Divine Mercy Sunday

Introduction to Divine Mercy Sunday:
By Scott P. Richert

Divine Mercy Sunday, celebrated on the Octave of Easter (the Sunday after Easter Sunday), is a relatively new addition to the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. Celebrating the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ, as revealed by Christ Himself to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, this feast was extended to the entire Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000, the day that he canonized Saint Faustina.

Quick Facts:
• Date: The Sunday after Easter Sunday;
• Type of Feast: Solemnity
• Readings: Acts 5:12-16; Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19; John 20:19-31
• Prayers: Divine Mercy Novena; Divine Mercy Chaplet
• Other Names for the Feast: The Octave of Easter, Second Sunday of Easter, Low Sunday, Thomas Sunday

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a relatively recent but very popular devotion revealed by Our Lord to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun. On Good Friday 1937, Christ appeared to Saint Faustina and asked her to recite this chaplet for nine days, starting on Good Friday and ending on the Octave of Easter (the Sunday after Easter Sunday), now known as Divine Mercy Sunday. The chaplet is most often recited during those nine days, but it can be prayed at any time of the year, and Saint Maria Faustina recited it almost unceasingly. A standard rosary can be used to recite the chaplet.

1.Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.
2.Then on the Our Father beads say the following: Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
3.On the 10 Hail Mary beads say the following: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. (Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all five decades)
4.Conclude with: Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. (Say 3 times)

You may also want to pray the Divine Mercy Novena which can be found in the St. Olaf bulletin for Palm Sunday or by going to this web site: http://catholicism.about.com/od/divinemercy/p/Novena_DM.htm