Divine Mercy Sunday
Divine Mercy Sunday is a Catholic solemnity that is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. The
origins of Divine Mercy Sunday can be traced back to Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun
who lived in the early 20th century. According to her diary, Saint Faustina received messages
from Jesus Christ Himself, urging her to spread the message of God’s mercy to the world. In
1935, during one of her visions, Jesus instructed Saint Faustina to establish the Feast of Divine
Mercy on the Sunday after Easter. Pope John Paul II officially established the feast in 2000, and
it has been celebrated by Catholics around the world ever since.
Divine Mercy Plenary Indulgence
The Church encourages the celebration of devotion to the Divine Mercy on Divine Mercy
Sunday. A plenary indulgence is granted to those who fulfill certain conditions on Divine Mercy
Sunday, such as making a good Confession, receiving Holy Communion, and praying for the
intentions of the Pope. What Jesus is offering here is simply incredible! It’s a complete renewal
of our baptismal grace, a fresh start for our souls, and a deep cleansing that washes away all
our sins. He’s also renewing within us all the amazing gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit that we
received at our baptism. It’s like a spiritual rebirth, a chance to start anew and become the best
version of ourselves. By providing these opportunities for prayer and devotion, the Church
encourages the faithful to deepen their understanding and appreciation of God’s infinite mercy
and love. For more information about the plenary indulgence, CLICK HERE.
Divine Mercy Image
The depiction of Jesus known as the Divine Mercy image was first seen by St. Faustina in a
vision in 1931. In the image, Jesus raises His right hand in blessing and points to His chest with
His left hand, from which two rays – one red and one white – flow. The red ray symbolizes the
blood of Jesus, which is the Life of Souls, while the pale ray symbolizes the water that justifies
souls. The image is a symbol of God’s love, charity, and forgiveness, and is often accompanied
by the message “Jesus, I trust in You!”
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a series of prayers that are an integral part of the Divine Mercy
devotion. Though similar to the Marian Rosary in its use of beads, it is typically recited at 3 p.m.
to commemorate the time of Jesus’ death and employs a distinct set of prayers. If you are
interested in learning more about the Chaplet, including instructions on how to pray it, you can
find additional information if you CLICK HERE.
Three Instructions for Divine Mercy Sunday
Jesus left three specific instructions for Divine Mercy Sunday:
Jesus had a clear directive for priests on Divine Mercy Sunday – to proclaim the
message of Divine Mercy boldly and unambiguously.
“On that day, priests are to tell everyone about My great and unfathomable
mercy.” (Diary, 570)
“… Hardened sinners will repent on hearing their words when they speak about
My unfathomable mercy, about the compassion I have for them in My Heart.”
(Diary, 1521)
Jesus specifically requested that the Image of The Divine Mercy be publicly venerated.
“… 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)
Jesus instructed St. Faustina to emphasize the importance of showing mercy to others
through our actions, words, and prayers in preparation for the Feast of Mercy.
“Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be
acts of mercy. … I demand from you deeds of mercy which are to arise out of love
for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You
must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it.” (Diary,
742)
On Divine Mercy Sunday, the renewal of baptismal grace that we receive from Holy Communion
serves as a means to strengthen us in all virtues, particularly our love for Jesus Christ. This love
is not self-serving, but rather for the sake of Christ’s glory, the spread of His kingdom, and the
consolation of His Heart. As we open ourselves up to Christ in trust, we invite Him to bestow
upon us a multitude of graces on this special day. Whether you take part in the plenary
indulgence or not, Divine Mercy Sunday is an opportunity for us to receive an abundance of
blessings from Christ and realize his great love for us.
