Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
April 11, 2001
Celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday
Divine Mercy Sunday, celebrated the second Sunday of Easter, April 22, was granted to the universal Church last year by Pope John Paul II to proclaim and celebrate God's mercy.
The message and devotion to Jesus as "the Divine Mercy" is based on the writings of St. Faustina Kowalska, an uneducated Polish nun, who in the 1930s wrote a nearly 600-page diary at the request of her spiritual advisor, recording revelations she received about God's mercy. Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faustina April 30, 2000.
"It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church will also be called `Divine Mercy Sunday,' the Holy Father said during the canonization Mass. Later he added: "Christ has taught us that man not only receives and experiences the mercy of God, but is also called to practice mercy towards others: `Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy'" (Matthew 5:7) (Dives in Misericordia, n. 14).
The message of Divine Mercy is that God is merciful, that He expects the faithful to be merciful and that He wants the faithful to turn to Him in trust and repentance.
All sin is forgiven and punishment due to sin is completely removed for those who prepare for the day by celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation within a reasonable length of time to receive Eucharist worthily on the Divine Mercy Sunday, according to catechesis from the archdiocesan Liturgy Office.
Additionally, the faithful are encouraged to pray the Novena of Divine Mercy Chaplets beginning on Good Friday and ending the day before Divine Mercy Sunday. (Many faithful pray the chaplet at the Hour of Grace, 3 p.m., daily.)
The Feast also includes the solemn, public veneration of the Image of Divine Mercy by the Church (the image of Christ with white and red rays extending from his heart was revealed to St. Faustina) as well as personal acts of veneration and mercy, such as Eucharistic Adoration and the practice of Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Parishes celebrate
Feast of Divine Mercy
Queen of Peace: The Feast of Divine Mercy will be celebrated at Queen of Peace Catholic Church on Mercy Sunday, April 22 starting with Mass at 11:30 a.m. Guest speaker is Father Maris Goetz, O.F.M. Cap., who will present his talk after the Mass at 12:30 p.m. Also included in the format will be confessions, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and veneration of a First Class Relic of St. Faustina. Everyone is welcome. A free will offering will be taken during the talk to help defray the cost of the event which is sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Marian Center for Peace. Queen of Peace Catholic Church is located at 13120 E. Kentucky Ave. in Aurora.
St. Martin de Porres: Divine Mercy Sunday, April 22 at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 3300 Table Mesa Dr., Boulder. Confessions 1-3 p.m., Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 1 p.m., recitation of the Rosary 1:30 p.m., Divine Mercy Novena 2:45 p.m., Chaplet of Divine Mercy 3 p.m., Mass of Divine Mercy 3:30 p.m. and individual prayers for healing 4:30 p.m. All are welcome to stay for a soup supper. For more information call 303-499-7744.
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