Happy Easter! One of the great things about being Catholic is that we don’t celebrate Easter for one day—it’s such a glorious occasion that we celebrate for EIGHT DAYS! Eight solemnities in a row to mark the Resurrection of our Savior. Festivities of unending splendor, you might say.
The last day of our Easter octave brings us another magnificent feast—the Feast of Mercy, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. On this day, the Lord offers us unimaginable graces. Since this only happens once each year, it’s time to start preparing so you don’t miss your chance!
What is Divine Mercy Sunday?
On Divine Mercy Sunday (April 24 this year), Christ has promised that the floodgates of His mercy will be open to us. The Feast of Mercy is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter each year, and was formally declared by Saint John Paul II in 2000. Christ Himself requested this feast through His conversations with St. Faustina.
“I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. 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.” (Diary of St. Faustina, 699)
What do I need to do?
It’s actually very simple. Christ asks us to do one thing in order to receive the graces He has promised:
“The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary of St. Faustina, 699)
It sounds simple enough, but I hope you realize that this is a BIG DEAL! A “complete forgiveness of sins and punishment” is an even more complete cleansing of our souls than we receive after Confession. After making a good Confession, we receive forgiveness for our sins but the temporal punishment for those sins remains. On Divine Mercy Sunday, the Lord desires to wipe clean all punishment for those sins, making our souls as clean as they were on the day of our baptism. This is a HUGE opportunity!
All you have to do is to receive Holy Communion worthily on Divine Mercy Sunday by making a good Confession and remaining in a state of grace. If you trust in His mercy, He will shower it over you! Now is the time to make plans for getting to Confession before Sunday. It will be well worth the effort!
How else can I celebrate?
If you’re not already praying the Divine Mercy Novena, get started! It’s a great way to prepare your soul to accept Christ’s mercy this Sunday!
And after you’ve received the graces promised to you, join us at 3pm CT for a very special live and interactive Divine Mercy Sunday broadcast, hosted by Fr. Rocky and Drew Mariani. Pray with us and invite others to join in as well! Christ desires to share His mercy with the whole world.
Divine Mercy Sunday is this Sunday, April 24, 2022!
Celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday with Father Rocky and Drew Mariani by joining our special Divine Mercy broadcast at 3pm CT. This LIVE broadcast will include exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and the opportunity for you to call in with your prayer intentions. Be sure to tune-in this Sunday, April 24, on your local Relevant Radio station, the Relevant Radio app, or view the live video broadcast. Invite your family, friends, and parishioners to join us as well – God’s mercy is for everyone!
