Divine Mercy Sunday and Pope John Paul II soon to be declared a Saint

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

April 27, 2014

Each year since the year 2000, the Catholic Church has marked the Second Sunday of Easter as "Divine Mercy Sunday".

The origin and spread of the Divine Mercy message and devotion throughout the world is a fascinating story--it includes astonishing visions and revelations, miraculous answers to prayer and strong support from Pope John Paul II, who is known by many, as the "Mercy Pope".

In 1931, the world was suffering in the midst of the Great Depression and the memories of World War I were still very much alive in the minds of the Europeans. During that time, a simple Polish nun named Faustina Kowalksa (1908-1938) received a series of private revelations from Jesus focused on God's mercy. The years she spent in the convent were filled with amazing gifts, such as visions and revelations. She had a deep relationship with God, Mary the Blessed Mother of Jesus, the angels and the saints. Their presence was as real for her as the world she perceived with her senses.

The Lord chose Sr. Faustina as the Apostle and Secretary of His mercy, so she would share the urgent message of Divine Mercy with our troubled world. Sister Faustina recorded the various aspects of her mission in a diary, which she kept at the specific request of her spiritual director and confessor, Fr. Michael Sopocko. She faithfully wrote down and described the encounters between her soul and the Lord in her diary.

Consumed by tuberculosis and countless sufferings, Sr. Faustina died in Cracow at the age of 33 on October 5, 1938. Even before her death, the devotion to The Divine Mercy had begun to spread throughout Poland and Lithuania during the tragic war years; as people turned to this devotion and the merciful Savior for peace and comfort.

According to Sr. Faustina's diary, an image of the risen Lord was shown to her. Two rays, one red (representing blood) and the other white (symbolizing water), shone from His heart, with the words "Jesus, I Trust in You" at the bottom. Faustina wrote in her diary that Jesus told her, "I promise the soul that will venerate this image will not perish."

Jesus further instructed Sr. Faustina; "I desire that there be a Feast of Mercy. I want this image, which you will paint with a brush, to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy" (Diary 49) .

Pope John Paul II, as Archbishop of Cracow, began the process toward canonization of Maria Faustina 27 years after her death. He then beatified her on the first Sunday after Easter in April 1993. On April 30, 2000, as Pope John Paul II canonized Maria Faustina, the first saint canonized in the third millennium, he stated in his homily "The Second Sunday of Easter from now on throughout the Church will be called 'Divine Mercy Sunday.' Pope John Paul II is known by many as the Mercy Pope. I am sure it is of no coincidence that Pope John Paul II died on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday 2005. He was admired and loved by many people around the world, Catholics and non-Catholics, alike.

Pope Benedict XVI beatified Blessed John Paul II on Divine Mercy Sunday, May 1, 2011.

This year, the feast of Divine Mercy will be celebrated on April 27, the day Pope Francis will declare Pope John Paul II a saint along with Pope John XXIII.

As the message of Divine Mercy continues to spread, countless people will receive the blessings and graces that Jesus has promised us. There will be a celebration on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27th at Old St. Vincent's Catholic Church at the corner of William & Main Streets in Cape Girardeau, MO from 2 pm -- 4 pm. All are welcome. Join us to honor Jesus' request to remember his mercy and love.

For more information, please contact Sandra Murphy at sandra-murphy@live.com -- please put Divine Mercy in the subject line.