With so many (so-called) Catholics away from the
practice of their faith, there is a great need for evangelization. Not
only are we all called to actively evangelize all peoples, we are called
to bring home our lost and alienated brethren.
Our Lord has given us a
great gift called Divine Mercy Sunday that if used properly, can restore
our Church to overflowing.
Jesus gave us many parables that would set the
standard for us to follow. He told us how the Good Shepherd rejoiced at
finding His lost sheep. How so many more lost sheep need to be found
today. Not only does He rejoice today when the sheep are found, but He is
very much saddened when even just one is lost.
In His revelations to Saint Faustina, which He gave
for the world, Jesus remarked that “The loss of each soul plunges Me into
mortal sadness” and that “The flames of mercy are burning Me, clamoring to
be spent” (from the diary, entry #1397, 50). If we love Jesus, then we
must do everything that we can, to find His lost sheep.
Our Lord has given us a very simple way to bring our
lost sheep back home. It is called the “Feast of Mercy” or “Divine Mercy
Sunday”. This great feast, which the Church has been celebrating
universally since Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faustina, in the year
2000, has everything in it that we need to restore our Church.
Jesus requested that a Feast of Mercy be established
in the Church on the Sunday after Easter and He has made a great promise
to any soul that would turn to Him by going to Confession and then
receiving Holy Communion on that feast-day.
He said “Whoever approaches the fountain of life on
this day will be granted the complete forgiveness of sins and punishment”
(Diary, 300). Jesus is attempting to get souls to receive Holy Communion
in a perfect state of grace, without sin.
It is quite clear that Jesus wants this particular
Sunday to be set apart. Our Lord said “I desire that the Feast of Mercy
be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners.
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 fount of My
mercy.
The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion
will obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day are
opened all the divine floodgates through which graces flow. Let no soul
fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet”. (Diary, 699)
That’s not all. Jesus said “I want to pour out My
divine life into human souls and to sanctify them, if only they were
willing to accept My grace. The greatest sinners would achieve great
sanctity, if only they would trust in My mercy”. (Diary, 1784)
Trust is a key word for Divine Mercy. Our Lord in
His great wisdom knew that in these times, the words “Jesus, I trust in
You” would have a profound meaning for those who might need some
motivation to come to Him and to ask for His mercy.
Our Lord’s placement of the feast on the Sunday after
Easter gives pastors the perfect opportunity to address the greatest
crowds that attend on Easter Sunday.
He knows that many people are
looking for a good reason to start coming back to church. What better
reason than to be able to start over again with a great promise for the
total forgiveness of sins and punishment? Who wouldn’t benefit from that?
Topping that off is the fact that Jesus said that
“The greatest sinners would achieve great sanctity”. What could be more
beneficial? Souls achieving great sanctity for just going to Confession
and then receiving Holy Communion on Mercy Sunday? What could be easier?
People just need to be seriously urged to go to Confession!
One of the requirements of Catholics is the
confession of their sins at least once a year. Studies have shown that
most people are in great need of fulfilling this most important precept of
the Church. Our Lord said “I desire that priests proclaim this great
mercy of Mine towards souls of sinners”. (Diary, 50) What greater reason
could there ever be, than Jesus’ promise, to urge everyone into
Reconciliation?
The Vatican has also added a Plenary Indulgence to
this feast, which is to remain perpetually in place. The beauty of this
indulgence is the increased amount of time that is gives to priests to
hear confessions. It is allowed for one to go to Confession up to about
20 days, before or after, Divine Mercy Sunday.
It’s so simple. Just remind everyone on Easter,
that the following Sunday is a very special feast called Divine Mercy
Sunday where they can receive the total forgiveness of their sins and
punishment. Sinners will be filled with grace, as Jesus promised, and
then they will radiate that love and mercy to others that will cause a
ripple effect throughout the Church!
What a great gift Jesus has given
us!
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