUT THE LIGHTS ON. AND NEXT MORNING, SHE SHARED THIS VISION, THE BEAUTY OF THE BISHOP PRAYING THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS WITH THE NUNS NOT REALIZING THAT IT WAS ST. JOHN PAUL II. THIS MAN, A SIMPLE HUMBLE HOLY FATHER SUFFERED WITH THE PEOPLE OF HIS OWN TIME. HE SUFFERED HARDSHIP. HE KNEW PERSONAL PAIN. HE SUMMED IT UP EVERYTHING IN THAT QUIET PRACTICE OF GOING FROM STATION TO STATION IN MANY CHURCHES AND MANY CHAPEL. AND IT WAS VERY POWERFUL FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY TO PRAY THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS BECAUSE OF THE INDULGENCES ATTACHED TO IT. THAT'S ONE THING THAT SHE DID. IN FACT, SHE TRIED TO PRAY THE STATIONS PROSTRATE, IN THE FORM OF A CROSS. WHEN THE SISTERS WEREN'T IN THE CHAMPLE SHE DID THAT. -- CHAPEL. AND NOW, SHE ALSO INCLUDED THE SOULS IN PURGATORY IN HER SACRIFICES. I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, FATHER. BUT I HAD TO CATCH UP WITH YOU. THE BYZANTINE CATHOLICS DO NOT CELEBRATE ALL SOULS DAY. THEY CELEBRATE ALL SOULS DAY EVERY SATURDAY IN LENT. EVERY OTHER LITURGY IS GIVEN OVER TO THE SOULS IN PURGATORY. THERE'S AN ICON CORNER WHERE PEOPLE BRIGHT NAMES -- WRITE NAMES. AND THERE'S A PURPOSE, THAT SOULS IN PURGATORY, CAN SACRIFICE AND THEY TOO CAN RISE AT EASTER. IN FAK FACT, EASTER IS THE SECOND GREATEST NUMBER OF SOULS RELEASED FROM PURGATORY. CHRISTMAS IS THE FIRST. SO, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO, CAN INCLUDE THE SOULS IN PURGATORY. ANOTHER THING THAT SHE DID, THIS IS OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN ALL OF THE BOOKS THROUGHOUT THE DIARY, CHAPLET. PRAY THE CHAPLET DIVINE MERCY. YOU TOOK THAT TITLE FROM MY BOOK AND AS IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS, FATHER. I HAD THE SAME IDEA, FOR THE SAKE OF HIS SORROWFUL PASSION, PRAY IT FOR THE DYING BECAUSE IT HAS A POWERFUL, VERY POWERFUL FOR A SOUL IN DESPAIR. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT PRESENT. YOU CAN STILL SAY THE CHAPLET. UP YOUR PRAYER LIFE WITH ST. FAUSTINA WITH THE CHAPLET. YOU CAN FAST. AND IF YOU CAN'T FAST, WE HAVE A LITANY OF FASTING IN OUR BOOK. AND IN FACT, I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT LITANIES. EWTN HAS A LOT OF LITANIES THAT HAS PROGRAMS FOR LITANIES AND THEY ARE FORMS OF PRAYERS OR PETITION GOD HAS MADE AND IT'S FOR PRAYERS OF PROTECTION, AND PLAYINGS. AND I LEARNED THAT JOHN PAUL, IN HIS KNEELER, HE PRAYED A TON OF LITANIES EVERYDAY. LITANIES ARE VERY POWERFUL. AND WE HAVE SPECIAL LITANIES THAT WE INCLUDED. AND I WOULD BE REMISS TO SAY, AGAIN, BACK TO THE SOULS, OFFER MASSES DURING LENT. YOU CAN HAVE A MASS OFFERED. ATTEND MASS. WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE PIUS UNION OF ST. JOSEPH. IT'S THE YEAR OF JOSEPH. JOSEPH APPEARED TO ST. FAUSTINA. HE SAID, I'M THERE TO PROTECT YOU, SUPPORT YOU AND HE ENCOURAGED HER TO SAY THE MEMRARE. AND WE HAVE ONE CALLED PIUS UNION OF ST. JOSEPH THAT PRAISE FOR THE -- PRAYS FOR THE DYING. YOU CAN OFFER MASSES FOR THEM. LIVING AND DECEASED FOR THE FAMILY TREE. THAT'S ANOTHER THING SHE DID, SHE OFFERED MASSES, PRAYED THE ROSARY, DID THE CHAPLET, PRAYED SPECIAL LITANIES. HAD A SPECIAL DEVOTION TO OUR LADY IN ORDER TO GET CLOSER TO GOD, GET CLOSER TO THE MOTHER. WHERE WAS OUR LADY, WHAT ROLE DID SHE PLAY? THERE'S A SECTION IN THE BOOK AS WELL WHERE YOU CAN CONSECRATE YOURSELF TO OUR LADY. SHE WAS THERE. SHE WAS THERE, FATHER, AT THE CROSS, AND THERE WHEN HE WAS WALKING DOWN THAT ROAD TO CALVARY. SHE WAS THERE WHEN HE WAS DYING. SHE WAS THERE WHEN HE DIED. SHE WAS THERE TO TAKE HIM IN HER ARMS. THIS IS A MOTHER AND A SON. WHAT DID SHE DO? SHE DIDN'T LOSE FAITH. IN FACT, SHE EXERCISE HAD HER FAITH SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL DEVOTION TO OUR LADY AS ST. FAUSTINA DID. >> AND IN PARTICULAR, OUR LADY OF SORROWS, DURING THIS TIME OF LENT THIS. IS A GREAT DEVOTION FOR US TO HAVE AS WELL. I THINK ANOTHER ELEMENT OF THIS IS, IN PRAYING FOR THE LIVING. SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST YEARS, AS WE SEE VERY MUCH A PANDEMIC OF PORNOGRAPHY THAT'S BEEN GOING ON LONG BEFORE COVID-19. THERE'S BEEN A PANDEMIC OF THE USE OF PORNOGRAPHY. AND WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO DEAL WITH THIS, ON A SPIRITUAL LEVEL, I STRONGLY MEM THAT THEY PRAY -- STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THEY PRAY THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET. ONE REASON BEING, YOU PRAY FOR US SINNERS AND FOR THE WHOLE WORLD. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. SAME THING IS TRUE IN PRAYING THE HOLY ROSARY. HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD PRAY FOR US SINNERS, NOT THOSE SINNERS. SO, PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE PORNOGRAPHY INDUSTRY NEED TO PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT AND TRANSFORM THEIR TEMPTATION TO GO BACK TO THAT FORM OF PERVERSION. AND PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE. IN GENERAL, THAT'S A CROWD THAT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF THEIR OWN FRIENDS PRAYING FOR THEM OR COLLEAGUES AND PEOPLE THEY WORK WITH, FOR IN BUSINESS, DON'T PRAY FOR THEM. SO, I ASK PEOPLE WHO ARE GUILTY OF LOOKING AT THINGS IMPROPER, TO ASK FOR MERCY FOR THEM. AND THINK TO DO THIS FOR SO MANY OF THE OTHER SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE WHERE PEOPLE ARE ANGRY. THE BOILING TEMPERATURE RISES QUICKLY OVER POLITICAL DIFFERENCES. AND SOCIAL ISSUES. SO, TO MAKE SURE THAT ESPECIALLY DURING THIS LENTEN TIME, WE PRAY FOR US SINNERS AND THE WHOLE WORLD. THIS IS VERY MUCH PART OF OUR TASK AT THIS TIME. AND YOUR DEVOTIONAL HELPS TO REMIND US OF THAT NEED TO PRAY FOR OUR FELLOW SINNERS WHETHER THEY ARE LIVING OR DEAD. WE NEED TO HAVE THAT KIND OF PRAYER. >> ABSOLUTELY, YOU JUST NAIL IT EVERY TIME. MAYBE THAT'S WHY YOU ARE SUCH A GOOD ARCHER, FATHER. AGAIN, IN THE DIARY, IT'S IN THE BOOK, ST. FAUSTINA WAS UPSET WITH THE WORLD. AND SHE SAID BASICALLY, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU. AND HE SAID, OKAY. SPEAK. AND SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T HONOR YOU PROPERLY. YOUR SERVANTS ARE OPPRESSED, PERSECUTED. MANY SOULS ARE RUSHING INTO THE ABYSS OF HELL. AND EVEN THOUGH I SEE YOU, AND I EXPERIENCE THIS ECSTASY, IT GNAWS AT MY HEART AND BONE, ALTHOUGH YOU SHOW ME SPECIAL LOVE AND JOY AND INUNDATES MY SOUL, IT DOESN'T APIECE THE SUFFERINGS THAT I SEE. I SKIP AHEAD NOW. AND HE SAYS, MY DAUGHTER THOSE WORDS OF YOU ARE PLEASING TO ME. BY SAYING THE CHAPLET, YOU ARE BRINGING HUMANKIND CLOSER TO ME. AND IN FACT, WE HAVE THE NINE DAY NOVENA. WHAT IS THAT? HE HAS GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT WE COVERED FOR NINE DAYS TO INCLUDE IN THE CHAPLET. AND THAT'S ACTUALLY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WORLD, FATHER. PEOPLE USUALLY SAY IT STARTING GOOD FRIDAY AND HOLY SATURDAY AND HE'S SAYING, SAY IT YEAR ROUND. IT'S FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE CONVERSION OF THE WORLD. AND THE NOVENA WITH THAT CHAPLET. >> THIS IS IMPORTANT. AND FOR FOLKS TO REMEMBER, THE TIMES IN WHICH HE IS WORRIED ABOUT SINNERS, YOU KNOW, POLAND'S NEIGHBORS TO THE EAST HAD ALREADY BECOME COMMUNIST. AND BY THE TIME SHE DIED IN 1938 ALREADY TENS OF MILLIONS OF CITIZENS OF THE SOVIET UNION HAD BEEN EXECUTED OR STARVED TO DEATH BY THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT. MANY TIMES BECAUSE THEY WERE BELIEVERS. AND OTHER TIMES, JUST BECAUSE THEY OWNED SOME SMALL PROPERTY. AND THEN, THE NEIGHBORS TO THE WEST IN GERMANY, HAD ADOLF HITLER AS THE REICH'S COUNSELOR. AND WITHIN 11 MONTHS AFTER HER DEATH, POLAND WAS INVADED BY BOTH NEIGHBORS. GERMANS INVADED SEPTEMBER 1, AND THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE RUSSIANS INVADED. AND THE SIN SHE'S TALKING ABOUT, NOT JUST PEOPLE BEING NAUGHTY. BUT THIS WAS TWO NATIONS SURROUNDING HER OWN COUNTRY FILLED WITH HATRED AND MURDEROUS INTENTS. AND HER OWN GOVERNMENT LEADERS WERE THEMSELVES NOT LIVING A GOOD CATHOLIC LIFE AND WERE THEMSELVES NATIONALISTIC RATHER THAN CATHOLIC. AND THIS WAS NOT A GREAT SITUATION FOR POLAND OR FOR THE WORLD AT LARGE. THAT'S WHERE SHE'S COMING FROM, PRAYING FOR VERY SERIOUS ISSUES AND SERIOUS SINFUL SITUATIONS OF COMMUNISM AND NAZIISM ON EITHER SIDE OF HER COUNTRY. AND AT A TIME WHEN THE WORLD BECAME RADICALLY MERCILESS KILLING AGAIN, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM AND ATHEISM. SHE WAS PRAYING FOR MERCY. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE PERSPECTIVE ON OUR OWN TIMES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYING FOR MERCY SO THAT AS DIFFICULT AND TENSE AS WE MAY EXPERIENCE LIFE RIGHT NOW, IT COULD GET WORSE. IT CAN ALWAYS GET WORSE. SIN CAN ALWAYS MAKE THINGS WORSE. AND WE'RE CALLED TO BE THE RECEIVERS OF MERCY SO THAT WE CAN SHOW MERCY. AND THEN, AS WE SHOW MERCY, THEN WE RECEIVE IT BACK. THAT'S THE BEATITUDES AND THE OUR FATHER. >> HOW DID SHE COPE WITH THIS LIKE YOU SAID. WELL, SHE PRAYED AND SHE SAID, JESUS DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE IN MY SUFFERINGS. AND HE SAID, DON'T BE AFRAID OF WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU. I'LL GIVE YOU NOTHING BEYOND YOUR STRENGTH. YOU KNOW THE POWER OF MY GRACE. LET THAT BE ENOUGH FOR YOU. AND THEN HE GOES ON AND HE SAYS, YOUR SILENT DAY MARTYRDOM IS COMPLETE SUBMISSION TO MY WILL. WE'VE HEARD THAT FROM MOTHER ANGELICA. DO MY COMPLETE WILL. AND WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR SUFFERINGS EXCEEDS YOUR STRENGTH, CONTEMPLATE MY WOUNDS AND YOU WILL RISE ABOVE THE SCORN AND JUDGMENT. MEDITATION ON MY PASSION WILL HELP YOU RISE ABOVE ALL THINGS. THEN, HE GOES ON AND HE SAYS, WELL, WHAT WAS THE STRENGTH? IT WAS THE EUCHARIST, FATHER. IT WAS EUCHARIST. HE SAID, UNDERSTAND THE STRENGTH BY WHICH YOU BEAR SUFFERING AND COMES FROM COMMUNION. APPROACH THE FOUNTAIN OF MERCY AND OFTEN TO DRAW WITH MERCY WHATEVER YOU RECEIVE. IT'S HARD TO KNOW, IN CHICAGO, I KNOW THERE'S ONLY TWO DAYS A -- TWO MASSES A DAY HERE WHEN THERE USED TO BE SEVEN. AND THEN IN THE BOOK, SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGOURI IS IN THERE. BUT IT COULD GET WORSE SO JUST PRAY. FOLLOW WHAT JESUS TELLS ST. FAUSTINA, WHAT HE TELLS US, THE CHAPLET. DON'T BE AFRAID. BE AT PEACE. DON'T FEAR DEATH. HOW DO YOU NOT FEAR DEATH? STAY IN HIS WILL. STAY IN THE BOAT. DO GOD'S WILL IN THE PRESENT MOMENT. GO TO CONFESSION. THAT WAS HUGE, FATHER. HE SAID IT DISPLEASES HIM WHEN WE DON'T GO TO CONFESSION. I HAD TO ADD THIS. >> IT PLEASE Z HIM WHEN WE DON'T GO TO CONFESSION? >> NO, NO. I'M SORRY, IT DISPLEASES HIM WHEN WE DON'T GO TO CONFESSION. IT DISPLEASED HIM. THANK YOU, FATHER. YOU ARE LISTENING! I HAVE TO SHARE THIS. WE HAD AN AUNT THAT DIED OF COVID, BOOM, THAT QUICK. SHE WAS OUT OF STATE. AND FATHER, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY HOURS IT TOOK ME TO FIND A PRIEST! IT WAS A LESSON, A WAKE-UP CALL. GET TO CONFESSION REGULARLY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW. AND THE PRIEST THAT WE DID FIND, FATHER, HE DROVE THREE HOURS TO GET TO HER! HE HAD TO BE A SPECIAL COVID PRIEST. NOT JUST A PRIEST THAT YOU CALL IN THE AREA, A PARISH THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO THIS HOSPITAL. NO. IT HAD TO BE A COVID PRIEST, HE HAD TO BE AVAILABLE. AND THAT MAN, THAT HOLY PRIEST DROVE THREE HOURS TO GET TO MY AUNT. IT WOKE ME UP AND LET ME KNOW, GET TO CONFESSION MONTHLY! JESUS SAID THINGS ABOUT CONFESSION AND THINGS ARE IN THE BOOK WHAT JESUS SAID AND WHAT ST. FAUSTINA SAID. ADORE HIM. PRAY AND OFFER SACRIFICES FOR YOUR FAMILY. PERSEVERE, DON'T GIVE UP. IF YOU DO GIVE UP, YOU ARE GOING TO BLOCK WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO, THROUGH YOU AND IN YOU. AND JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IN THE CONVERSION PART. BUT PERSEVERE IN PRAYER AND DO NOT GIVE UP. >> Fr. Pacwa: NO, NO. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART. AND TRADITIONALLY, LENT HAS BEEN A TIME WHEN PEOPLE DO GO TO CONFESSION. THE REASON THAT WE PUT ASHES ON OURSELVES AND THE PRIEST PUTS THE ASHES ON US IN LENT IS TO REMIND US OF OUR MORTALITY THAT WE ARE DUST AND UNTO DUST, WE SHALL RETURN. THAT IS MEANT TO GIVE US PERSPECTIVE SO THAT, THINK ABOUT THE MEANING AND PURPOSE OF MY LIFE AND I TAKE TIME TO REFLECT. WHAT AM I DOING. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ST. IGNATIUS RECOMMENDS THAT WE IMAGINE OUR SELF STANDING IN FRONT OF JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS. AND THEN, ASK HIM. WHAT HAVE I DONE FOR YOU? AS HE IS HANGING ON THE CROSS. AND THEN, ASK A SECOND QUESTION. AND WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY TO YOU? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME. WHAT WOULD HE SAY. AND THEN TO ASK HIM, WHAT AM I DOING FOR YOU NOW. AND THEN, WHAT WILL I DO FOR YOU. THIS IS A WAY THAT ST. IGNATIUS RECOMMENDS WE EXAMINE OUR CONSCIENCE, NOT IN TERMS OF JUST AN ABSTRACT THEORY OF WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG BUT IN CONVERSATION WITH JESUS CHRIST. AND AGAIN, YOUR BOOK IS A WAY TO HELP US ENTER INTO THE PASSION OF CHRIST, ENTER INTO HIS SUFFERING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT PERSPECTIVE ON OUR OWN SINS. NOW, SUSAN WE HAVE JUST ABOUT ANOTHER MINUTE OR SO. ANY FINAL COMMENT? >> I THINK OUT OF ALL OF THE BOOKS, THE SIX BOOKS THAT I DID, IT WAS THE SAME MESSAGE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THAT HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US, FATHER, HE WENT TO THE CROSS. HE WENT THROUGH EXCRUCIATING PAIN AND CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, EXCRUCIATING FROM THE LATIN MEANS, FROM THE CROSS. HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT. HE WENT BEYOND WHAT YOU CAN IMAGINE AND BLED TO DEATH TO SHOW HOW MUCH HE LOVED US, LOVES US. AND THAT HE CREATED YOU, YOU HAD A MISSION AND THERE'S NO ONE ELSE LIKE YOU. THERE'S NEVER GOING TO BE ANOTHER FATHER MITCH, NOBODY ELSE THAT CAN WEAR COWBOY BOOTS LIKE YOU OR A HAT LIKE YOU, SO WE HAVE A MISSION FOR THIS GENERATION, TO FULFILL THAT MISSION AND HOW DO YOU KNOW THE MISSION? YOU PRAY. YOU PRAY. YOU DO ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ST. FAUSTINA DID. THERE WAS ONE THING THAT CAME UP AGAIN. WELL, WHAT IF YOU DON'T LOVE GOD. THAT COMES ACROSS. IF YOU DON'T FEEL LOVE FOR GOD. WELL, THERE WAS A RESPONSE TO THAT, AND SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, I SAW IN YOUR PERSON THAT LOVED GOD. I DIDN'T FEEL IT BUT I'LL CUT TO THE CHASE. EVEN THOUGH HE TRIED BUT SOMETIMES IT WAS NOT THERE. BASICALLY, I READ, THIS PERSON IS ALWAYS PLEASING TO GOD BECAUSE HIS HEART IS IN IT EVEN THOUGH HE'S ALWAYS IN GETHSEMANI AND GREAT PATIENCE WILL OVERCOME IT. >> WELL, WE HAVE TO REALLY CUT OUT. WE'RE FLAT OUT OF TIME. THANKS FOR WRITING THE BOOK. AND THANKS FOR BEING WITH US. MAY THE LORD BLESS ALL OF YOU THIS ASH WEDNESDAY, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE NETWORK SO WE CAN BRING SUSAN AND ALL OF THE GUESTS AND ALL OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS. GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU. [MUSIC]
