Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
March 13, 2002
Colorado Springs diocese to sponsor Divine Mercy Sunday celebration
March 16 workshop to educate about feast; Bishop Sheridan to celebrate Mass April 7
By J. Gary Kuntz
In the Jubilee Year 2000 Pope John Paul II canonized Sister Faustina Kowalska and officially declared Divine Mercy Sunday as a new feast day to be celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. The Knights of Columbus of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Castle Rock are sponsoring their second annual observance with a liturgy 3 p.m. April 7. Coadjutor Bishop Michael J. Sheridan will be the Mass celebrant.
The event will begin with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The sacrament of reconciliation also will be available. Bishop Sheridan will conduct Benediction at 3:45 followed by Mass with a special teaching homily on Divine Mercy.
To prepare and learn more about this feast day, the Knights also are sponsoring a free workshop "What is Divine Mercy?" 9:30 a.m. to noon March 16 at St. Francis of Assisi Church. This special presentation by Mary Braun-Payne, M.S.N., M.A., will teach how to forgive and overcome anger, hurt and guilt. It will explore love and forgiveness in Scripture, and Jesus' messages to St. Faustina.
In the 1930s, Jesus appeared to St. Faustina and told her of his tremendous love and mercy for all and of his desire for trust in him. Jesus told St. Faustina, "Mankind will not find solace until it turns with confidence to my mercy and love."
"The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive," he added.
His message of mercy included the Divine Mercy image. Jesus told St. Faustina: "I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, then throughout the world. The two beams of light shining forth from my heart are the symbols of blood and water that poured from my side on the day of my sacrifice at Calvary. The pale beam represents the water that purifies souls; the red is the blood that gives life to souls."
Explaining the Hour of Mercy, he said: "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 my agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. At this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of me in virtue of my passion."
For those who go to confession, receive Communion, and engage in prayer on Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus said that it will be as if they were baptized again: "The greater the sinner, the greater my mercy."
Jesus taught St. Faustina to unceasingly pray the Chaplet of Mercy using her rosary beads: "Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death." He added, "Oh, what great graces I will grant souls who will recite this chaplet."
The short prayer, recommended to be prayed at 3 p.m., takes about six minutes to recite.
Jesus also asked that the faithful pray a novena of Divine Mercy chaplets beginning on Good Friday. Novena chaplets will be available at Braun-Payne's presentation and in the church from Palm Sunday through Good Friday.
St. Francis of Assisi Church is at 2746 E. Highway 86, Castle Rock. Travel south on Interstate 25 to Exit 182. Go across the interstate south to Fifth Street. Go east on Fifth Street one and half miles to the church.
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