FEAST OF DIVINE MERCY

 

Our Lord called for a special feast day to be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. Today, we know that feast as Divine Mercy Sunday. (Find out more about our Feast Day 2023 at our Parish here Novena and Feast Day)

In her Diary, St. Faustina records a special promise given to her by Jesus. He told her to communicate it to the whole world:

“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. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy.” (699)

What graces are available?

In three places in her Diary, St. Faustina records our Lord’s promises of specific, extraordinary graces:

    • I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy (1109).
    • Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment (300).
    • The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion will obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment (699).

How do we receive them?

To receive these graces, the only condition is to receive Holy Communion worthily on Divine Mercy Sunday (or the Vigil celebration) by making a good confession beforehand and staying in the state of grace and trusting in His Divine Mercy.

By these conditions, our Lord is emphasizing the value of confession and Holy Communion as miracles of mercy. The Eucharist is Jesus, Himself, the Living God, longing to pour Himself as Mercy into our hearts. In addition, our Lord says through St. Faustina that we are to perform acts of mercy:

“Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be acts of mercy” (742).

“The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive” (1578).

The worthy reception of the Eucharist on Divine Mercy Sunday is sufficient to obtain the extraordinary graces promised by Jesus.

Source: http://thedivinemercy.org/celebrate/greatgrace/dms.php