Dear Parishioners and Friends,
This Second Sunday of Easter is also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. We have a beautiful picture of the Divine Mercy located near the Reconciliation Room in the back of church at Christ the King.
Here is a bit of history on Divine Mercy Sunday. Pope John Paul wanted the world to know about a humble Polish nun, called Sister Faustina. Five days after the canonization of St. Faustina, May 5th, 2000, there was a Vatican decree that made the Second Sunday of Easter to be known as Divine Mercy Sunday.
The origin of the Divine Mercy began with the visions Sister Faustina had of Jesus. She recorded these visions in her diary. Jesus spoke to her on 14 different occasions, requesting that a Feast of Mercy (Divine Mercy Sunday) be observed.
These visions occurred in the 1930's, during the rise of Fascism and the Nazi movement; a time when very dark days for the world would soon come from a second World War, and the emergence of the horrors of the Holocaust death camps.
Sister Faustina recalled Jesus speaking to her these words...
"My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. … Let no soul fear to draw near to Me. … It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy."
Sister Faustina saw the hand of Jesus raised in a blessing and the other touching his garment above his heart with red and white rays emanating from his heart. This symbolized the blood and water that was poured out for our salvation and our sanctification. The Lord requested that “Jesus, I trust in You” be inscribed under his image. Jesus asked that his image be painted and venerated throughout the world: “I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish,” and “By means of this image I will grant many graces to souls " (Diary, no. 48).
The Chaplet was given to St. Faustina with this promise: “Encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given you” (Diary, no. 1541). “Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. … Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy. I desire that the whole world know My infinite mercy” (Diary, no. 687). (Quotes sourced from the USCCB website).
The Divine Mercy Novena:
Jesus gave St. Faustina nine intentions, for which to pray the Chaplet beginning on Good Friday and ending on the Saturday before Divine Mercy Sunday. Resources regarding the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Novena can be found at: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-13366
If you decide to start a Novena, don't fret about timing. You can easily start the Novena after this weekend too!
One of my favorite stories about St. Faustina comes from a Homily Pope Francis gave last year during the Feast of Divine Mercy. On one occasion, Sister Faustina had told Jesus that she offered him "all of her life" and "all that she had." Jesus’ reply was not what she expected: "You have not offered me the thing is truly yours." She thought to herself, what could this thing be? In tender love, Jesus said to her "My daughter, give me your failings" (10 October 1937).
Pope Francis said that we also can ask ourselves: "Have I given my failings to the Lord? Have I let him see me fall so that he can raise me up? Or is there something I still keep inside me? A sin, a regret from the past, a wound that I have inside, a grudge against someone, an idea about a particular person… The Lord waits for us to offer him our failings so that he can help us experience his mercy.”
May this Divine Mercy Sunday be a great blessing to you and your family!
Fr. Gonyo
