1. Rosa Mystica during the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
There is a devotion introduced during an apparition of Rosa Mystica specially for men and women religious; and the diocesan priests. This devotion was meant to help raise their level of spirituality. It is popularly known as the apparition of Our Lady under her title of Rosa Mystica.
2. This devotion is practiced during the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
It is called the ‘Hour of grace.’ It is similar to the ‘Year of Mercy’ except that it is better. It only takes one hour. It is prayed from 12:00 to 1:00 pm on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It begins with praying Psalm 50 (Miserere Mei) three times with extended arms. Then it is followed by silent prayer where petitions for forgiveness of one’s sins, for the conversion of one’s loved ones and perseverance at the hour of death are made.
Our Lady promised numerous graces during this hour. It is superior to Pope Francis ‘Year of Mercy’ because the ‘Hour of grace’ contains all the elements taught by Christ for souls to receive the mercy of God; namely, prayer, fasting and good works. These three elements were already taught in the Old Testament but it was further explained in the New Testament. It makes up the so called ‘life of repentance.’ In Scriptures, God promises to be merciful to whoever repents.
We can obtain mercy within one hour in praying ‘the hour of grace.’ Of course, this occurs only once a year during the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Doing it once a year during the Immaculate Conception should be very effective because the three elements that makes us deserving of God’s mercy are present.
There is the prayer of repentance with the prayer of King David. This is repeated three times to create the atmosphere of unceasing prayer. This prayer is accompanied by outstretched arms to add inconvenience in the spirit of fasting. Then it is followed by silent prayer for neighbor which is a form of good works. Again, these three are the elements of repentance that makes one worthy to receive graces from God, specially mercy.
3. This is superior to the “Year of Mercy,” in that the latter does not have the elements which Christ taught as necessary for the reception of Divine Mercy. Without those important element taught by the Old Testament and perfected by St. Augustine nothing will happen the whole ‘Year of Mercy.’
God had promised to show His Mercy to all who are repentant. Without repentance one is in danger of facing the Justice of God.
4. With the tendency of tolerating sins as evident during the last Bishop’s Synod, there is the danger that the ‘Year of Mercy’ will end up instead a ‘Year of Justice.’ And we don’t want that. Since no one can escape the Justice of God
5. The Immaculate Conception is aptly celebrated during Advent. Advent being a prolongation of the preparation for Christ the King, which reminds us of the General Judgement of God. Thus the importance of learning the elements of repentance so we can approach the Judgment seat of God with confidence. Once a year, for one hour, Rosa Mystica reminds us what is needed to surely receive a favorable judgment from the throne of Christ the King.