Divine Mercy Catholic Books and Gifts

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is winding down, and we hope to see you in the store tomorrow. Until then, we invite you to read about Catholic poet Joyce Kilmer and his elegy "Rouge Bouquet. The lines depicted in the image "memorialize the death of 19 of his fellow American soldiers on March 7, 1918, during a German artillery bombardment of 'The Fighting 69th' in the Rouge Bouquet woods in France during World War I. A shell landed atop their bunker, burying them all and adding them to a casualty list that, all told, would exceed 8,500,000 soldiers by the war’s end." (Source: America Magazine article linked below.)

Read "Rouge Bouquet" by Joyce Kilmer here: https://poets.org/poem/rouge-bouquet

Remembering the Troubadour of Saint Folly: https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/remembering-troubadour-saint-folly

The Poet Who Died Fighting: https://magazine.nd.edu/stories/the-poet-who-died-fighting/

Joyce Kilmer: soldier, writer and lost voice in the American Catholic literary revival: https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2023/05/30/cbc-column-joyce-kilmer-245388/

05/25/2026

Divine Mercy Catholic Books and Gifts will be closed today, Mon., May 25, 2026, in observance of Memorial Day. Today we thank God for the gift of freedom and remember and honor the men and women who sacrificed their lives on our behalf: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let the perpetual light shine upon them. And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Memorial Day Reminds Us Freedom Isn't Free (VFW): https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2026/5/memorial-day-reminds-us-freedom-isnt-free

10 Things You Didn't Know About Memorial Day (American Legion): https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/honor/2019/may/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-memorial-day

GKC on War & Politics: https://www.chesterton.org/quotations/war-and-politics/

05/25/2026

Good morning, friends! Today is the Monday after Pentecost, and the Catholic Church is celebrating the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. In the decree on this celebration, Cardinal Robert Sarah (who was then-head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments) wrote: "This celebration will help us to remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored to the Mystery of the Cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed, the Virgin who makes her offering to God."

Read the decree here: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20180211_decreto-mater-ecclesiae_en.html

Read more here:
https://www.ewtnnews.com/vatican/why-catholics-celebrate-mary-as-mother-of-the-church-the-day-after-pentecost

The Catholic Church celebrates the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church each year on the Monday after Pentecost. This year, it falls on May 25.

05/23/2026

Divine Mercy Catholic Books and Gifts will be closed on Mon., May 25th, 2026 in observance of Memorial Day.

Please pray for the souls who courageously sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom:

English

V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
R. And let the perpetual light shine upon them.

And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Latine

V. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.
R. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.

(Source: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/teachings/prayer-for-the-poor-souls-in-purgatory-163 )

04/02/2026

Divine Mercy Catholic Books and Gifts hours for Holy Week are as follows:
Holy Thursday: 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. (normal business hours)
Good Friday: 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. (closing early)
Holy Saturday: 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. (staying open 1 hour later than usual).

We hope to see you soon, and we are praying for a blessed and holy Triduum and Easter for everyone.

03/27/2026

Good morning, everyone! We are nearing the end of Lent and preparing for Holy Week, which means Holy Week Magnificats are now in the store. We are praying that everyone has a blessed Holy Week.

03/19/2026

Happy St. Joseph's Day, everyone! We hope to see you today at Divine Mercy Catholic Books and Gifts. We have set up a small table in honor of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Patron of the Universal Church! If you're in the area, please stop by St. John Paul II University Parish and visit their 3rd Annual St. Joseph's Day Altar. Thank you!

02/18/2026

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent and a day of fasting and abstinence. While not a Holy Day of Obligation, we are encouraged to attend Mass and receive ashes to prepare for the holy season of Lent. Divine Mercy Catholic Books and Gifts will be open for regular business hours today from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. We are praying for a faithful, fruitful Lent for all.

Why Isn’t Ash Wednesday a Holy Day of Obligation https://ascensionpress.com/blogs/podcasts/why-isnt-ash-wednesday-a-holy-day-of-obligation

01/30/2026

If you're in need of some candles to be blessed on Candlemas this year (Mon., Feb. 2nd, 2026), we have several options available for you in the store. Divine Mercy Catholic Books and Gifts is open until 5:00 p.m. today (Fri., Jan. 30th) and for regular Saturday business hours tomorrow (Sat., Jan. 31st from 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.). We hope to see you soon!

Read more about the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (also known as Candlemas) here: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-02-02

01/30/2026

Candlemas is coming up on Monday, Feb. 2nd, 2026!