Response to Musings of a Pertinacious Papist: Isn't It Nearly Heresy Today To Question The Divine Mercy Devotion?

On Twitter today, I saw a disturbing tweet from Philip Blosser, the Pertinacious Papist, claiming that my favorite devotion, that of the Divine Mercy, is possibly heretical. (See: his article).

This just made me sad, but I want to examine it.  It is an honest question, after all.

What happened between 1958 to now?

The first I heard of any condemnation by the Church was through Fr. Michael Gaitley. (See: The Greatest Story Ever Told.) However, Fr. Gaitley showed how Pope John Paul II, then Cardinal Wojtyla, demonstrated that the prohibitions were made erroneously due to translation issues. The prohibition was reversed in 1978.

"Twenty years later (in 1978), the ban was completely lifted, thanks to the intervention of the Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. Through his efforts, an informative process relating to the life and virtues of Sister Faustina was begun in 1965. Its successful outcome led to the inauguration of her Beatification cause in 1968.

In a new "Notification" on April 15, 1978, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, having reviewed many original documents that were not made available to it in 1959, reversed its earlier decision and declared the 1959 prohibition 'no longer binding.'

Six months later, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II.

Prompted by the pastoral concern of His Excellency, Joseph F. Maguire, Bishop of Springfield, MA, with regard to the resuming of efforts to make the Divine Mercy message and devotion known, the Congregation of Marians asked for an authoritative explanation of the Notification of 1978. On July 12, 1979, they received a reply from the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation, stating that ‘there no longer exists, on the part of this Sacred Congregation, any impediment to the spreading of the devotion to The Divine Mercy in the authentic forms proposed by the religious Sister mentioned above [Sister Faustina Kowalska]."

Thus, in 1979 — with the local bishop’s permission — the Marians resumed their work of spreading the Divine Mercy message and devotion in the forms proposed by Sr. Faustina. The response from laity, priests, and bishops all over the world has been overwhelming, and the devotion has grown faster than anyone ever expected. " http://thedivinemercy.org/message/history/marianconnect.php

From what I understand, the last three Popes approve the Devotion to the Divine Mercy:

November 30, 1980

Pope John Paul II issues encyclical on the Divine Mercy.

May 7, 2006  Pope Benedict approves Divine Mercy

April 7, 2013  Pope Francis Respects Devotion to Divine Mercy

Pope John Paul II to be canonized on Divine Mercy Sunday


Is there conflict between all the devotions and Divine Mercy?

A general search online seems to show some support that the Divine Mercy undermines the Rosary, the devotion to the Sacred Heart, as well as others.

However, Sic Semper Tyrannis argues that: "Because what I arrived at was that there is only one devotion to our Lord, and all of these many different devotions were merely different ways of arriving at the same goal of worshiping our Lord.  There can be no contradiction between the Sacred Heart Devotion, and that of the Divine Mercy for they are all the same devotion at their core. But any devotion can be twisted and misunderstood and I submit that this what has happened with the Divine Mercy Devotion and that has caused it to be used to wipe away devotion to the Sacred Heart, the Rosary, and even Eucharistic Adoration. 

"All three of these devotions when practiced properly draw you inexorably to the foot of the Cross there to kneel beside our Lady and Saint John.  There you will adore His Most Sacred Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity and His Holy (Eucharistic) Face.  There you will see Saint Longinus pierce the most Sacred Heart of our Lord, and you will see him showered with the merciful saving Blood and Water which comes forth from the pierced side of Jesus.  Here we have the all of the great devotions to our Lord: to the Sacred Heart, the Precious Blood, the Eucharist, the Holy Face, and the Divine Mercy."

In my personal experience, I have found that my devotions to the Rosary and Sacred Heart have actually increased.  I haven't encountered any contradiction.

Is Divine Mercy Sunday a Protestant ideology?

One of the main requirements of the indulgence is sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of Supreme Pontiff. 

This indicates to me that penance is required. Our sins aren't merely "covered". 

Also, the indulgence requires:
"a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honour of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!");"

In other words, the "sinner" would have to have the second degree of humility as laid out by St. Ignatius. That's a huge commitment to living every day in focused holiness!

What do I think?

The possibility of heresy is daunting and promotes doubt--which is unsettling.  It is also a reminder that all private revelation should be carefully considered. 

I also don't know the answers to some objections that I found in a "general" search.

Nevertheless, as I continue to study this, I am asking myself: what is this devotion doing to my faith? Has my love of God and neighbor improved or deteriorated because of it? 

I think that if this devotion causes me to fall away from God or wrongly think and act against my neighbor, I should stay away from it. 

However, I have found that this devotion has helped me to love better -- in fact, it prompted a deep reversion and genuine repentance in me.  It has taught me about mercy, forgiveness and love.

It has brought me to the foot of the Cross with the desire to surrender my all to Jesus. Obviously, I have to recommit to this daily, and this with my devotion to the Immaculate Conception has given me the courage and desire to mimic Mary's fiat.

Since the devotion is: 1) currently approved by the Vatican; and 2) a source that has personally brought me closer to God, I will continue to spread my love for the Divine Mercy. 

"Jesus, I trust in You."

God and the Spider

 (Author Unknown)
 
During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades.
 
Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one
of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed.
 
As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen."
 
After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over
the front of his cave.
 
As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave.
 
"Hah," he thought. "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor."
 
As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while.
 
"Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in
you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall."

This joke is NOT funny!

My co-worker shared this story with me yesterday, and then I searched for it online. I found it categorized as "funny joke". However, I don't think it is funny.  What do you think?

A man was being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy boulevard.

Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman hit the roof--and the horn--screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection. As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed, and placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated ’Christian Fish' emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car."

Why do I think this joke is NOT funny? Maybe, because I have been a passenger in the car too many times  where Catholic Christian drivers behave this way.  It makes me sad, because not only do we take off our Christian hat on the road, but in restaurants, and basically any and everywhere. We know what we represent, but  if x, y, and z happens, THEN we have the right to behave in this and that way, right? I mean, you would respond like this too, if it happened to you .... and THAT makes it ok.

I think that the police officer's response is great, and reminds me of the song: "They will know we are Christians by our love."  It also reminds me of St. Francis and his encouragement to "preach always and speak only when necessary".

I am serious about my faith, but this made me reconsider how I behaved today and yesterday.  What do others actually see when they look at me? Do they think I am a hypocrite? Or do they believe I am what I claim, a follower of Christ, a disciple of love, a Catholic?

Marks of the follower of Christ (1 Cor 13):

• Patient
• Kind
• Not jealous
• Not boastful
• Not proud
• Not self-seeking
• Not easily angered
• Keeps no record of wrongs
• Does not delight in evil
• Rejoices in the truth
• Protects
• Trusts
• Hopes
• Preserves

Am I all of these, in all circumstances, and with all people? If I am not, what lame excuses do I give myself to justify "my exception"? Do I blame others for my behavior?

Prayer of Thomas Merton

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me, nor do I know myself. And the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I do believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, You will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always.

Though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death, I will not fear, for You are ever with me and You will never leave me to face my struggles alone.

-     Thomas Merton, OCSCO (1915-1968)

Spiritual Journey by Fr. Groeschel

Fr. Groeschel describes the spiritual life as a journey to Union with God. He says that no step can be skipped. He challenged me to consider what step I am at.  I think it is important to remember that the spiritual life is a journey.  It is so easy just to rest and not move forward. I think, "I am doing well enough", but this is just an excuse...

Union with God as described by Fr. Groeschel (from EWTN's Audio Archive):

1. The Awakening
2. Growing in Virtue
3. Mature Faith
4. Trust in God
5. Illuminative Way
6. Love of God
7. The Dark Night
8. Union With God

I quoted this earlier this year, but it is relevant every day:

"Many walk for a while in the path of virtue but then are satisfied with the distance they have gone. But grace never says: "Enough!" Others think that they are doing a great deal if they do not slip into evil. Yet that is not enough; for the good man must strive daily to become better. Many a Christian will be surprised on the day of judgment to see himself heavily in debt to God's justice because he did not make use of the great means given him for becoming a great saint! On the path of virtue, not to advance is to go backwards; not to gain is to lose." - The Imitation of Mary