I tried to be moved, I really did. I prepared well and went to confession, prayed on behalf of the Holy Father, received Holy Communion and recited the chaplet.
But.........I actually disliked almost everything about it. Am I going mad ?(madder), I embrace St Faustina and the Divine Mercy ethos, I pray a Divine Mercy prayer every night but I cannot take the sonorous recitations (that's not a criticism of our excellent choir). Singing litanies in English seldom works for me, it sounds contrived and shallow, naff even.
And I'm afraid that I do not like the image of Christ as portrayed in the conventional DM painting....He's too.....you know........too wimpish for want of a better word. That is not my vision of Christ at all.
This was my first attendance at a Divine Mercy Sunday and it will probably be my last.
Please don't punch too hard, I really did try.......
But.........I actually disliked almost everything about it. Am I going mad ?(madder), I embrace St Faustina and the Divine Mercy ethos, I pray a Divine Mercy prayer every night but I cannot take the sonorous recitations (that's not a criticism of our excellent choir). Singing litanies in English seldom works for me, it sounds contrived and shallow, naff even.
And I'm afraid that I do not like the image of Christ as portrayed in the conventional DM painting....He's too.....you know........too wimpish for want of a better word. That is not my vision of Christ at all.
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This was my first attendance at a Divine Mercy Sunday and it will probably be my last.
Please don't punch too hard, I really did try.......
Don't try so hard forcing yourself is a recipe for disaster.
ReplyDeleteWell, you mean the Mercy devotions and not the Sunday Mass but I suppose that goes without saying; the fact that you "disliked almost everything about it" means that there were aspects you appreciated, no? so there's hope for you yet, ha.
ReplyDeleteI don't myself find it appealing, and while I pray the divine Mercy everyday for grace (via the intercession of the Blessed Pope John Paul, too), I don't have the slightest obligation to go to the divine Mercy devotions and won't, more than likely. Maybe because am a convert, I've never understood how some Catholics turn aspects of Religion that aren't matters of Faith and the universal discipline into dogma.
Happy Easter!
The image of Our Lord that is usually used by those who spread this devotion is not like the original one shown here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/feelix/2203282947/#/ I developed an attachment to this devotion when I realized that some of the words are the same ones used in the traditional Good Friday liturgy, namely in the Improperia. I sympathize with you in your reaction to what was likely not a very traditional prayer service. Sanctus Deus, miserere nobis!
ReplyDeleteNo, you are definately not going mad! I must admit I have never been drawn to The Divine Mercy. It's not for everyone.
ReplyDeleteThat particular imagine of Our Lord causes me some unease. Best to follow your heart and the devotions that inspire you.
Today's services at the Carmelite Monastery in Philadelphia were probably the best I've attended on Divine Mercy Sunday. The Novus Ordo, with most of the propers in Latin, celebrated by a very orthodox priest who is also an excellent homilist. The nuns renewed their vows before we recited the Creed, which was totally unexpected.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you need apologize. I confess I have no problem with private recitation of the chaplet but I don't care at all for community recitation and chanting, particularly the concluding prayer. I don't know who selected the "melody" for this but it sounds more like something you'd expect to hear from pagans than Catholics. I hope that wasn't too harsh!
Surely devotions like this are meant for some souls but not for others? I think it like one's vocation. The best vocation is that which God has actually called one.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm you are not alone,I have tried also,but am ashamed to say I dont really get it!
ReplyDeleteI actually must confess the same difficulties as you site, including the wimpishness of the image...
ReplyDeleteDon't feel bad. St. Faustina cried in disappointment when she saw the image. This version is way too wimpy for me too.
ReplyDeleteDymphna, thank you for that tidbit of information. I have never really felt attached to the picture as well...now I know why. It just seems a little tacky, kind of like some of the commercial tourist things that are sold at places of devotion. I prefer classical art. Michelangelo's Pieta still makes me cry.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry Richard, we felt much the same! At least we were spared kissing the image.
ReplyDeleteRichard, don't be too hard on yourself. I don't think it matters if we are moved or not. Those of us who participated in the Novena and prepared for Divine Mercy Sunday with contrition in our hearts and confession, have had all our sins forgiven. It was as I read in on the app for Divine Mercy, like the day we were baptized. As for the picture of Jesus, I believe St. Faustina wasn't too happy that our Lord could not be portrayed the way He really was.
ReplyDeleteOne last thing, all the Masses that day are for Divine Mercy Sunday. There were special Masses throughout our diocese but our family went to the Mass we attend regularly. So just make sure you get to Mass that day next year :-)
All - thank you for your charitable words.
ReplyDeleteThe face in the image has practically no chin; I think that's why the figure appears so disturbingly wimpish. I too pray the chaplet daily, but don't attend public devotions.
ReplyDeleteNow perhaps someone could advise me: a friend gave me a framed picture, reasonably large (about 15 inches high), of this Divine Mercy image. I can't bring myself to hang it, but feel guilty at the thought of throwing it away or even giving it to a charity shop. Any ideas?
Sue, a must for the church bazaar (or do they no longer have those?) :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this one. I'll stick to my devotion to the Sacred Heart.
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to attend the Divine Mercy devotion, but our Parish didn't have it. Once more, the picture wasn't displayed, and no comment about it was made in the Homily or Mass.
ReplyDeleteAs for the picture, I believe Saint Faustina was never really satisfied with the portrait.
I attended this devotion at another Parish last year, and although it was long, it was reverent and I really enjoyed it. Perhaps next year you might try it at another parish.
I attend Fssp which offers the Traditional Latin Mass and which is the most beautiful mass in the world. They do offer the Divine Mercy devotion every Thursday. In Sacramento,Ca.
ReplyDeleteBut I have yet to have devotion toward this image. And also my husband seems to love it, and has a picture in my living room of Saint Faustina and Jesus. I can't say to much, So I keep it to myself. and just pray my rosary.
People must keep in mind that modern images of Jesus originated with a model (as in a professional or amateur model) for the artist to work with. And most of these images usually display a person similar to the culture at hand. I remember many years ago in Catholic School where I saw an image of the Immaculate Conception from Japan. Mary had the face of someone from Japan or China. It was very surprising to me. I suppose if we really wanted an image of the Jesus that existed 2,000 years ago, he would look like someone from Jerusalem.
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