Divine Mercy Shrine in Medjugorje!
April 5, 2024
Friday of Easter Week!
Dear Family of Mary!
Jesus Christ is Risen from the Dead! Alleluia!!!
This Sunday, April 7, is Divine Mercy Sunday! We have been praying the Divine Mercy Novena together since Good Friday. And on Sunday we will celebrate the gift of Divine Mercy, a day on which we are offered the complete forgiveness of sins. St. Faustina received these promises from Jesus, if the faithful prepare for Mercy Sunday properly:
In her Diary, St. Faustina records a special promise given to her by Jesus. He told her to communicate it to the whole world:
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. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. (699).
In three places in her Diary, St. Faustina records our Lord’s promises of specific, extraordinary graces:
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 (1109).
Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment (300).
The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion will obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. (699).
To receive these graces, the only condition is to receive Holy Communion worthily on Divine Mercy Sunday (or the Vigil celebration) by making a good confession beforehand and staying in the state of grace and trusting in His Divine Mercy.
By these conditions, our Lord is emphasizing the value of confession and Holy Communion as miracles of mercy. The Eucharist is Jesus, Himself, the Living God, longing to pour Himself as Mercy into our hearts.
In addition, our Lord says through St. Faustina that we are to perform acts of mercy:
“Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be acts of mercy” (742).
“The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive” (1578).
The worthy reception of the Eucharist on Divine Mercy Sunday is sufficient to obtain the extraordinary graces promised by Jesus. A plenary indulgence[1], obtained by fulfilling the usual conditions, also is available.
( https://divinemercyforamerica.org/action-plan/utilize-the-promises/the-feast-of-mercy/ )
Our Lady also asks us to live the Mercy of her Son in her messages. Here is one message in which she instructs us on Mercy:
March 2, 2019
“Dear children, I call you ‘apostles of my love’. I am showing you my Son who is the true peace and the true love. As a mother, through the mercy of God, I desire to lead you to Him. My children, this is why I am calling you to reflect on yourselves, starting out from my Son, that you look to Him with the heart and that you may see with the heart where you are and where your life is going.
My children, I am calling you to comprehend that it is, thanks to my Son, that you live – through His love and sacrifice. You are asking of my Son to be merciful to you and I am calling you to mercy. You are asking of Him to be good to you and to forgive you, and for how long am I imploring you, my children, to forgive and to love all the people whom you meet? When you comprehend my words with the heart, you will comprehend and come to know the true love and you will be able to be apostles of that love, my apostles, my dear children. Thank you.”
Our Lady is very practical. She sees clearly that the Mercy of her Son changes everything for us, that His Mercy has sent her to us for all these years, and that we need to reflect on how we live mercy ourselves if we are going to be ready for God’s judgment. If we want mercy we must give it first to others. To live mercy in imitation of Jesus is a tremendous goal. It will give us the best training in love and holiness we could ask for!
Let’s prepare for Divine Mercy Sunday with great anticipation. Mother Mary is guiding us. Jesus has given the graces. We have only to desire them and go to Holy Mass, prepared by a good confession and with a desire to be holy through mercy!
Blessed Easter!!!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
(c) Mary TV 2024
PS. Today is Day 8 of the Divine Mercy Novena! Pray it with us on Mary TV, on the Hour of Mercy. https://marytv.tv/hour-of-mercy/
