Divine Mercy Sunday
11 April 2021
Mass times: 4:00pm (Vigil), 9:00am and 10:45pm
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament,
Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction
following the 10:45am Liturgy.
On the Second Sunday of Easter of the Jubilee Year 2000, at the Mass for the Canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska, Pope John Paul II proclaimed to the world that “from now on throughout the Church” this Sunday will be called “Divine Mercy Sunday.”
The Church’s doctrine of Divine Mercy, and her liturgical practices are not based on St. Faustina’s revelations: they are based on Holy Scripture, the faith handed down by the apostles, and on liturgical traditions rooted in the worship life of the ancient, apostolic communities.
Why did the Pope so strongly recommend that we pay heed to the Divine Mercy message and devotion? Because he saw all this as more than just a collection
of “private revelations”; rather, he saw them as prophetic revelations, in other words revelations given to us by God to proclaim the heart of the Gospel – the merciful love of God shining through the death, burial and resurrection of his Son.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is an intercessory prayer on the basis of the Passion of Christ, and the Image of the Divine Mercy (before which the Novena is usually recited) is primarily a manifestation of the Risen Christ. The Novena of Chaplets (with the Image), therefore, focuses our minds and hearts on the Paschal
Mystery – the death and resurrection of Christ. Nothing could be more ppropriate at this time in the liturgical year!
Thus, to fittingly observe the Feast of Mercy, we should: (1) Celebrate the Feast on the Sunday after Easter; (2) Sincerely repent of all our sins; (3) Place our complete trust in Jesus; (4) Go to Confession, preferably before that Sunday; (5) Receive Holy Communion on the day of the Feast; (6) Venerate* the Image of The Divine Mercy; and (7) Be merciful to others, through our actions, words, and prayers on their behalf.
*To venerate a sacred image or statue simply means to perform some act or make some gesture of deep religious respect toward it because of the person whom it represents - in this case, our Most Merciful Savior.
