# First Week of Lent: Gospel, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and Prayers for Ukraine
*2022-03-09*

> Bill Young and John O'Rourke reflect on the Luke 11 gospel reading, pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and offer prayers for the sick, for souls in purgatory, and especially for those suffering in Ukraine.

## Gospel Reflection

Today's Gospel reading is Luke 11:29‑32. Jesus tells the crowd that they will receive no sign except the sign of Jonah, a prophetic reference to His own death and resurrection. He reminds us that God is a God of life who opposes death, sin, illness, and corruption. Our Christian mission is to bring the light of Christ to the blind, the deaf, the imprisoned, and the broken‑hearted, triumphing over death with the life of the Resurrection.

## The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

We began with the opening prayer of the Chaplet: “O Blood and Water, which flowed from the heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy, pour out your grace upon us.”

We then prayed the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and Psalm 130 (De Profundis). After the Apostles’ Creed we offered the Eucharistic prayer of the Chaplet, invoking the merciful heart of Jesus for the whole world. The repeated petitions asked the Father to have mercy on us and on the whole world, especially for the suffering in Ukraine.

## Prayers for the Sick and for Ukraine

A special prayer from today’s prayer book was read for those suffering illness. It asks the Lord to raise us from our pain, to give us peace, and to grant us the hope that comes from trusting in Christ’s mercy.

We also prayed a heartfelt petition for the innocent victims of the war in Ukraine, for those displaced, injured, or grieving, and for the leaders of nations to seek peace and justice.

## Prayers for Souls in Purgatory and the Rosary Invitation

We offered a traditional prayer for the souls in purgatory, invoking the precious blood of Christ. Bill announced an upcoming virtual Rosary on the next Wednesday at 7 p.m., led by Fr. Gallery and focusing on St. Joseph, with a special intention for the faithful in Ukraine.

## Closing Thoughts

Bill reminded listeners to keep praying daily for those who suffer around the world, especially the people of Ukraine, and to share the podcast with others.

*In this first week of Lent, we are called to trust in God’s mercy, pray for the sick and the suffering, and let our prayers be a source of hope for a world in need.*