Divine Mercy Sunday

A blessed Divine Mercy Sunday to you all! Christ's abundant Mercy, as revealed to us through St. Faustina, is truly unfathomable. Our sins are but a drop in his ocean of Mercy that he pours out for us. Let us pray in a special way for this mercy to open up for the whole world today and always! 🙏

Before we go any further, you might be wondering what happens to The Harvest now?

Great question! As you might recall, because all of you were so interested in more Harvesting, we decided to extend it through week all the way to today. And we have great news for you! While we will be taking a break from the newsletter for now, we have been working hard to bring you a continued "feed" experience in the Catholify app! If you have not yet downloaded our free app, you can do so below to keep the Harvest going:

We are so humbled by your participation this Lent and Easter, and hope to continue to offer more in the future. Stay tuned!

Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen

Franciscan Media Spirituality to renew your soul

If a poor man needed some clothing, Fidelis would often give the man the clothes right off his back. Complete generosity to others characterized this saint’s life.

Born in 1577, Mark Rey became a lawyer who constantly upheld the causes of the poor and oppressed people. Nicknamed “the poor man’s lawyer,” Rey soon grew disgusted with the corruption and injustice he saw among his colleagues. He left his law career to become a priest, joining his brother George as a member of the Capuchin Order. Fidelis was his religious name. His wealth was divided between needy seminarians and the poor.

As a follower of Saint Francis of Assisi, Fidelis continued his devotion to the weak and needy. During a severe epidemic in a city where he was guardian of a friary, Fidelis cared for and cured many sick soldiers.

He was appointed head of a group of Capuchins sent to preach against the Calvinists and Zwinglians in Switzerland. Almost certain violence threatened. Those who observed the mission felt that success was more attributable to the prayer of Fidelis during the night than to his sermons and instructions.

He was accused of opposing the peasants’ national aspirations for independence from Austria. While he was preaching at Seewis, to which he had gone against the advice of his friends, a gun was fired at him, but he escaped unharmed. A Protestant offered to shelter Fidelis, but he declined, saying his life was in God’s hands. On the road back, he was set upon by a group of armed men and killed.

Fidelis was canonized in 1746. Fifteen years later he was recognized as a martyr.
(2 Minute Read)

DIVINE MERCY CAKE! Need we say more? 😉

Mary Haseltine Blogger at maryhaseltine.com

Ingredients:

1 pint strawberries, sliced
1/2 c. sugar
2 c. all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. organic butter
1 beaten egg
2/3 c. whole milk
1 can of whipped cream (or about 2 cups previously made fresh whipped cream)

(1 Minute Read)

“Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.' Thomas answered and said to him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.'”
– Jn 20:26-29

Why popular depictions of Heaven always fall short

Aleteia Inspiring Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, News & Culture stories

St. John Paul II reflected on our various images of Heaven in a general audience he gave in 1999. He explains that Heaven is not a place in the clouds, but is more of an intimate relationship with God.

In the context of Revelation, we know that the “heaven” or “happiness” in which we will find ourselves is neither an abstraction nor a physical place in the clouds, but a living, personal relationship with the Holy Trinity. It is our meeting with the Father which takes place in the risen Christ through the communion of the Holy Spirit.It is always necessary to maintain a certain restraint in describing these “ultimate realities” since their depiction is always unsatisfactory. Today, personalist language is better suited to describing the state of happiness and peace we will enjoy in our definitive communion with God.

(3 Minute Read)

A.M.D.G.