Fr. Joel G. de los Reyes
The Feast of the Divine Mercy emerged from the desire of our Lord Jesus expressed to St. Faustina when he said; “ 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. On that day the very depts. of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy… ( 699). I will grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My Mercy.” (1109).
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. ( Diary 699). Whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment. (300). Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy.” (Diary 301).
During the canonization of St. Faustina in Rome on April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul 11 proclaimed to the whole world that the second Sunday after Easter be named; “ Divine Mercy Sunday”. In a decree dated May 23, 2000, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments stated that; “ throughout the world the Second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation of the Christian world to face with confidence in the divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that mankind will experience in the years to come. These papal acts represent the highest endorsement that the church can give to a private revelation proclaiming a certain sanctity of the mystic and granting of a universal feast as requested by Our Lord to St. Faustina.
THE IMAGE OF THE DIVINE MERCY
Jesus appeared to Sister Faustina in vision in 1931, clothed in a white garment with his right hand raised in blessing, his left hand touching his garment in the area of the Heart from where two rays came forth, one red and one pale. Jesus said to her; “ Paint an image according to the pattern you see.” The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes the soul righteous. The red ray stands for Blood which is the life of souls.
VENERATION OF THE IMAGE
The Image of Jesus, The Divine Mercy, is to have a special of honor on the Feast of Mercy. I want the image to be solemnly blessed on the First Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so every soul may know about it.( Diary 341).
THE CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world; for the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us. ( Diary 475). Encourage sous to say this Chaplet which I have given to you. It pleases me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying this Chaplet. When hardened sinners say it, I will fill their souls with peace, and the hour of their death will be a happy one. ( Diary 1541).
THE DIVINE MERCY PRAYER AT 3:00 PM
At three o’clock implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to enter into my mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My passion.(1320).
“ You expired Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelope the whole world and empty yourself out upon us. O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of mercy for us, I trust in You.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world, Amen.(3x)
“ Jesus King of Mercy, I Trust in You.”
SPREADING THE DIVINE MERCY DEVOTION
Souls who spread the honor of My mercy, I will shield through their entire lives as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a judge for them, but the Merciful Savior. (1075).
“ To priests who proclaim and extol My mercy, I will give wondrous power; I will anoint their words and touch the hearts of those to whom they speak.” ( Diary 1521).
Let’s pray to the Divine Mercy for Peace and Unity in our church and in our family.
