Divine Mercy Sunday

Divine Mercy Sunday, celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter, honors the unfathomable mercy of God revealed through Jesus Christ. This feast was established by Pope John Paul II in 2000, fulfilling the request made by Jesus to Saint Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s.

The Revelations to Saint Faustina

Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) was a Polish nun who received extraordinary revelations about God's mercy. Jesus appeared to her numerous times, instructing her to spread devotion to Divine Mercy. He asked for:

1. A Feast of Divine Mercy on the Sunday after Easter
2. The Divine Mercy Image with the words "Jesus, I Trust in You"
3. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy
4. The Hour of Great Mercy (3:00 PM)

The Divine Mercy Image

Jesus appeared to Saint Faustina with rays of light—one red and one pale—streaming from his heart. He explained:

"The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the very depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross."

The Promise of the Feast

Jesus made an extraordinary promise concerning this day:

"I want this image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy. 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 complete forgiveness of sins and punishment."

The Octave of Easter Context

Divine Mercy Sunday falls on the Octave Day of Easter, when the Gospel reading recounts Jesus appearing to Thomas and showing his wounds—the very wounds from which mercy flows.

"Then he said to Thomas, 'Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!'" — John 20:27-28

Pope John Paul II and Divine Mercy

Karol Wojtyła (Pope John Paul II) was deeply devoted to Divine Mercy from his days in Poland. As Pope, he:

• Beatified Faustina in 1993
• Canonized her on April 30, 2000 (Divine Mercy Sunday)
• Established Divine Mercy Sunday for the universal Church
• Died on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday, April 2, 2005

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

This prayer, revealed to Saint Faustina, is prayed on ordinary rosary beads:

On the large beads: "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."

On the small beads: "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

Three O'Clock: The Hour of Mercy

Jesus asked that 3:00 PM—the hour he died on the Cross—be honored as the Hour of Great Mercy. He promised to refuse nothing to souls who invoke his mercy at this hour.