Divine Mercy Sunday

Sunday 15 April 2007 is the date that this year on which the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Divine Mercy. What is this feast? & why is it so important?

The origin of the feast lies in a message received by St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in the early part of the 20th Century. Jesus appeared to Sister Faustina & told her that He wanted a feast instituted to celebrate the mercy of the Father. This feast was to be celebrated on the 1st Sunday after Easter.

"The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us — all of us. And, he wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.

The Divine Mercy message is one we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC:

A - Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.

B - Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.

C - Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive." (Divine Mercy Website, Marions of the Immaculate Conception) In a nutshell, that is why it is so important. The feast is a way to celebrate in a special way the mercy that God desires to offer to each & every one of us. The Mercy He extended to all of us by Jesus' death on the cross. But, He can't force us to accept it. If we reject God's Mercy than we leave Him no choice but to subject us to His justice.

The whole story of the feast, the painting of the image of God's Mercy, how to celebrate, & devotions for the day as well as throughout the year can be found on the Divine Mercy Website. Please check it out as the site explains all this in a way much better that I ever could.

All I can add is that God's Love wants us to experience His Mercy rather than His Justice. God wants us to come to him in trust seeking forgiveness for our sins, as the message says. Please don't let this opportunity to experience His Mercy pass you by. It may be your last chance.

(POST # 400)