home → Constitution of Apostles of Divine Mercy (ADM)
Preamble
1. Association of Apostles of Divine Mercy (ADM) is a pious association of Catholic lay faithful, to which devotees of Divine Mercy belonging to non - Catholic Churches and other faiths are also welcome to associate.
2. ADM springs from the charisma of St. Faustina, from her spirituality and her apostolic activities. It brings together lay persons, and even priests and religious who desire to promote the message of Divine Mercy.
3. The Spirituality of ADM is complete TRUST in the merciful Jesus. Trust in Jesus is the essence of the message of mercy.
4. Their primary mission is to bring to an aching mankind (Diary 1588) the Message of Divine Mercy and to promote devotion of Divine Mercy according to the revelations granted to the Church through St. Faustina. Jesus said: “Tell souls about this great Mercy of Mine, because the awful day, the day of My justice, is near” (Diary 965).
5. Enrolled members in the ADM share in the spiritual benefits of the Holy Masses, Novenas and prayers offered at Dayasagar. Jesus said: “Souls who spread the honour of My mercy I shield through their entire life as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Saviour” (Diary, 1075).
Rights and Duties
6. Those desiring to become members of ADM will register their names in the prescribed form, which will be kept in the office of the Secretary. There will be Temporary, Permanent and Honorary Members.
7. All those who ascribe to ADM will remain as Temporary Members for a period of one year.
8. After completing one year of Temporary Membership, they will become Permanent Members.
9. Associates are all devotees of Divine Mercy who are not baptised in the Catholic Church; they can take part in its prayers and deliberations but without voting power.
10. Those ascribed to ADM will lose their membership if they are absent from the meetings for three consecutive sittings without any valid reason.
11. They can be dismissed or suspended by the Spiritual Director at his discretion for grave reasons.
12. Members will strive to form ADM local units in the parishes of Sagar Diocese with prior permission of respective parish priests, who will be their Spiritual Director.
13. Every unit of ADM will have a Co-ordinator, Secretary and Treasurer, who will be Catholics devoted to Divine Mercy.
14. They will gather once a month, every second Friday, in the parish church or in any other convenient place under the guidance of the parish priest or under anybody he will delegate.
15. Members will spend one hour in prayer which includes Divine Mercy Chaplet, reading of St. Faustina’s Diary and sharing. Jesus said: “It pleases me to grant everything they ask of me by saying the Chaplet” (Diary 1541).
16. Prayer meetings of ADM will be known as Cenacle recalling the Last Supper room where the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles.
17. There will be an Attendance Register kept in every unit with the Secretary, who will also prepare the minutes of the meetings.
18. At every ADM meeting the sacred image of Divine Mercy (similar to that of Dayasagar) will be honoured with two lit candles/lamps. Jesus said: ‘Paint an image according to the pattern you see with the signature “Jesus, I trust in you” (Diary 47).
19. Duties of members are to recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet daily, read part of the Diary of St. Faustina everyday and promote the devotion to Divine Mercy in families, institutions and parishes of the diocese of Sagar with the permission of their respective parish priests. Jesus said: “Do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace” (Diary, 1074).
20. The members will join hands whole heartedly to celebrate with great solemnity Dayasagar feast on the first Sunday after Easter. Jesus said: “I desire that there be a Feast of Mercy. I want this image be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy” (Diary 49).
21. The Co-ordinator, Secretary and Treasurer of each unit will come together at Dayasagar on the first Sunday of Lent to plan out the celebration of the great feast of Dayasagar.
22. Annual gathering of the ADM will be at Dayasagar on the occasion of the feast of St. Faustina on 5 th October.
23. It will be a day of Recollection for all members with Spiritual Conferences, Adoration, Confession, recitation of Divine Mercy Chaplet ending with Holy Mass.
24. Bishop of Sagar will be the Patron of ADM and the Rector of Dayasagar will be its Spiritual Director.
25. Any modification regarding the statutes of ADM will require prior approval of the Bishop of Sagar.
26. In case of any eventual conflict or misunderstanding among the members of ADM Bishop of Sagar will be the ultimate authority to decide. The eparchial bishop of Sagar is competent also to suppress the association accordance with the law of the Church ( CCEO 583: 2;2).