From September 23-26, San Francisco’s Star of the Sea Parish will host Father Peter Prusakiewicz, CSMA. Father Peter will preach this year’s parish mission. He will speak on The Power and Love of St. Michael — the Archangel of Divine Mercy and will celebrate Masses, hear confessions, and lead a Eucharistic holy hour, featuring the chaplet of St. Michael, a healing service, and veneration of a first class relic of St. Faustina.
Fr. Prusakiewicz was born in Torun, Poland in 1963, entered the Congregation of St Michael the Archangel in 1982, and was ordained to the priesthood in May 23, 1990. From 1990-1996 he served as a parish assistant and as chaplain to the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw, where St. Faustina began her religious life. In 1996 he was named vice-rector of the major seminary in Krakow, where he remained until 1999.
His expertise in unfolding the depths of meaning in the Divine Mercy devotion and the devotion to St Michael the Archangel and the Holy Angels has made him a sought-after speaker and preacher in counties all over the world. He serves as senior editor of the quarterly Catholic magazine The Angels: Messengers of a Loving God. Issues of The Angels through March 2021 are free to download here.
In a 2020 Issue of The Angels Father Prusakiewicz said “Thomas Aquinas wrote that angels had such a great wish to help people that we cannot even imagine. St Michael wants to help us for free, for nothing, but he acts like a gentleman, he respects our free will. Only when we call on him, does he act with exceptional power and wisdom….Why do we need St Michael? First of all, for a spiritual battle. We are at war. We don’t sail on a cruiser but on a battleship. We’re not tourists, we are pilgrims. We came from God and go home, to heaven, to God.
“Angels are to protect us on our way home because we have an enemy. It is Satan and the other fallen angels. … Hell is not a place you can lock. Satan wants as many people as possible to join him in hell. We need to be aware of that fact. He attacks people usually in their weakest points. And he does not act alone. Christ says he takes seven more demons and they all attack a soul. That is why when he tempts us it is worth calling St Michael.
“We can do it by the prayer of Pope Leo XIII, written after one of the visions he had in a chapel in St Peter’s Basilica. We’re not sure what exactly Pope Leo XIII saw but we have his prayer that is well-known and said in various languages all over the world.”
Fr. Pruskawiecz’s visit is the second consecutive parish mission at Star of the Sea specifically on the angels. In December 2021, Father Wolfgang Seitz preached an Advent Mission on the angels, which included consecrating 50 Star of the Sea parishioners, each of whom had gone through a year-long formation, to their Guardian Angels. I asked Father Joseph Illo, Star’s pastor, why the focus on Angels?
“First, the faithful of my last two parishes requested classes and retreats on the angels. Following their inspiration, I took the one-year and two-year courses through Opus Angelorum (an institute dedicated to promoting the work of the angels). I consecrated myself to my Guardian Angel 12 years ago and to all the Angels two years ago. Then I provided the same course for my parishioners, who have responded with great energy.
Second, in studying the angels, I have come to realize that the great spiritual battles of our time in history are with the ‘powers of the air’ more than previously. Demonic influence has increased, I think, because of the widespread use of drugs and immoral sex, both portals for the demonic. We are living in arguably the most atheistic time in human history, with an unprecedented percentage of the world’s population living without reference to God, even if they claim some sort of religious faith. In this historical moment, we need to understand the nature of angelic warfare to defend the Kingdom of God from the increasing attacks of the bad angels (demons). God’s final victory is certain, but we must make alliances with the good angels to acquit ourselves well in the contests we will need to engage in at this moment in history.”
For a full schedule of Fr. Prusakiewicz’s mission at Star of the Sea, go here.
Written by Gibbons Cooney.
I don’t believe in the Divine Mercy story. St. Faustina probably had schizophrenia. An angel brought her communion? Ha. I don’t think so. Faustina’s diary is extremely boring. Everyone I know devoted to Divine Mercy seems like she has a screw loose. Some people will believe anything.
St. Faustina’s diary is not boring. You do not understand the value of it. Divine Mercy is a preparation for the final coming of Christ. Purgatory ends when the world ends.
The Divine Mercy devotion is extremely powerful, spiritually. Pope St. John Paul II was devoted to St. Faustina, and to the Divine Mercy devotion. He canonized St. Faustina (Feast Day, Oct. 5), and established the Divive Mercy Feast on the Second Sunday of Easter. Pope St. John Paul II died on the Vigil of the Divine Mercy Feast, in 2005. The Pope’s Feast Day is Oct. 22. Since you are having trouble understanding St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy devotion– go ask a qualified priest to help you. You can also watch programs on Divine Mercy on EWTN, and they broadcast the Chaplet recitation, daily. There are rich graces in the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Novena, and Feast! You can also call or contact the Marians of the Immaculate Conception (Marian Fathers) in Stockbridge, MA, at Marian.org. They have a handy Divine Mercy app for your mobile phone, too.
Thanks. I’ve watched the Divine Mercy Chaplet on EWTN, heard it sung (hated the sung versions), been present for the chaplet in churches, heard it sung and hated it still. I don’t see what others see in it. Useless repetitions. Vatican II said to do away with those.
Well, okay. No, Vatican II never said a thing about the Divine Mercy Chaplet. It was very important, for Pope St. John Paul II! He canonized St. Faustina, and established the Feast of Divine Mercy . Did you like Pope St. John Paul II? Perhaps you can find a devotion that you feel comfortable with. How about the Rosary? Do you feel close to Our Blessed Mother? I know she can help you.
It was given to St. Faustina by Jesus Himself (interiorly) so I think that you should be careful what you write. Do you believe in Jesus? You are not required to believe private revelations, of course but maybe you should talk to Jesus about it.
After confession your sins are forgiven and the eternal punishment is remitted but the temporal punishment remains. Performing works that are indulgenced by the Church can remit some or even all of the punishment. This plenary indulgence will be granted only if one is disattached from all sin (even venial sin), goes to confession, receives communion, and prays for the intention of the Pope. Indulgences can be offered for the Souls in Purgatory. Also to obtain the indulgence, you must have that intention before you perform the work.
On Divine Mercy Sunday, all punishment for sins is remitted by receiving Communion and going to Confession.
The Chaplet of Mercy is very effective and powerful especially as an aid to the dying and the Souls in Purgatory.
The prayers of the Chaplet were given by the Lord to appease His Wrath.
When you refer to the wrath of God, I just tune you out. So does almost everyone else. I’m not going to say thousands of repetitive prayers to appease an angry God. There’s nothing about that in the Gospels. So God is angry, but saying “For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world” hundreds of thousands of times makes God less angry? What sort of immature theology and spirituality is that?
“The Wrath of God,” to me, is a metaphorical way of saying that horrifically dark, evil Mortal Sins are very, very destructive– and Impersonal Divine Justice is immediately aroused, as a reaction, to fix things. It is an exact, scientifically predictable reaction– not some frivolous theological idea. Everything in God’s creation has a fixed, exact, perfect design, no “mistakes.” “For every action, there is an equal, opposite reaction…” (etc.) “What goes up, must come down…” (etc.) The Bible tells us all about Divine Natural Law, found in all creation. It is Impersonal and exact. The soul suffers horrifically, when it willfully descends into Mortal Sin. Hell is actually a horrific, violent, dark, disordered inner state, endured as a result of such terrible, dark, destructive, evil thoughts and actions. God is an Eternal, Impersonal Spirit. He is not a created, extremely limited human being, “made of dust,” with a human mind and emotions. God wants to heal us of our sins– and heal our whole being, body and soul– but the soul is most important. We are created for a magnificent state of Divine, Loving Union with God– Heaven– not Hell. Our footsteps to Heaven– or to Hell– are exact. We have our Guardian Angels to guide us, and Christ, Our Lady, and all the Angels and Saints. It’s a huge pilgrimage, that we are on! With a fantastic destiny, beyond our wildest dreams! There’s nothing to fear (except Sin, and Satan), and nothing to worry about. Our Loving Creator, God– is with us.
The Israelites and Christians, including the Lord Jesus, used repetition in praising God. Jesus did it in Matthew 26:44. Others did it the proper way in Luke 18:13, Revelation (Apocalypse) 4:8 and 1Thessaloninas 5:17 There are beautiful litanies in the Old Testament, including Daniel 3:57 – 88, which use repetitious endings. The Rosary is a series of praises to Jesus and his mother taken from the book of Luke.
The Lord told us not to babble to pagan gods as was done in 1 Kings 18: 25-29 to the god Baal.
100,000, did you read what you just wrote.
There is nothing in the Gospels, nothing in the Gospels?
For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
That is the Gospel.
It is paragraphs 474-476.
Various places have put the diary online.
I just put a load of laundry in. I always carefully follow all directions, and the laundry comes out great. Clean and fresh How would you like to do a few simple spiritual exercises– and “appease the Wrath of God,” (meaning– get rid of nasty future consequences and punishments earned for sins)– and cleanse your soul? And help others in need of soul-cleaning, too? Wash your sins away, come out all fresh and clean? The Divine Mercy is one excellent spiritual tool that you can use. Christ gave it to St. Faustina, especially for our times. And it doesn’t take long, to do. Just be sure to read carefully, listen to what Jesus says– and follow all the directions. The Chaplet alone, just takes 7 minutes.
You know what? The Sacrament of Penance does that. No chaplet necessary.
You do not understand its value and you don’t have to do it.
Don’t offend God.
You do not understand. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is not a Sacrament, like Confession. It is not necessary– but it is a Gift from Jesus Christ, to help us, spiritually. Just like the Rosary was given as a tremendous gift, to St. Dominic, by the Blessed Mother, to help us all! Your priest might assign you a penance, in Confession, to say certain prayers, or even to say a Rosary, or the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
God is 3 Persons in One God. He is Eternal. Hell is real. It is described in Scripture as a lake of fire.
Hell is not in the physical realm of earth. It is in the spiritual realm. The “Lake of Fire” is a metaphorical explanation. In the afterlife, the interior state of your soul is revealed, before God, and the soul then receives its just reward, the fruit of its endeavors– Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory. Christ has offered to us, the gift of Eternal Life in Heaven, with Him. Many Saints have attained Heaven– eternal Divine Union with Him– while still on earth, in their physical bodies. When they leave their bodies, their Divine Union remains and intensifies, in the pure spiritual realm– it is a very, very rare, pure and holy state of being.
There is tremendous value in repetition. When you do some spiritual exercises, or do acts of Virtue, and repeat it many times, it helps to establish habits of Goodness and Virtue in you, and purify you, and bring you closer to God. It helps open doors to graces, poured forth from Heaven, into your soul. It makes you a better person, closer to God. By the same token, if you repeat evil thoughts, words, and actions, you establish Bad Habits of Sin in your soul– you are then on the path to a life of Sin, destruction, a criminal life, misery, and Hell. You weaken yourself tremendously, by repetition of evil thoughts, words, and actions, and Satan and his minions will grab ahold of you, and lead you to do evil– ruining your soul, leading it towards Hell. It is a horrible thing! That is why it is so important to help children early, to establish Good Habits, repeat Good Works, learn Virtues, and say their prayers daily, and order their lives right, aligned closely to God. A priest recently noted that he could help children of his parish school greatly, by requiring Daily Mass attendance, before school. And giving them good daily sermons, helpful little “talks,” at each Mass. He also helped them with little daily spiritual devotions, suitable for children. As time went by, the children changed completely! They did better, also, in school– and could focus better. They were more mature, happier, and more at peace. Amazing results!
The priest whom I mentioned in my comment of Sept. 10th at 2:18pm, was very worried about the children in his parish school, and started to require Daily Mass and spiritual devotions, giving little talks to the kids daily at each Mass– because the parish church and school were located in a troubled, inner-city neighborhood, and the children’s lives were daily filled with turmoil and trouble, at home. Well, the priest has really helped them a lot!
Note that those fruits were from the Mass, not the chaplet.
My comment was about the tremendous and necessary value of repetition, in our religion, to build a good spiritual life– good daily habits of good thoughts, words, and actions, many repeated prayers and devotions, many good deeds, daily Mass attendance, etc. All of this helps prepare our souls for Heaven.
Obviously, if you just do one thing, like go to Mass or pray the Chaplet you could have some confidence in what graces come from it but you still won’t know what graces you received because someone prayed for you, whether a living person, a deceased soul, a saint or Mary.
Some saints like St. Anthony, St. Peregrine, St. Dymphna, St. Jude, St. Joseph are appealed to for certain specific things so one can be more certain of the effects of their intercession.
It all comes from God.
Where did you ever learn that?
This is not the Catholic Faith and it is contrary to Scripture.
This comment was directed to the person who replied to lake of fire. Hell continues to exist after the end of the world. the damned will get their bodies back and there will be physical and spiritual suffering for all eternity.
” Some were of opinion that hell is everywhere, that the damned are at liberty to roam about in the entire universe, but that they carry their punishment with them. The adherents of this doctrine were called Ubiquists, or Ubiquitarians; among them were, e.g., Johann Brenz, a Swabian, a Protestant theologian of the sixteenth century. However, that opinion is universally and deservedly rejected; for it is more in keeping with their state of punishment that the damned be limited in their movements and confined to a definite place. Moreover, if hell is a real fire, it cannot be everywhere, especially after the consummation of the world, when heaven and earth shall have been made anew….
no cogent reason has been advanced for accepting a metaphorical interpretation in preference to the most natural meaning of the words of Scripture. Hence theologians generally accept the opinion that hell is really within the earth. The Church has decided nothing on this subject; hence we may say hell is a definite place; but where it is, we do not know.
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07207a.htm
This is in reply to the post of the commenter, “Reply to Reply,” on Sept. 12 at 7:51am. God is unseen to us, He exists in the spiritual world, not the physical world. Right now, we can only see Him through the eyes of faith. But someday, when we depart this earthly realm, the physical, corporeal veil will be lifted, and we shall see Him, “face-to-face!” That will really be just magnificent! For me, the explanations of Hell are helpful, as given in the Bible and Catechism, as an eternal separation from God and from the Communion of Saints, etc. Also, the explanations given by Pope St. John Paul II, quoting St. Thomas Aquinas, is very helpful for me– as I stated in my second comment of Sept. 13 at 1:50pm, “Call Him “Father”– A Metaphor.” On earth, it is helpful to have names, language, metaphors, explanations, so that we can begin to get an understanding of unseen, spiritual realities. The spiritual realm does not have definitive “places” as we know it, in the physical realm. Too hard to try to imagine, or understand! And when the event of the Resurrection of the Body occurs, it will be in a completely different, transformational manner, that we cannot imagine right now, in our current state. Whatever it will be– will be just magnificent!
Today at Mass, we had the Gospel reading of the Prodigal Son. In his sermon, the priest reminded us all of the importance of Divine Mercy. We should learn Divine Mercy well, and swim in the “Ocean of Divine Mercy” all the time, extending God’s Love and Mercy
to ourselves as well as to others.
Everything about God is Perfect, and is true and exact, like a scientific fact or math theorem. God is Impersonal, Eternal, Infinite, Perfect, and Divine. Not like human beings, immersed in a flawed, finite, worldly, “Me”-based, Ego/Personality, clouded by worldly, emotional dramas, and darkened by ignorance and sins. Divine Love and Justice has no human-style, ego-related, personal reactions, no “dramas,” no “favorites,” nor “enemies.” God’s Divine Love and Justice is the same, for all whom He created, out of the “dust of the earth”— saints and sinners alike. We must always obey God’s exact, Divine Laws– if we don’t, we suffer the consequences. 2+2=4. Guaranteed. And when we sin, there is really an Impersonal God Who deals with us– with Impersonal consequences. No human-style personal, ego-based “dramas,” no pettiness, nastiness, grudges, or vengeance. Just an Infinite, Boundless, Loving, Perfect, Impersonal Being, God, Who is Divine Justice– but also is Infinite Divine Compassion. He is compassionate for our plight, and “messing up”– and wants to compassionately help us, and heal us, and “cure the sin.” And God’s Divine Mercy helps us so much! It is not a new concept, it is an Eternal, Divine attribute of God.
God is Three Person in One God. He is not impersonal.
Catholics believe in a personal God.
15% of Americans believe in an impersonal God.
You yourself say He is compassionate and wants to help us.
God is very great, holy, glorious, awesome, infinite– the Holy of Holies– far above and beyond all creation. The ancient Jews were forbidden to write or speak Yaweh’s Holy Name! They were warned not to come too near the Ark of the Covenant, nor touch It — lest they die. Human beings are finite, limited, poor, with human egos– they are made of dust. God is the great, awesome, holy Divine Presence, imminent and transcendent, in all creation. “I am nothing, God is my All.” God dwells within each of us. The terms “Father” and “Son” are metaphors, to help us understand God. The Christian’s destiny is the permanent, full indwelling of the Blessed Trinity (taught in the Catechism). When we sin against the Most Holy, Divine Presence, it is not like offending a human being, so poor, petty, full of egoistic notions– and God forgives sin! He is Divine, not human. When we receive the Sacraments, we encounter the Most Holy Divine Presence– “I Am Who Am”– Christ! — especially, in Holy Communion.
And yes, Christ was both human and Divine. And the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is based on Christ’s Sacrifice for our Redemption, on the Cross. He loves us, He died for our sins! We should never be afraid to approach Him! Christ said that there is more rejoicing in Heaven over one repentant sinner, than in all the others who do not need repentance. Christ runs after every poor, lost sheep!
Catholics believe that there are 3 Persons in One God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These are their Names. These Names are not metaphors.
The Holy of Holies refers to the inner sanctuary in the Hebrew Temple where the Ark of the Covenant rested.
In very old Catholicism, the term might also refer to the tabernacle according to Wikipedia. I have never heard that term used by any Catholic to God.
We do have a prayer taken from Scripture which begins “Holy Holy Holy” and you will hear God called the “thrice-Holy God.”
A name is not a metaphor. However, God is not actually a human Father. He is a spiritual Father — that is the metaphor. A priest is not your real Father, either– it is a metaphorical term we use, when we call a priest “Father.” He is a spiritual father.
Hell is defined by the Catechism as “the definitive state of self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed…” Pope St. John Paul II, quoting St. Thomas Aquinas, said that “Incorporeal things are not in place in a manner familiar to us…but they are in place in a manner befitting spiritual substances, a manner that cannot be fully manifest to us.” The language of place, according to the Pope, is inadequate to describe the realities involved.
CCC 1034 Jesus often speaks of “Gehenna” of “the unquenchable fire” reserved for those who to the end of their lives refuse to believe and be converted, where both soul and body can be lost. Jesus solemnly proclaims that he “will send his angels, and they will gather . . . all evil doers, and throw them into the furnace of fire,” and that he will pronounce the condemnation: “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire!”
1035 The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, “eternal fire.” The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.
I correct my error where I said that these are their Names.
233 Christians are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: not in their names,55 for there is only one God, the almighty Father, his only Son and the Holy Spirit: the Most Holy Trinity.
CCC
238 Many religions invoke God as “Father”. the deity is often considered the “father of gods and of men”. In Israel, God is called “Father” inasmuch as he is Creator of the world. Even more, God is Father because of the covenant and the gift of the law to Israel, “his first-born son”. God is also called the Father of the king of Israel. Most especially he is “the Father of the poor”, of the orphaned and the widowed, who are under his loving protection.
239 By calling God “Father”, the language of faith indicates two main things: that God is the first origin of everything and transcendent authority; and that he is at the same time goodness and loving care for all his children. God’s parental tenderness can also be expressed by the image of motherhood, which emphasizes God’s immanence, the intimacy between Creator and creature. the language of faith thus draws on the human experience of parents, who are in a way the first representatives of God for man. But this experience also tells us that human parents are fallible and can disfigure the face of fatherhood and motherhood. We ought therefore to recall that God transcends the human distinction between the sexes. He is neither man nor woman: he is God. He also transcends human fatherhood and motherhood, although he is their origin and standard: no one is father as God is Father.
240 Jesus revealed that God is Father in an unheard-of sense: he is Father not only in being Creator; he is eternally Father by his relationship to his only Son who, reciprocally, is Son only in relation to his Father: “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Loved your post! I have always been happy to call God “Father,” and I love all our sacred Catholic teachings and traditions, from the ancient Biblical era onwards. God is very great– I love the Biblical quote, “I Am Who Am.” God is so very great, the ancient Jews dared not speak nor write His holy Name! God is in the spiritual realm, not the physical realm. Someday, we all shall see Him, face-to-face– with no “veil” of the physical, corporeal world, separating us from Him! OMG!! Magnificent!
Yes, but we must carefully read, and try to understand. Hell is not a definitive, physical place. It is a terrible thing– a state of the soul’s unrepentant Mortal Sin, eternally separating the soul from God snd from the Communion of Saints. We live right now, in the physical world, but God lives in the spiritual world. Heaven, Hell and Purgatory are all in the spiritual realm. Our understanding and our language is inadequate to describe the spiritual realm. We just have to do our best. When we depart this earth, the veil is lifted, and the eyes of our soul can then behold spiritual things, and the magnificent Glory of God. But until then, we see “through a glass darkly,” as St. Paul said, we see with the eyes of faith.
Reply to- I think you are fudging the Faith. Just stick to the teaching of the Church.
No. Many Catholics today, have not received much training in their Faith. And there are many bad influences, today. Some people may have childish notions, from kindergarten, about Heaven and Hell. They read the Bible, Catechism, etc., without any education, nor guidance. Many also accept “pop culture” ideas of Christ, with no understanding of His true teachings. Many today, do not understand nor accept spiritual realities– including, the reality of God, and of Christ, present in our Sacraments– with many holy graces! Many do not believe in the Real Presence of Christ, veiled in the Eucharist. The whole point of the Catholic Faith– is not this life, but the next– preparation for Eternal Life with Christ. The Saints exist in a very pure, full spiritual union with Christ, unseen– even if they are still alive. You cannot see spiritual realities on earth, we must go by faith. When we die, the veil will be lifted– and we will come before God, face-to-face. (from St. Paul, 1Cor.13– very famous!)
If you named yourself this, you should repent and if the website gave you that Name they should change it.
No fear of God which is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
37 In the historical conditions in which he finds himself, however, man experiences many difficulties in coming to know God by the light of reason alone:
Though human reason is, strictly speaking, truly capable by its own natural power and light of attaining to a true and certain knowledge of the one personal God, who watches over and controls the world by his providence, and of the natural law written in our hearts by the Creator;…
I have a book that I consider a great treasure, “Miracles of John Paul II,” by Pawel Zuchniewicz. In this book, the many marvelous, healing miracles, done by God, through the healing gifts of Pope St. John Paul II, are described in detail. Pope St. John Paul II could always prophesy the exact course of an illness, and whether a patient would receive a partial or total miraculous healing, or else be destined by God to die of the illness. God has a good, Divine Reason for all things. Everything is for the highest good, for each of us. I wondered, though, how people could bear hearing details from a Pope, that God destined their loved one to die, and go to God, in Heaven– and not be healed– that takes a lot of faith, to hear!
allegedly