REFLECTION FOR DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY ( YEAR A), Week beginning 16TH APRIL 2023
This Sunday, we have the closing of the Easter Octave. The Sunday after Easter Sunday was, for decades, known as Low Sunday (emphasizing that Easter Sunday itself is the highest of all Sundays). Low Sunday is known now as DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY. The Divine Mercy devotion was given by Jesus to a Polish nun, Sr. Faustina Kowalska. On 22nd February 1931, she had a vision of Jesus Who was dressed in a white robe. His right hand was raised in blessing, while the other hand pointed to His breast. Below this image were the words “Jesus, I trust in You.” Coming from His breast there were two rays: the pale ray represents the water which both cleanses and purifies the soul: the red ray represents the blood which gives new life to the soul. Jesus instructed Faustina to have painted a picture of this image. He wished this image to be venerated first in her community chapel, and then across the whole world. This Novena to the Divine Mercy begins on Good Friday each year, and ends on Easter Saturday, the day before Divine Mercy Sunday – the Novena prayers can be prayed on the Rosary beads: on each “Our Father” bead say: “Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.” (Then next on each of the “Hail, Mary” beads, pray “For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.” The prayers then end with the following words said 3 times: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us, and on the whole world”).
This Sunday at 3pm here, there are the Divine Mercy Novena prayers. These will be followed by the blessing and veneration of the Image, with Confessions from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.
Why not make a monthly commitment from this Feast by choosing any Friday of each month and, at 3pm, pray the Novena prayers each day, ending the next Saturday?
Good Shepherd Catholic Church 