Divine Mercy Sunday

Divine Mercy Sunday
Eugeniusz Kazimirowski's first Divine Mercy image
Part of a series on the
Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy by Kazimirowski, 1934
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The feast of Divine Mercy, according to the diary of Kowalska,
receives from Jesus the biggest promises of grace related to
the Devotion of Divine Mercy, in particular that a person who
goes to sacramental confession (the confession may take place
some days before) and receives holy communion on that day,
shall obtain the total expiation of all sins and punishment. That
means each person would go immediately
after death to heaven without suffering in purgatory.
Additionally, the Roman Catholic Church grants a plenary
indulgence (observing the usual rules) with the recitation of
some simple prayers. [3][4][5]
Devotion to the Divine Mercy

Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, reported that visions and
visitations from Jesus and conversations with him. He asked
her to paint the vision of his merciful divinity being poured from
his Sacred Heart and specifically asked for a feast of Divine
Mercy to be established on the first Sunday after Easter
Sunday, so that mankind would take refuge in him: [6][7]
I want the image solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after

Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul
may know about it.
— Jesus' words, Diary 341
Let all mankind recognize My unfathomable mercy. It is a sign
for the end times; after it will come the day of justice.
— Diary 848
Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the
last hope of salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy. If they will
not adore My mercy, they will perish for all eternity… tell souls
about this great mercy of Mine, because the awful day, the day
of My justice, is near.
— Diary 965
Sunday, April 28, 1935. Low Sunday; that is, the Feast of The
Divine Mercy, the conclusion of the Jubilee of Redemption.
When we went to take part in the celebrations, my heart leapt
with joy that the two solemnities were so closely united.
— Faustina's words, Diary 420
This Feast emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is
confirmed in the vast depths of my tender mercies. Every soul
believing and trusting in My mercy will obtain it.
— Jesus' words, Diary 420
Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but
there must also be deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of
love for Me. You are to show mercy to our neighbors always
and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to absolve
yourself from it.
— Diary 742
In several entries in her diary, Kowalska reported promises of
grace and mercy associated to the Feast of Divine Mercy on
Mercy Sunday: [8]
Ask of my faithful servant [a priest] that, on this day, he tell the

whole world of My great mercy; that whoever approaches the
Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete
forgiveness of sins and punishment. Mankind will not have
peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.
— Diary 300
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 the 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.
— Diary 699
I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to
Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My
Mercy.
— Diary 1109
On March 23, 1937, Kowalska wrote in her diary (Notebook III,
item 1044) that she had a vision that the feast of Divine Mercy
would be celebrated in her local chapel, and would be attended
by large crowds, and that the same celebration would be held
in Rome attended by the pope. She wrote: "The crowd was
[3][5]
so enormous that the eye could not take it all in. Everyone was
participating in the celebrations." [3]
Divine Mercy Sunday is also the day after the culmination of

the novena of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Kowalska wrote [9][10]
Jesus instructed her that the Feast of Mercy (the Sunday

after Easter) be preceded by a Divine Mercy Novena which
would begin on Good Friday. [9]
The first Mass during which the Divine Mercy image was

displayed was on April 28, 1935 (the Feast of Divine Mercy),
the second Sunday of Easter, and was attended by Kowalska.
(Diary of St. Faustina, item 420). April 28, 1935 was also the
[11]
celebration of the end of the Jubilee of the Redemption by

Pope Pius XI. Michael Sopocko (Kowalska's confessor)
[11][12]
celebrated the Mass that Sunday and obtained permission to

place the image within the Gate of Dawn
church in Vilnius during the Mass. [11][13]
Vatican approval[edit]
The first Divine Mercy painting by Kazimierowski (1934) at the Divine Mercy Sanctuary
(Vilnius)
The devotion was actively promoted by Pope John Paul II. On

April 30, 2000, the Canonization of Faustina Kowalska took
place and the second Sunday of Easter was officially
designated as the Sunday of the Divine Mercy (Dominica II
Paschae seu de divina misericordia) in the General Roman
Calendar. On April 22, 2001, which was one year after
[14][15]
establishing Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope John Paul II re-

emphasized its message in the resurrection context of Easter:
Jesus said to St. Faustina one day: "Humanity will never find
peace until it turns with trust to Divine Mercy". Divine Mercy!
This is the Easter gift that the Church receives from the risen
Christ and offers to humanity. [16]
The devotion to Divine Mercy Sunday grew rapidly after its

designation by Pope John Paul II and is now widely celebrated
by Catholics. The Divine Mercy image is often carried in
[17]
processions on Divine Mercy Sunday, and is placed in a

location in the church so that it can be venerated by those who
attended the Mass. [17]
The liturgical celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday reflects the

devotional elements of Divine Mercy – the first prayer of that
Mass beginning with:
Heavenly Father and God of Mercy, We no longer look for
Jesus among the dead, for He is alive and has become the
Lord of Life. [18]
This opening prayer refers to divine mercy as the key element

in the plan of God for salvation and emphasizes the belief that it
was through mercy that God gave his only son for the
redemption of mankind, after the fall of Adam. [18]
Divine Mercy Sunday, May 1, 2011, at the Vatican included the beatification of Pope John
Paul II, for which over a million pilgrims went to Rome.[19][20]
John Paul II, who died in April 2005 on the vigil of Divine Mercy
Sunday, was himself beatified on Divine Mercy Sunday, May 1,
2011, by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, and [21]
was canonized together with Pope John XXIII on Divine Mercy

Sunday, April 27, 2014, by Pope Francis. [22]
Plenary indulgence[edit]
In June 2002, John Paul II granted indulgences to Catholics
who recite specific prayers on that day, and the grants were
then formally decreed by the Apostolic Penitentiary. Priests [4]
are encouraged on that day to lead the prayers in honor of

Divine Mercy, inform the parishioners about the Divine Mercy,
and hear confessions. [4]
Conditions[edit]
The plenary indulgence is obtained by observing the usual

dispositions that are in place for the granting of this grace
through the intercession of the Catholic Church: [23][4]
 Participation in the "prayers and devotions held in

honor of Divine Mercy" in a church or chapel while
"completely detached from the affection for a sin, even
a venial sin", or recitation of the Our Father and
the Creed in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament
exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, adding the
prayer "Merciful Jesus, I trust in you"
 Sacramental confession
 Holy Communion
 Prayer for the intentions of the pope
Additionally, the faithful who, for a justified reason beyond their
control, are unable to go to a church or chapel may obtain an
indulgence with the recitation of the Our Father and Creed
before an image of Jesus, adding the prayer "Merciful Jesus, I
trust in you", with the conditions of detachment of sin, and
intention to fulfill the dispositions above as soon as possible. [4]
If even this is impossible to achieve, the indulgence can

obtained by the faithful if they "united with those carrying out
the prescribed practice for obtaining the indulgence in the usual
way", and offer to Jesus a prayer and their sufferings, again
with the resolution of fulfilling the normal conditions at the
earliest opportunity.

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Divine Mercy Sunday

Eugeniusz Kazimirowski's first Divine Mercy image

Part of a series on the

Devotion to the Divine Mercy

I want the image solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after

Ask of my faithful servant [a priest] that, on this day, he tell the

Divine Mercy Sunday is also the day after the culmination of

Jesus instructed her that the Feast of Mercy (the Sunday

The first Mass during which the Divine Mercy image was

celebration of the end of the Jubilee of the Redemption by

celebrated the Mass that Sunday and obtained permission to

The devotion was actively promoted by Pope John Paul II. On

establishing Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope John Paul II re-

The devotion to Divine Mercy Sunday grew rapidly after its

processions on Divine Mercy Sunday, and is placed in a

The liturgical celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday reflects the

This opening prayer refers to divine mercy as the key element

was canonized together with Pope John XXIII on Divine Mercy

are encouraged on that day to lead the prayers in honor of

The plenary indulgence is obtained by observing the usual

 Participation in the "prayers and devotions held in

If even this is impossible to achieve, the indulgence can

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