The Truth about Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday
their faith. That is why the Catholic Church has attached a special plenary indulgence to this Sunday and has decreed that it remain "perpetually" in place. It has also, in that decree, issued a specific directive to priests entitled "Duties of Priests: Inform Parishioners, Hear Confessions, Lead Prayers". These duties are the guidelines for the correct celebration of the octave and the Holy See has left no options.
The specific duties, which can be seen on the Vatican website, were originally issued in August of 2002 and presented to all bishops. They are all clearly presented in the last paragraph of that special plenary indulgence and include the proclamation of that indulgence by all "priests who exercise pastoral ministry, especially parish priests". It also asserts that they "should promptly and generously hear their confessions" and also "lead the prayers after the masses" on that day.
It is very clear that the Church, moved by the Holy Spirit, has acted compellingly to insure that everyone has the opportunity to obtain these incredible graces that are offered on this octave. It has set in place a renewed enthusiasm for Easter. It is imperative that Easter be celebrated for a full eight days and in a solemn way. No longer can we let the Easter-only Catholics walk out of Church on Easter Sunday without an invitation to come back and to celebrate the Easter Octave.
Although the Easter season extends for a full fifty days until Pentecost, the Easter feast itself is only 8 days long, from the Easter Vigil until the evening of that octave, Divine Mercy Sunday. It is very important that we celebrate Easter correctly and that includes celebrating the octave.
Pope John Paul II, who may be beatified soon, had stated that he had fulfilled the will of Christ by instituting this Feast of Divine Mercy. This statement by a Pope of the stature and holiness of Pope John Paul II, must be taken seriously. Jesus requested this Feast of Mercy to be placed on that Octave Sunday of Easter and He made a very special promise to forgive all sins and all punishment to any soul that would go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on that day.
The Church made it an official feast on the Octave Sunday of Easter (Second Sunday of Easter) in the year 2000 and by God´s providence, Pope John Paul II died on the Vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday just five years later. JPII´s last written words that were read on Mercy Sunday, the day after he died, called for a greater acceptance and understanding of Divine Mercy. This must be viewed as a great sign and a mandate for everyone to follow, especially all bishops and priests.
There have also been many inquiries as to using the Divine Mercy image on Mercy Sunday and its permanent installations in churches. Pope Benedict, in his book, "The Spirit of the Liturgy", wrote of the importance of having such an image to assist in every liturgy and as a sign of hope
to lead people to the Second Coming of Christ. He wrote of the "void" that was caused by the removal of icons and sacred art from our sanctuaries and the importance of having the images.
Jesus also insisted that the Divine Mercy image be venerated and solemnly blessed on Mercy Sunday. And why not? The image perfectly represents everything that happens in that Gospel. It even supports the other readings including the reference to the washing away of sins in water, redeeming us in the blood, and the new birth in the Spirit, found in the Opening Prayer. It also represents that it is through "trust" that we receive grace, with the words "Jesus, I trust in You".
The Divine Mercy image portrays, in the two rays, the sacraments of Baptism, Confession, and the Eucharist. The focus on that Sunday has always been on the institution of confession and the need to trust and believe in Jesus to receive grace (blessings). Jesus promised an outpouring of a whole ocean of graces on that Feast of Mercy and Jesus said that the repentant sinners that would receive them would not be able to contain them, but would radiate them to other souls.
Recall again what Jesus said on the "last and greatest (octave) day" of the Feast of Tabernacles, "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´". (John 7:37-39) Every word that Jesus spoke has great meaning and St. John recorded that it was specifically on that last and greatest day that Jesus shows us that believing and trusting in Him will yield great graces on the octave.
Three of the greatest Doctors of the Church, St. Gregory of Nazianzen, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Augustine support the celebration of octaves and they clearly indicate and uphold that the octave Sunday of Easter is the fulfillment of, the perfection of, and most important Sunday without taking anything from the greatness of the Day of the Resurrection itself. Easter is the greatest feast and it is "on the last and greatest day" that we receive an outpouring of graces.
Correctly celebrating Easter involves correctly celebrating the Octave of Easter. The Church has acted, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to insure its proper celebration by adding that special plenary indulgence for that octave, Divine Mercy Sunday. It has set into place the "Duties of Priests" to insure that everyone be told about it. It wants to insure the salvation of all souls. It is only through humble obedience to the Magisterium that this calling will be fulfilled.
There is no issue more important than the salvation of souls. Jesus wants to prepare us for His Second Coming. The Church has acted decisively. Jesus wants to pour out His graces in great abundance to give souls a chance to be completely washed clean before He comes. The Church in its explanation of the Feast of Mercy, indicated, that the promise of Jesus for the forgiveness of all sins and punishment is "equal to the grace that is received in the sacrament of Baptism".
It doesn´t take a genius to see the times that we are living in. The signs of Jesus coming are all around us. The number of Catholics that do not attend Sunday mass is at worse than epidemic levels. The Church has acted appropriately and has given us this feast with the ability to renew souls and subsequently renew and rebuild the Church itself. Jesus told us of the importance of leaving the 99 and going out to find the lost one. It is about time that all Catholics get to work.
There is one more thing that is of the utmost importance and it would be a grave injustice to the Lord not to proclaim it. Jesus said that the Feast of Mercy would be the last hope of salvation. These words can be found in the diary of St. Faustina "Divine Mercy in My Soul" entry #965. If this be true, then everyone must be told about it, including fallen-away and lapsed Catholics. Proclaim it from the rooftops and tell everyone about those special graces on Mercy Sunday!
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Robert R. Allard, Director of the Apostles of Divine Mercy, has been helping the Church to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday since 1996. He had been a Fallen-away Catholic for over 25 years and received a special grace on Mercy Sunday. He has written for national magazines, newspapers, and has organized conferences and seminars. He has recently appeared on EWTN TV and Radio. His website provides information and resources, such as bulletin inserts, homilies, documents, and images.
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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
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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.