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Robert R. Allard, director of
Apostles of Divine Mercy, explains that the Feast of Mercy, Divine
Mercy Sunday, is the will of Jesus Christ.
A FEAST ON THE SUNDAY AFTER EASTER?
COULD THIS HAVE BEEN GOD'S PLAN ALL ALONG?
The Feast of Mercy or Divine Mercy Sunday has been celebrated in many
countries, dioceses and parishes for many years. Pope John Paul II, the
Cardinals, Bishops and Priests who have read the diary of St. Faustina
have come to realize the significance of this feast. But now, ever since
the Holy See had decreed that the "Second Sunday of Easter would be
known as Divine Mercy Sunday," many more are seeking to go more deeply
into the words of Our Lord to St. Faustina that were meant for all
humanity.
OUR LORD'S DESIRE?
First of all, we must understand that this Feast of Mercy is no one
else's idea, but Our Lord's. Fourteen times in the Diary of St. Faustina
(Divine Mercy In My Soul) Our Lord is quoted as requesting a "Feast of
Mercy." This is why Our Holy Father, John Paul II, had proclaimed, "I
give thanks to divine Providence that I have been enabled to contribute
personally to the fulfillment of Christ's will, through the institution
of the Feast of Divine Mercy." Our Lord also insisted that it be
celebrated on a specific day - the Sunday after Easter!
EARLY CHURCH WRITINGS
That's not all. If we look at the earliest liturgical document in
existence credited to the Apostles (The Apostolic Constitutions), Book
5, Chapter 19, we find the apostle St. Thomas strongly urging "after
eight days [following the Feast of Easter] let there another feast
observed with honor, the eighth day itself on which He [Jesus] gave me
Thomas, who was hard of belief, full assurance, by showing me the print
of the nails, and the wound made in His side by the spear."
SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL
One of the goals of the Second Vatican Council was to complete our
liturgical year celebrations and have them match our Old Testament
feast. This Feast of Mercy is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Day
of Atonement (see Lv 16, Lv 23:29-32 and Sir 50) which was an annual
feast where all sins and punishment were washed away. The Feast of Mercy
is an annual celebration, which, as Jesus revealed, also has the promise
of the total forgiveness of sins and punishment. Our Lord Jesus said,
"The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall
obtain the complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all
the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened." (Diary,
699)
LITURGICALLY READY
Even the liturgical readings for that day (the Second Sunday/Octave of
Easter) are already perfect for the feast. They speak of the blood and
water that was poured out from our Savior's heart and about the
sacraments of Baptism and Confession, and about His mercy. We can see
the work of the Holy Spirit in their preservation. The Gospel recalls
Jesus entering the Upper Room and bestowing on the Apostles the power to
forgive sins and then the incident with St. Thomas finally trusting in
Our Lord. We can see why Jesus insisted that the image of Divine Mercy
(with the two rays signifying the blood and water and with the
inscription, Jesus, I Trust In You) be solemnly blessed and publicly
venerated on that day. Our Lord said, "By means of this Image I shall be
granting many graces to souls, so let every soul have access to it."
(Diary, 570)
WHY CELEBRATE THIS FEAST?
St. Faustina commented to Our Lord: "They (her superiors) tell me that
there is already such a feast and so why should I talk about it?" Jesus
answered: "And who knows anything about this feast? No one! Even those
who should be proclaiming My mercy and teaching people about it often do
not know about it themselves. That is why I want the image to be
solemnly blessed on the First Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be
venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it." (Diary 341)
St. Faustina wrote, "It will be a new splendor for the Church, although
it has been dormant in it from long ago." (Diary, 378) Isn't this feast
just what we need to bring hope and healing to our alienated and lapsed
Catholics and for our Church in this time of unrest and uncertainty?
Parishes have responded positively when asked about celebrating Divine
Mercy Sunday. Many are having all day celebrations including Adoration
of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Many priests are graciously offering to
hear Confessions, all day, if need be. However, with the new plenary
indulgence that was recently granted, one could possibly go to
confession during Lent. But, one must be in the state of grace to
receive Our Lord worthily in Holy Communion. It would be impossible for
priests to hear everyone's Confession on that day. God would not demand
the impossible. We must focus on those that have not gone to Confession.
Decree establishing Divine Mercy Sunday issued by the Sacred
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on
May 5th 2000. If you would like more information about the Apostolic
Constitutions go to the site, www.newadvent.org/fathers/07155.htm and
proceed to chapter 19, bottom of 2nd paragraph.
I am available to present seminars, presentations or talks. I have been
a promoter since I first read the Diary in 1995. I received graces on
Mercy Sunday and would like to share these with others and to encourage
everyone to evangelize using Divine Mercy Sunday.
Robert R. Allard, Director
Apostles of Divine Mercy
Diary, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul