The Great Feast of Divine Mercy

     The Catholic Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday on the First Sunday after Easter, and it is a day on which Jesus desires to bestow many graces upon souls. Jesus Himself introduced this Feast on February 22, 1931 to a Polish nun now known as St. Faustina, whom the Lord called "the secretary of My mercy" (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1605). During this revelation, Jesus' appearance resembled that of the Divine Mercy Image when He promised "...that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish" (Diary, 48). Though He taught St. Faustina several prayers to Divine Mercy, including the Chaplet (which, as a personal recommendation, should be a daily prayer for Catholics), the main feature of devotion is complete trust in God's mercy. Over several years, Jesus revealed to St. Faustina that He would grant unfathomable graces to souls who reverently practice devotion to Divine Mercy, even promising to grant everything for which we ask during the third hour of the day, if our petitions comply with His Will (Diary, cf. 1572). Among these revelations, Jesus' desire to save souls is perhaps most evident in His promise of mercy on the Feast: "On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open...The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day are opened all the divine floodgates through which graces flow" (Diary, 699). Such an offering from our Lord should not be taken for granted!

     Knowing Jesus' desire to extend mercy toward us, and that we trust Him completely, it is important to understand why Jesus instituted the Feast of Mercy. He told St. Faustina, "This Feast emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of My tender mercies" (Diary, 420). With regard to salvation of souls, Jesus said, "No soul will be justified until it turns with confidence to My mercy, and this is why the first Sunday after Easter is to be the Feast of Mercy" (Diary, 570). Despite His Passion, victory over death, and continuous invitations to follow Him in exchange for Eternal Life, many, tragically, still do not believe in Jesus, let alone trust in Him! The faithful, at least, should keep constant watch over our words and actions, and consider how we may be causing sorrow for Jesus, for He said, "Distrust on the part of souls is tearing at My insides. The distrust of a chosen soul causes Me even greater pain; despite My inexhaustible love for them they do not trust Me" (Diary, 50). Perhaps this is why we are seeing proof that, "Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy" (Diary, 300).

     Let us, then, on this Feast of Divine Mercy, resolve to be among these souls whom Jesus so lovingly speaks, "Most dear to Me is the soul that strongly believes in My goodness and has complete trust in Me. I heap My confidence upon it and give it all it asks" (Diary, 453).

     Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

     For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.

     Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.