The Catholic Church is rich in devotions. As we know, the most popular one is the Holy Rosary. When praying the Holy Rosary we meditate upon the mysteries of the Life of Jesus Christ. There are five big ones for the mystery and Our fathers and ten smaller ones for the Hail Mary’s. The same rosary beads are used to pray with other devotions. The use of the beads helps keep track of the number of prayers and the contemplation of each mystery. Specific Saints throughout history have been enlightened to use the rosary beads to recite devotions that have been revealed to them for the conversion of sinners and in reparation to the offenses to Jesus and the faith.
Divine Mercy Chaplet
The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a prayer revealed to St. Faustina a polish nun by God. She listened, believed, and started promoting it. God instructed her how to pray it and that it should be prayed every day at 3:00 pm because that was the time Jesus took His last breath. This chaplet is prayed for the souls in purgatory and for the conversion of sinners. As we pray it, we ask The Merciful Lord to pour out His love and compassion for us. This is an excerpt from St. Faustina on the promises of the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
“Oh, what great graces I will grant to souls who say this chaplet (…) Write down these words, My daughter. Speak to the world about My mercy; let all mankind recognize My unfathomable mercy. It is a sign for the end times; after it will come the day of justice. While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fountain of My mercy; let them profit from the Blood and Water which gushed forth for them” (Diary, 848).
Rosary of the Holy Wounds
This devotion was revealed by Our Lord to Sr. Mary Martha Chambon of the Monastery of the Visitation of Chambery. The Lord gave her the mission to meditate on His 5 Holy Wounds.
(Left Foot, Right Foot, Left Hand, Right Hand, and Sacred Side ) for the conversion of souls through the power of His blood. This rosary devotion gives special indulgences when this is said: “Eternal Father I offer the wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to heal those of our souls”.
There are 17 promises of this devotion and here is a powerful one :
“My Wounds will repair yours. My Wounds will cover all your faults. Those who honor them will have a true knowledge of Jesus Christ. In meditation on them, you will always find new love. My Wounds will cover all your sins”.
As practicing Catholics, it is important to pray at all times, these Saints have received special revelations due to the fruit of their love and devotion to their personal relationship with Christ. These devotions in particular, show us that Jesus desires to be with us in Heaven and is giving us the tools to help us stay close to Him and stay the path.
While we meditate upon His Holy Wounds and His Mercy we are transformed by the mystery of His sacrifice for us. His death brought us eternal salvation.
They become an act of gratitude toward Jesus; we recite these prayers so that we can embrace fully our identity of adopted Sons and Daughters while being encouraged to persevere on our journey to the Glory of God.