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Jesus’ Divine Mercy

In 1936, something extraordinary occurred in Poland; Jesus spoke the following words to a simple Polish nun named Sr. 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. […] The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. […] 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. […] 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.

As your pastor and spiritual father, it is my greatest desire that each and every member of this parish have peace of soul and go to Heaven. And what greater way to achieve this than by taking advantage of Jesus’ spiritual offer of Divine Mercy for so little a cost—reception of the Eucharist (in a state of grace) and Confession (within one week of today). If you would like to receive this gift and have not been to the Sacrament of Confession in the past week, we will be hearing confessions in the parish church today (Sunday) from 2:00-3:00 PM. If you cannot come or are homebound, please call the parish office to make an appointment, and Fr. Gilbert or I will be happy to meet with you either at the parish or in your home during the week. The Sacrament of Confession will also be available on Tuesday evening from 6:00-7:00 PM in the church. And, if none of these times work for you, then you can check when the surrounding parishes offer confession.

In another place in her diary, St. Faustina 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

Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy): Lectionary 43

To learn more about Saint Faustina, watch the short video below.

To learn how to recite The Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Click HERE.