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In 1936, something extraordinary occurred in Poland; Jesus spoke the following words to a simple Polish nun named St. Faustina Kowalska: “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 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 shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. 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).

Thanks to St. Pope John Paul II, who canonized Sr. Faustina Kowalska and instituted the Feast of Divine Mercy, the entire Church celebrates this feast today. We need this feast more than ever, since we are living in a post-Christian era of great fear and worldwide unrest. Even within the Church, there is division and moral confusion. We desperately long for the peace that comes from turning to the Fount of Jesus’ Mercy.

Imagine if the United States government announced that it was implementing a debt forgiveness program, and all that was necessary to receive complete forgiveness of all financial debt was to go to a specific location and stand in line for an hour. Would not every person in this parish do whatever was necessary to meet these requirements? Well, spiritually speaking, Jesus promises even more to those who will go to confession this week and receive the Eucharist today: the forgiveness of all of their sins (debt) and the remission of all punishment (payment) for their sins. When we die, all of our financial debt will cease to matter. But this is not the case with our spiritual debts—those we carry with us into the next life. Those, however, who take advantage of Jesus’ unfathomable mercy will essentially return to the state purity that we experience only after the moment we are baptized and before we have committed any sin! This is a spiritual debt remission offer that none of us can spiritually afford to pass up.

As your pastor and spiritual father, it is my greatest desire that each and every member of this parish go to Heaven. And what greater way to prepare for Heaven than by taking advantage of Jesus’ spiritual offer of Divine Mercy and peace for so little a cost—reception of the Eucharist (in a state of grace) and confession (within one week of the feast). If you would like to receive this gift and have not been to the Sacrament of Confession in the past week, then please call the parish office to make an appointment, and I would be delighted to meet with you for the Sacrament of Confession. If you are homebound, please let the office staff know, and I would be happy to come to you and hear your confession in your home. The Sacrament of Confession will also be available next Saturday from 10:00-11:00 AM in the Church.

Elsewhere in St. Faustina’s diary, she writes that Jesus said: “‘I am love and Mercy Itself. There is no misery that could be a match for My mercy, neither will misery exhaust it, because as it is being granted – it increases. The soul that trusts in My mercy is most fortunate, because I Myself take care of it’” (Diary 1273). Let us trust in Jesus’ mercy, and then all will truly be well.

Yours in Christ,
Father Arthur

PS: Join Deacon Paul Onischuk and me immediately following the 11:30 Mass as we recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet.  I will forgo my Homily (which you just read) to allow time for the Chaplet instead.  A preaching for prayer exchange 🙂