In the 1930’s Jesus chose a humble Polish nun, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, to receive private revelations concerning Divine Mercy.  As the ideologies of evil, nazism and communism were taking shape, Sister Faustina was chosen to herald the message that God is mercy.  There were 14 occasions when Our Lord requested that the Feast of Divine Mercy be observed, so that we may receive the ocean of graces that pour forth from the Fount of Mercy.  Pope Saint John Paul II established this feast for the Universal Church in 2000, the year when Saint Faustina was also canonized.

The image of Divine Mercy shows how Our Lord appeared to Saint Faustina in a vision:  His right hand is raised in a blessing.  His left hand touches his garment above his heart. Red and white rays emanate from his heart, symbolizing the blood and water that was poured out for our salvation and our sanctification. The Lord requested that “Jesus, I trust in You” be inscribed under his image. Jesus asked that his image be painted and ven erated throughout the world: “I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish” (Saint Faustina’s Diary, no. 48) and “By means of this image I will grant many graces to souls” (Diary, no. 742).

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy was also given to Saint Faustina with this promise: “Encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given you” (Diary, no. 1541). “Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. … Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy. I desire that the whole world know My infinite mercy” (Diary, no. 687).  Instructions for its recitation can be found at www.thedivinemercy.org.

We will offer a parish observance of Divine Mercy today, Sunday, April 11 beginning with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 1 PM.  Quiet time for prayer is available until 3 PM, at which time we will then offer the Divine Mercy Holy Hour with prayers, readings, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, ending with Benediction.

A Plenary Indulgence is available on Divine Mercy Sunday. The Plenary Indulgence forgives us of all punishment that is due to our sins. Here are the normal requirements for the Divine Mercy Sunday Plenary Indulgence. The first three are the usual conditions for obtaining a Plenary Indulgence: