- Feb 5, 2002
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Question: I have been reading St. Faustina’s diary and have been saying the novena of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for some years now. When saying these prayers, I always wonder why we need to pray for meek and humble souls, the souls of little children, the souls who especially venerate and glorify God’s mercy, all devout and faithful souls, etc. Isn’t God naturally extra merciful to such souls, as well as the souls of priests and religious who have devoted their lives to him? For example, my parents lost their first two children: my brother at age three and, years later, my sister at age five. Is God not automatically merciful to them, who hadn’t even reached the age of reason? These groups comprise almost half of those we pray for.
— Mary Ellen Handelman, via email
Answer: The categories of human beings described in the novena and in your question are still living in this world as members of the Church Militant. Hence they are needful of prayer precisely because of their innocence and holiness. Satan and his fallen angels seek above all to attack and bring ruin upon those who serve God here and the demons often increase their attacks by the very fact that such holy souls are young, or meek or faithful.
Continued below.
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— Mary Ellen Handelman, via email
Answer: The categories of human beings described in the novena and in your question are still living in this world as members of the Church Militant. Hence they are needful of prayer precisely because of their innocence and holiness. Satan and his fallen angels seek above all to attack and bring ruin upon those who serve God here and the demons often increase their attacks by the very fact that such holy souls are young, or meek or faithful.
Continued below.
Why should we pray for meek and humble souls?
A reader writes: I have been reading St. Faustina’s diary and have been saying the novena of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for some years now. When saying these prayers, I always wonder why we need to pray for meek and humble souls, the souls of little children, the souls who especially venerate...
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