April 8, 2009

Divine Mercy Sunday: The First Sunday after Easter

In 1931, our Lord revealed to St. Faustina that the Feast of Divine Mercy be celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. He told her:

"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 fountain of My Mercy." "Whoever will go to confession and Holy Communion on that day will receive complete forgiveness of sin and punishment."

To receive the plenary indulgence of Divine Mercy Sunday, we are asked to:

1. Make a good Lenten confession.
2. Pray the Chaplet of Mercy at the 3:00 pm hour or whenever possible.
3. Make the Novena to the Divine Mercy along with the recitation of the Chaplet of Mercy beginning Good Friday, April 10, 2009 and ending on Saturday, April 18, 2009.
4. Tell others about God's mercy in your life. Perform a spiritual or corporal work of mercy at least once a day, especially during the Novena.
5. Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.
6. Celebrate a Holy Hour on Divine Mercy Sunday.
7. A most important requirement to gain a plenary indulgence on Divine Mercy Sunday is to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion.

We pray for souls... of mankind and esp. all sinners, of priests and religious, of devout and faithful souls, of souls who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know God, souls who are separated from the Church, meek and humble souls and the souls of little children, souls who especially venerate His Mercy, souls in Purgatory and lukewarm and tepid souls.

Jesus is LOVE and MERCY, Himself! Jesus, King of Mercy, we trust in you!

A meaningful and blessed Holy Week and a glorious Easter to you all!