Divine Mercy Sunday

How to Celebrate “Divine Mercy Sunday”

In May 5, 2000 the Decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments added a new title to the Second Sunday of Easter. In the new Missale Romanum it is now officially referred to as "DOMINICA II PASCHÆ seu de divina Misericordia," or “The Second Sunday of Easter that is Divine Mercy Sunday.”

The celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday is essentially the celebration of the liturgy of the Second Sunday of Easter. It should be noted that the scriptural readings and liturgical prayers in all the three cycles are centred on the forgiveness and infinite mercy of God. This is the focus of the homily.

In a second Decree, dated August 3, 2002, the Apostolic Penitentiary announced that in order "to ensure that the faithful would observe this day with intense devotion, the Supreme Pontiff himself established that this Sunday be enriched by a plenary indulgence…so that the faithful might receive in great abundance the gift of the consolation of the Holy Spirit. In this way, they can foster a growing love for God and for their neighbor, and after they have obtained God's pardon, they in turn might show a prompt pardon to their brothers and sisters."

Thus, to fittingly observe the Feast of Mercy, we should:

1. Celebrate the Feast on the Second Sunday of Easter.

During the Mass of canonization of St. Faustina on April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II proclaimed: "It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church, will be called Divine Mercy Sunday."

Many parishes now celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy with a special Mass and celebration in the afternoon. But not every parish is able to schedule an extra Mass. Nor is it is necessary to do so. It should be understood that the Feast of Mercy and the Second Sunday of Easter are really the same celebration. All the Masses on that Sunday (including anticipated Masses on Saturday evening) have the same theme. Accordingly, it is most appropriate for the focal point of the homily message to be the Divine Mercy.

2. Sincerely repent of all our sins, go to Confession (preferably beforehand), and receive Holy Communion on the day of the Feast.

According to St. Faustina, Our Lord promises the remission of guilt and the punishment of sins, for those who go to confession and receive communion on this day.

“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. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.” (Diary of Sr. Faustina, 699)

Many take this to mean that they must go to Confession ON Divine Mercy Sunday. This is not true. To receive the benefits of the Promise one must be in the state of grace. The Lord does not promise the absolution of grave sin on Divine Mercy Sunday, but points us to the Sacrament of

Penance. To receive the grace we should be disposed and this is done by a confession near the time of Mercy Sunday. According to the Cardinal of Krakow, the confession which a Catholic makes during Lent in preparation for Easter is sufficient. It would be impossible for priests to hear everyone's Confession on the feast itself. Instead priority should be given to those who have not yet gone to Confession.

The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who take part in the prayers and devotions held on Divine Mercy Sunday, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus, eg. “Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!” The usual conditions apply, namely one is to have made a sacramental confession up to about 20 days before or after Divine Mercy Sunday, have received Eucharistic communion and prayed for the intentions of the Holy Father.

3. Venerate the Image of The Divine Mercy;

Pope John Paul II said that the image of The Divine Mercy portrays the Risen Jesus Christ bringing Mercy to the whole world. Our Lord said “I want the image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it”. (Diary 341) “I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish”. (Diary 48) "I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You”. (Diary 327)

A previously blessed image can be used in processions, be the object of veneration during a communal recitation of the Chaplet of Mercy or other devotions as the parish may celebrate during the Feast of Mercy.

4. Be merciful to others, through our actions, words, and prayers on their behalf.

Jesus said to St. Faustina: “I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere… I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first – by deed, the second – by word, the third – by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy”. (Diary 742)

According to the second Decree, priests are to gently encourage the faithful to practice works of charity or mercy as often as they can, following the example of Christ because He said: ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy' (Mt 5,7). An act of mercy should take place in our lives in preparation for the Feast, being merciful to others in our words, deeds and prayer. Actually being merciful like Jesus is the whole reason for the celebration of the Feast of Divine Mercy – through us God shows His mercy to others.

In effect, the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday is simple. In fact, outside of having an image of The Divine Mercy in the church to venerate, there really is nothing else to do. It is Jesus Himself that does all the work on that day. All that we need to do is to tell everyone about God’s Mercy and urge those who haven't made Confession yet, to do so. Easter Sunday is the best time for us to talk about Mercy.

(Note: The above information is provided by Divine Mercy Apostolate in April 2006. The Apostolate is an association of the faithful established in 2005 with the approval of the diocese.)