The Truth about Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday
There has been so much confusion and discussion about Divine Mercy Sunday and how it all relates to Easter and it is about time that all of the misunderstandings get cleared up quickly.
Though it started out from a revelation that was made by Jesus to Saint Faustina, it is now an official feast in the Catholic Church. Divine Mercy Sunday is not to be considered part of a private devotion. There are still some things that are considered devotional that are associated with "Divine Mercy", like the Chaplet and the Novena, but these devotionals should not be confused with what the Church has set in place for the observance of Divine Mercy Sunday.
Robert R. Allard, Director of the Apostles of Divine Mercy.
PrintPORT ST. LUCIE, FL (Catholic Online) - There has been so much confusion and discussion about Divine Mercy Sunday and how it all relates to Easter and it is about time that all of the misunderstandings get cleared up quickly.
Though it started out from a revelation that was made by Jesus to Saint Faustina, it is now an official feast in the Catholic Church. Divine Mercy Sunday is not to be considered part of a private devotion. There are still some things that are considered devotional that are associated with "Divine Mercy", like the Chaplet and the Novena, but these devotionals should not be confused with what the Church has set in place for the observance of Divine Mercy Sunday.
Many have added to the confusion by suggesting that priests must provide special devotional services for Divine Mercy Sunday. This had caused many priests to shy away. Mercy Sunday is not a "party for devotees", but it is in all truthfulness an astonishing "refuge for sinners." It is an outstanding, timely gift from God. Make no doubt about it, the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit has fulfilled every request that Jesus made, but only because it had seen the hand of God.
The Church has not added anything new by naming this new feast, but just sort of re-energized what was always celebrated as a great feast in the early Church. Over the years, the Church had lost some of the fervor for the Octave of Easter. Octaves have always been associated with the celebration of great feasts. Some of the Jewish feasts in the Old Testament, such as the Feast of Tabernacles, were celebrated for a full 8 days and the very last day was always the greatest one.
The Gospel of John recalls the observance of the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles in the 7th chapter (John 7:37-39) and Saint John calls it the greatest day: "On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me; let him drink who believes in Me. Scripture has it: ´From within him rivers of living water shall flow´". It is important that every word in these passages is taken to heart and analyzed very thoroughly.
The first day of an octave and the last day are considered as the same day, in fact, every day in between the first and last are part of the feast. Just look at the days of the week between Easter and the Octave of Easter: from Monday thru Saturday, they are all called "Easter" and each and every one of these days is the highest form of celebration called a solemnity. On each of those days, the Gloria and the Creed are recited, just like on Sundays. Each is considered a Sunday.
Don´t forget that the Gospel that has always been read on that Octave Sunday after Easter (John 20:19-31) covers the time from the evening of the Resurrection up until the following Sunday, an eight day octave. The first part of that Gospel narrates Jesus bestowing on the Apostles the power to forgive sins by breathing on them and saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." The second part of that Gospel is what happens on the very next Sunday, the octave, when Thomas finally sees Jesus in that same Upper Room as the rest of the Apostles had seen Him, just that very Sunday before.
Now recall the words of Jesus on the last and greatest (octave) day of that Feast of Tabernacles, "let him drink who (believes) in Me…." Now what did Jesus say to St. Thomas? "Blessed are those who have not seen and have (believed)". Souls must believe to be blessed. The complete scenario of these two events has very great meaning. The Lord is showing us the importance of (believing) and trusting in Him in order to receive His (blessings) or, in other words, His grace.
He is also showing us the great importance of octaves. It was no accident that Saint Thomas wasn´t present on that first Easter. That scenario was ordained by God to get us to understand the importance of trusting (believing) in Jesus in order to obtain grace. It was also ordained by God that the very first act that Jesus performed after His Resurrection was none other than the institution of the sacrament of Confession. These two events play a crucial role in salvation.
On Easter Sunday, and all throughout the week, we celebrate the creation of grace that Jesus has obtained for us by His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. On the following Sunday, the Octave of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) we celebrate the fulfillment of what Easter is all about and we receive a big outpouring of a whole ocean of graces. The obtainment of these graces is brought about by trusting in Jesus and by approaching His ministers and going to Confession.
Mercy Sunday is really designed to get souls back to the practice of ...
Rate This Article
1 - 7 of 7 Comments
Leave a Comment
More Lent / Easter News
- The Power of the Resurrection in our Lives: Christ Is Risen; Indeed, He Is Risen!
- What a Day! What a Way, the Easter Way, Alleluia!
- The Surprise of Easter
- Easter Vigil Homily of Pope Francis: Let the Risen Jesus Enter Your Life
- HOLY SATURDAY: The Whole Earth Keeps Silence
- The Resurrecting Power of Mercy
- On the Friday We Call Good, the Whole World Stands Still
- Good Friday Reflection on the Logic of the Cross
- Reflection: Let us Apply the Splint of the Cross to our Fractured Freedom
Featured News
- Fr. Paul Schenck: Finding Living Faith on Catechetical Sunday
- The Movie Yellow: Incest as 'Normal' and Cassavates's Slides Into the World of Woes
- The Chicago School Teachers Strike Reveals the Need For School Choice
- The Sexual Barbarians and the Dissolution of Culture
- The Happy Priest Challenges Us to Ask: Who is Jesus to Me?
- Michael Coren on Canadian Public Schools: Teachers, leave those kids alone
- We Cannot Ignore Our Consciences: Cardinal Dolan On Religious Liberty
- In the Face of Danger, Successor of Peter Travels to Lebanon as a Messenger of Peace
- Reflections on the Dignity and Vocation of Women: Who or What?
More Easter / Lent
'So it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead' - Luke 24:46
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption. continue reading
Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four canonical Gospels. (Mark 11:1.11, Matthew 21:1.11, Luke 19:28.44, and John 12:12.19) ... continue reading
On Palm Sunday, we celebrate the first joy of the season, as we celebrate Our Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem where he was welcomed by crowds worshiping him and laying down palm leaves before him. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week... continue reading
HOLY THURSDAY is the most complex and profound of all religious observances. It celebrates his last supper with the disciples, a celebration of Passover ... continue reading
On Good Friday, each member of the Church tries to understand at what cost Christ has won our redemption. In the solemn ceremonies of Holy Week we unite ourselves to our Savior, and we contemplate our own death to sin in the Death of our Lord ... continue reading
Easter is the principal feast of the ecclesiastical year. Leo I (Sermo xlvii in Exodum) calls it the greatest feast (festum festorum), and says that Christmas is celebrated only in preparation for Easter. It is the centre of the greater part of the ecclesiastical year ... continue reading
Explore Easter, Lent & Pentecost Season
For most people the easiest practice to consistently fulfill will be the traditional one, to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year. During Lent abstinence from meat on Fridays is obligatory in the United States as elsewhere. Christ Himself said that His disciples would fast once He had departed (Lk. 5:35). continue reading
Everything answered from when does lent end, ashes, giving something up, stations of the cross and blessed palms. The key to understanding the meaning of Lent is simple: Baptism... continue reading
Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours (or Passion) of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. First Station: Jesus is condemned to death... pray the stations now
What did you give up for Lent?
From the humorous to the bizarre, people have had interesting Lenten experiences. Tell us about what you are going to give up for this Lenten Year.
What others gave up »
Lent / Easter News
-
The Power of the Resurrection in our Lives: Christ Is Risen; Indeed, He Is Risen!
F. K. Bartels - Catholic Online, 4/6/2013There is great cause for belief in the Resurrection. One of the most wonderful tenets of Catholicism and the true Christian religion the Church transmits, is that the Resurrection is a historical ...Continue Reading
-
What a Day! What a Way, the Easter Way, Alleluia!
Deacon Keith Fournier - Catholic Online, 4/1/2013Have you have heard the old adage, used often in a disparaging way, He´s so heavenly he is no earthly good. I suggest again that it misses the mark completely. We are Easter people. We are called to ...Continue Reading
-
The Surprise of Easter
Fr. Randy Sly - Catholic Online, 3/31/2013To make sure that all mankind knows that it is not over but actually just beginning, God has an Easter bombshell. While we may have been able to anticipate the wondrous joy of a day of resurrection, ...Continue Reading
-
Easter Vigil Homily of Pope Francis: Let the Risen Jesus Enter Your Life
Pope Francis - Catholic Online, 3/31/2013Our daily problems and worries can wrap us up in ourselves, in sadness and bitterness... and that is where death is. That is not the place to look for the One who is alive! Let the risen Jesus enter ...Continue Reading
Good Friday
-
On Good Friday, the entire Church fixes her gaze on the Cross at Calvary. Each member of the Church tries to understand at what cost Christ has won our redemption.
The Cross
In the symbol of the Cross we can see the magnitude of the human tragedy, the ravages of original sin, and the infinite love of God. Learn More
Ash Wednesday
-
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.
The Ashes
The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. Learn More
Stations of the Cross
-
Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours (or Passion) of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion.
Opening Prayer
ACT OF CONTRITION. O my God, my Redeemer, behold me here at Thy feet. From the bottom of my heart... Pray the Stations
Fasting & Abstinence
-
'Christ Himself said that His disciples would fast once He had departed' Lk. 5:35
Abstinence. The law of abstinence requires a Catholic 14 years of age until death to abstain from eating meat on Fridays in honor of the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and shellfish are permitted.
Fasting. The law of fasting requires a Catholic from the 18th Birthday (Canon 97) to the 59th Birthday (i.e. the beginning of the 60th year, a year which will be completed on the 60th birthday) to reduce the amount of food eaten from normal. The Church defines this as one meal a day, and two smaller meals which if added together would not exceed the main meal.
Learn More »
In the year 1958... "The Divine Mercy Movement" and The documents of Sr. Faustina Kowaska were challenged by members of The Vatican, during the reign of Pope John XXIII. It was stated in her documents, that this would happen, but later evidence would re-surface and help reinstate "The Divine Mercy Movement" and the writings of Sr. Faustina. This occured in 1962, when "Two Young Boys" saw and reported a Divine Apparition of "The Christ". With their help of witnessing this event... it forefilled one of The Prophesies of Sr. Faustina, when "The Divine Mercy Movement" was re-examined during the reign of Pope Paul VI, in 1965. Thus being "A Divine Conduit" to this and other Divine and Global Events. Almost forgotten, "The Bronx Apparition of 1962" was re-discovered, when a psychology student named, Irene Blinston wanted to do her doctorate on "Children who saw Religious and Divine Apparitions". Not only did she get her Doctorate... she also published a book on her research, which included one of the original "Two Young Boys" that experienced "The Bronx Apparition of 1962"!
Over the many decades... "The Bronx Apparition of 1962 and The Miracles of Divine Mercy" can not be denied. Regardless... it is a historic fact in The History of Divine Mercy and the eventual Sainthood of Sr. Faustina of Poland and Blessed Pope John Paul II.
On Private Revelation...................
Nowhere does the Catechism state that Church recognized private revelation is 'unnecessary' or that 'Christians only need the deposit of Faith', rather it simply states that such revelation 'does not belong to the deposit of faith'. Its role is not to 'improve' or 'complete' Christ’s definitive Revelation but to help Christians 'live more fully by it in a certain period of history.' Moreover, it goes on to say that the sensus fidelium (the Church’s intuition), guided by the Magisterium of the Church, 'knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church.' (A good example of this would be the institution of the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.) Needless to say, welcoming private revelation is not the same thing as rejecting it. The former is the Church’s official position, the latter is the position of certain incredulous.........................
While it is true that there was an initial ban on St. Faustina's Diary it was lifted in 1978 at the request of Archbishop Karol Wojtyla (later Pope John Paul II). In April 1978, the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith declared that the Notification ban was no longer binding, and stated that misunderstandings were caused by a faulty Italian translation of Kowalska's Diary.............................
The May 5, 2000 Vatican Decree from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments states in Latin the following, 'the Second Sunday of Easter there shall henceforth be added the appellation, namely (seu) Divine Mercy Sunday, prescribing that the texts assigned for that day in the Roman Missal and the Liturgy of the Hours will be adhered to.' Although many clergy have treated this decree as optional only, this was not the intention of the Church.........................
As Jesus tells Luisa, (Libro Di Cielo) 'what my Divine Will can do, and what It knows how to do, and when It decides to operate in one creature in order to fulfill Its greatest designs in the midst of the human generations, It lets no one dictate to It the law – neither who it must be, nor the time, nor the way, nor the place – but It acts in an absolute way. Nor does it pay heed to certain short minds, which are unable to elevate themselves in the divine and supernatural order, or to bow their forehead to the incomprehensible works of their Creator; and while they want to reason with their own human reason, they lose the divine reason, and remain confounded and incredulous.' God’s ways are above our ways. If the Lord sees a need to intervene in history (because the deposit of faith is not being taught and lived out in a certain period of time) then we should humbly pay attention to Him for He does nothing in vain. Yet even fools accuse God of acting foolishly........................
In fact, I would go so far as to say that anyone who rejects St. Faustina’s diary simply because she includes a description of hell, is probably going to reject Jesus' discourses on hell as well. Of course, the problem would not be with Jesus' or St. Faustina’s teaching but with the reader. We need to understand that our Lord loves us all dearly and if He spoke about hell it was not merely to frighten people but to prevent them from going there.................
The apostle Paul exhorts us, (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21) 'Despise not prophecies. But prove all things; hold fast [to] that which is good.' If such is the case, why would anyone want to reject something which is from God and which the Church says does not contradict the Faith? Could it be due to a 'hardness of heart' or a lack of desire to 'live more fully' the Gospel message? In that case, the rejection of Church approved private revelation would not be a sign of orthodoxy, but a sign of indifference or fear...................
In some cases, the ignoring of private revelation has led to dire consequences as is clear in the case of King Louis XIV of France. At Fatima too, our Lady had asked the Pope to consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart and if that her requests were heeded there would be peace. The response of several Popes was not to ignore our Lady’s request but to try and fulfill it – which it finally was. Still, private revelation is not just about avoiding hell or averting disasters there are also many wonderful benefits attached to them. If people do not wish to make use of these helps then that is their own personal choice but they should not hinder others from taking advantage of them....................
It was the medieval theologian Melchior Cano who taught that all revelation had ceased with the death of the last apostle. Although this teaching became very popular in subsequent ages it was never officially adopted by the Church. On the contrary, the Church's documents affirm that revelation is 'constituted' with the teaching of Christ and the apostles and that it never ends. (c.f. Iannuzzi) In other words, while the foundation of our Faith has been established forever, it is still subject to further development, explication and actualization. This distinction between the deposit of Faith and authenticated private revelation is very clear. It is like the distinction between seeing Jupiter with the naked eye and seeing it through a telescope.
My uncle who was always telling me that even how many confession he goes deep in his heart he feels that he still sins and because of his sin he is facing a lot of problems including his promosion.I ask him to receits chaplet of mercy and he did.Now he always tell him that he feel free and he get his promotion. His a great gift our Lord give for we sinnners.
The Feast of The Divine Mercy? This beautiful gift from heaven, approved by His Holiness The Pope was disgracefully denied even a mention to the parishioners of The Holy Ghost church in Exmouth, Devon in the UK by it's parish priest today who told me that it was not obligatory. Who knows better, my parish priest or the Pope or even Jesus himself who gave us the message? And we wonder why our 2,000 year old church is facing hardships. From within????????
God bless all.
Anthony Collins
o i cannot explain the tremendous graces i have received from the divine mercy.many many miracles i have seen in my life through it Jesus i trust in you
There is one thing I do know about the Divine Mercy. IT WORKS! It has, after 30 years of agony, saved me from the ravages of alcoholism. Ive been to the shrine in Poland and thanked God for SAINT Sister Faustina. May she pray for us all. I say the DM chaplet every day as I walk the beach to see the beauty that The Almighty has bestowed upon His world.
God bless all
Anthony Collins
Southern England
I never heard the explnation asOI saw here. Thank you tons. I think our priests should give that on Mercy Sun in their homilies. I wish I knew this before my stroke so I could have taught more about Easter extended and mercy Sunday.Even the way the Thomas event 3was explained was inspiring and fully appreciated. Thank you again. I am so glad my nephew got me on catholic.org. He is now a postulant with the Capuchins ready for novitiate.