What is Divine Mercy Sunday?
Divine Mercy Sunday is an Official Roman Catholic Feast Day. On April 28th,1935 Divine Mercy Sunday was celebrated. Jesus told Sister Faustina Kowalska, a Professed Religious, “Every Soul Believing and Trusting in my Mercy will obtain it”.
The Lord expressed His will, about this Feast in His very first revelation to St. Faustina. The most comprehensive revelation can be found in her Diary entry 699:
My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable Mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, especially for the 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. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day are opened all the Divine floodgates through which Graces flow. Let no Soul fear to draw near Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My Mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of an angel, will be able to fathom it throughout eternity. Every Soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My Love and Mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the First Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.
In all, St Faustina recorded 14 revelations from Jesus concerning His desire for this Feast.
Divine Mercy Sunday is NOT a Feast based solely on St Faustina’s revelations. Indeed, it is not primarily about St. Faustina – nor is it altogether a new feast. The Second Sunday of Easter was already a solemnity as the Octave Day of Easter. The title “Divine Mercy Sunday” does, however, communicate the meaning of the day.
What Graces Do We Receive?
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).
In three places in her Diary, St Faustina records our Lord’s promise 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).
To receive these Graces, the only condition is to receive Holy Communion worthily on Divine Mercy Sunday (or the Vigil celebration) by making a god confession, 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 be also 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. A plenary indulgence is obtained by fulfilling the usual conditions.
How Do I Start To Prepare Myself?
We begin to prepare in Lent for our Celebration of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday as the eighth of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday as the eighth day of Thanksgiving (the Octave Day).
Perform Works Of Mercy
Spend More Time In Prayer
Do Penances
Give Alms
Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Novena to the Divine Mercy can be particularly helpful in our preparations.
Many Souls also benefit from doing more spiritual reading during Lent. You might consider materials on Divine Mercy.
Keep in mind that, to fittingly observe the Feast of Mercy, we should:
Celebrate the Feast on the Sunday after Easter.
Sincerely repent of all our sins.
Place our complete trust in Jesus.
Go to Confession, preferably before that Sunday.
Receive Holy Communion on that day of the Feast.
Venerate the Image of the Divine Mercy.
Be merciful to others, through our actions, words, and prayers on their behalf.
The above information is from The Divine Mercy.org website in Stockbridge M.A.
St. John Paul during His Pontificate called Divine Mercy Sunday the greatest gift from Jesus Christ, allowing us to enter through the Doors of His Mercy during this short time. Then one will only be able to enter through the Doors of His Justice.