Divine Mercy for Little Ones {book review}

(disclosure: I received this book as an electronic version for free, to review. My opinions are my own and based on the quality of the book. affiliate links included.)

“For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

I was an adult when I learned the Divine Mercy Chaplet, but I didn’t learn about the image and the significance of the devotion until the last few years. In fact, I’m still trying to memorize the first prayer 

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

The ocean of mercy, enveloping the whole world. It’s such an incredible image, and Jesus’ mercy is so abundant I’m not sure we can begin to fully understand. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try! And teaching my children is perhaps one of the greatest gifts I can give them, in living our Catholic faith. For as James wrote, “. . . Faith without works is dead . . .” (James 2:14-17) and Jesus himself throughout the Gospel of John told the people that if they wouldn’t believe His word, they should believe His works (John 14:11). What are the works? They were and are spiritual and corporal works of mercy!

Divine Mercy is so rich! I’m the sort of person who draws connections and ponders their significance, growing excited within my heart and soul, but then I often struggle to articulate what I believe to my children. I’m not what you might call a natural teacher; my bookshelves lined with “Teach Your Child To . . .” and “100 Things Every Catholic Teen Should Know” and more are evidence that I rely heavily on the wisdom of others to help pass on the faith.

As I’m still learning about the Divine Mercy myself, I was so excited to find this new book “Divine Mercy for Little Ones” by Kimberly Fries. Kimberly introduces children to the message of Divine Mercy, the image, the Spiritual and Corporal works of mercy, and the Chaplet. Her explanations are simple enough for younger children to understand, while not oversimplifying so much that the richness of the message is lost.

Two things I especially enjoy about this book are the call to action in living the Spiritual and Corporal works of mercy, and the instruction to pray the Chaplet with meditations for each decade of the prayer. Children are absolutely capable of learning and living the works of mercy, and I see such joy in my own children when they touch someone else’s life with mercy. The ideas shared in “Divine Mercy for Little Ones” are easy for children, and I’m hoping they’ll help my children imagine all kinds of ways they can act with mercy in their lives. One of my favorite ideas is “Singing a song or reading a book to a sibling while he or she is sick is a beautiful act of mercy, too.”

The meditations for each decade in the Chaplet are new to me, and I love them. The first one is on Jesus being crowned with thorns, and part of the meditation before the prayers reads, “The soldiers showed [Jesus] no love or mercy. Yet, we know that he is love and mercy itself. He is our Divine Mercy.” I’m looking forward to reading this book with my children over and over, teaching them and praying with them for God’s mercy to be abundantly present in our lives.

I hope you’ll enjoy this book with your children as much as I do! Remember, the Divine Mercy Novena begins TOMORROW on Good Friday and lasts until Divine Mercy Sunday. I’m certain this devotion is a powerful way to experience God’s mercy. Each year I love it more. You can join with Pray More Novenas for the novena and receive daily emails with the prayers.