In 1989 when the word Medjugorje came into my life, I really knew nothing about the place. It was around this time that a religious catalog first came to my home and in this catalog was a selection of books. I ordered three books from the catalog, one on Medjugorje by Wayne Weible, another called, "Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence," which remains one of the icons of my library, and I don't recall the third book because I never received it. For some strange reason the third book I ordered was replaced by some book with a picture of a nun on it. I tried to contact the catalog company about the mistake but for some reason I could not get thought to them. The book with the picture of the nun sat around the house until returning from my first pilgrimage from Medjugorje.

My first pilgrimage to Medjugorje was blessed beyond belief; I came home filled with the Holy Spirit. People I have know all my life said to me, "Michael what has happened to you, something is different?" When I asked, how am I different? one person replied, "There is a glow about you." From this moment on I began to spread the message of Medjugorje. Meanwhile this bright red book with the picture of a nun on the cover kept catching my eye, so I decided to read it rather then to send it back.

As I started to read the book I discovered it was a brand new book just released for the first time in English. The book was called, "Divine Mercy In My Soul," and I had no idea the major impact this book would have on my life. The book was huge and I figured it would take me years to read it but once I started reading about this Polish nun, I was moved to the very core of my being, within several days I had completed it and I was in awe. I can't say I have ever read another book in my entire life that has had the impact on me that this book has had.

Surely I have heard the word "mercy " before and in my mind I though I understood the meaning of this small 5 letter word, but I had not idea that such a small word could have such a large meaning. I learned that God's mercy is beyond comprehension, beyond the gravest of sin, God's mercy was a fire burning a clear path through the darkness of sin. God's mercy was with compromise and no human could ever understand the Mercy of God throughout all time because His love was unfathomable.

February 22, 1931 Sister Faustina had yet another vision of the Lord which is today for the betterment of the world. Sister writes the following words as spoken to her, by Jesus.

Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus I Trust In You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and throughout the whole world. (Diary I (18) 47

48: I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory.

On September 13, 1935 sister received another revelation that would go hand in hand with the image now known as "the Divine Mercy." The revelation came in the form of a prayer that should be said in front of the Image.

476: This prayer will serve to appease My wrath. You will recite it for nine days, on the beads of the Rosary, in the following manner: First of all, you will say one Our Father and Hail Mary and the, I believe in God. Then on the Our Father beads you will say the following words: "Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ for our sins and those of the whole world. On the Hail Mary beads you will say the following words: "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world." In conclusion, three times you will recite these words: "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

Why should we say these prayers? Is there some gain for those who say them?

Oh, what great graces I will grant to souls who say this chaplet: the very depths of My tender mercy are stirred for the sake of those who say the 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 fount of My mercy; let them profit from the Blood and Water which gushed forth for them. Diary II (229) 848:

To read Divine Mercy In My soul is an undertaking. It totals 697 pages. However, it is one of the most moving and inspirational books, I have ever read. While reading this book I felt I could almost hear and see Jesus speaking to Sister Faustina. I also felt I shared in her pain and sufferings when she was tormented by the evil of satan.