Divine Mercy & Beatification Watch Party!

I am so excited for Divine Mercy Sunday!

~I have fallen in love with this devotion over the last couple of years and my love just keeps growing...What a blessing and ocean of grace that mercy and love are the hallmarks of our Christian Catholic faith~

"True mercy is always a bilateral reality, a two-way street: As we give it, we also receive it." ~Pope John Paul II Encyclical letter: Dives in Misericordia~

As most of the faithful already know, this year is EXTRA special with the Beatification of the man who instituted Divine Mercy Sunday...Pope John Paul II.  We already have our EWTN timers set at our house and just learned of a few other sources to view this historical event.  You can also watch it live online via Vatican Youtube sources or even Facebook! (Resources listed below)
We are having our own "Beatification Watch Party" at our house!
~We are looking forward to a celebration in honor of Blessed JPII and Divine Mercy~

Here are some easy candles to make for your celebration.

Candle holder and candles can be found at the Dollar Tree.  Just tie on a Divine Mercy medal with red, blue, or white ribbon.

I placed these stickers of JPII on the back of the candle and gave a few for gifts:

(I'm wondering if some of my friends are getting tired of receiving my candle gifts!?)

This one has a colored Divine Mercy medal and a silver oxidized JPII medal:

I also placed stickers on these mini glass jars (front and back).  This Rosary Card site has great stickers for both Divine Mercy and JPII.

Back:

We planned to whip up some treats for our Beatification Watch Party, of course!

We attended our parish Divine Mercy service and settled in to watch church history unfold before our eyes.  This year we made the same cupcakes we made for Mardis Gras, this time using red, white, and blue! ( I think these would also be great for 4th of July or Memorial Day)

They are also posted over at Catholic Cuisine!

I found some little Divine Mercy plastic figures at our local Catholic Bookstore for the toppers.

I also made a Rays of Mercy Fruit Platter that I posted details over at Catholic Cuisine.  There are only 2 rays but I added the white bananas since the pale blue ray is often seen mixed with white. Once again, I'm thinking this would also make a good 4th of July sparkler platter!

It was so easy to make!

"Let the rays of grace enter your soul; they bring with them light, warmth, and life."

Diary of St. Faustina~1486

Last year we made this cake:

"I am mercy itself; therefore I ask you to offer Me your misery and this very helplessness of yours and, in this way, you will delight My Heart." Jesus~Diary of St. Faustina (1775)

Social Networking Resources:

Pope 2 You has links to Vatican Youtube, Facebook info, Iphone App, and more!
Special Vatican site resources

This is the Vatican Media link, combining all media efforts for the Vatican.

If you have Facebook, this page has been set up for JPII
Free Divine Mercy Iphone Application
Vatican YouTube
Vatican Twitter Info.


Grow in Divine Mercy Devotion:
Consoling the Heart of Jesus
Diary of Saint Maria Faustinsa Kowalska


Great Divine Mercy craft ideas and free printables for kids at Catholic Icing
Divine Mercy food ideas at Catholic Cuisine


The Official Prayer for John Paul II's Intercession


O Blessed Trinity,
We thank You for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II and for
allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care, the glory of the Cross of
Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him.
Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of
Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd and has
shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life
and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you.
Grant us, by his intercession, and according to Your will, the graces we
implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints.
Amen.
With ecclesiastical approval CARDINAL CAMILLO RUINI
the Holy Father's Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome