# Holy Wednesday: Divine Mercy Chaplet and Reflections
*2020-04-07*

> Bill Young leads us through the Divine Mercy Chaplet, a meditation on Holy Wednesday, and shares prayers for priests, the sick, and those away from the Church during the pandemic.

## Opening Reflection

Good afternoon, I’m Bill Young. It’s the 3 o’clock hour, so we begin with the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the litany of Divine Mercy. Today’s theme is Holy Wednesday, taken from Baruch 2:17: “O Lord, look down from your holy dwelling and consider us; incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see.” Father Henry James reminds us that Christ’s eyes pierce the mystery of divine love and the suffering of those who have lost faith. He asks that we may see as He sees, that our hearts might be healed by the purifying flames of His love.

## The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

We begin with the sign of the cross and the opening prayer: “You, O Jesus, who are the source of life, pour out your mercy upon the whole world. O Font of Life, unending mercy, empty yourself upon us.”

We then pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed. The Chaplet continues with the repeated invocation: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world,” said three times for each decade of the rosary beads.

After the Chaplet we recite the Litany of Divine Mercy, invoking God’s boundless mercy in a series of petitions such as “Divine Mercy, fountain of life,” “Divine Mercy, source of miracles,” and “Divine Mercy, shield from the fires of hell.” The litany ends with the triple invocation: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

## Prayers for Priests, the Sick, and the Faithful

We lift up a special prayer for all priests and religious, asking that the Lord’s merciful gaze sustain them in their ministry, especially in these trying times. We also pray for those suffering from COVID‑19, for the souls of the departed, and for anyone who has drifted away from the Church. May they return to the sacraments, to confession, and to the Holy Eucharist, which strengthens us in body and soul.

## Living the Holy Week Virtually

Because of the pandemic, we cannot gather for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil in person. We will celebrate these days online, joining virtual Masses, rosaries, and the 8 p.m. rosary offered by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. I encourage you to stay connected through these digital liturgies and to keep praying the Chaplet and the rosary each day.

## Hope and Invitation

Even though we are apart, God’s mercy endures. Let us continue to pray, to read the Scriptures, and to support one another. If you know of any virtual liturgies or prayer groups, please share the links so we can all stay united in prayer.

*God’s endless mercy sustains us, especially when we are forced to worship apart.*