Divine Mercy Sunday
About Divine Mercy Sunday
On the Second Sunday of Easter of the Jubilee Year 2000, at the Mass for the Canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska, Pope John Paul II declared the Sunday after Easter be called “Divine Mercy Sunday.”
St. Faustina was a Polish nun who received visions from Jesus, including one of Jesus wearing a white garment with beams of red and white coming from His heart, which came to be known as the image of Divine Mercy. She wrote in her diary that He said:
"I want the Image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it…
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."
According to the vision, those who receive communion and attend confession on the Feast of Mercy receive total forgiveness of sins.Pope John Paul II discussed the significance of the image of Divine Mercy in his homily for the canonization of St. Faustina:
From that Heart [of Christ], Sr. Faustina Kowalska, the blessed whom from now on we will call a saint, will see two rays of light shining from that heart and illuminating the world. “The two rays”, Jesus Himself explained to her one day, “represent blood and water” (Diary, entry 299).
Blood and water! We immediately think of the testimony given by the Evangelist John, who, when a soldier on Calvary pierced Christ’s side with his spear, sees blood and water flowing from it (see Jn 19:34). Moreover, if the blood recalls the sacrifice of the Cross and the gift of the Eucharist, the water, in Johannine symbolism, represents not only Baptism but also the gift of the Holy Spirit (see Jn 3:5; 4:14; 7:37-39).
Divine Mercy Sunday focuses on the gift of mercy and love given through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. As Pope John Paul II stated, “Divine Mercy reaches human beings through the heart of Christ crucified.”
Continue to the Divine Mercy Prayers below.
Divine Mercy Sunday Prayers
USING YOUR ROSARY ....
- On the cross: Make the Sign of the Cross
- On the first large bead, say the Optional Opening Prayer (Repeat 3 times) You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
- On the first small bead, say the Our Father
- On the second small bead, say the Hail Mary
- On the third small bead, say The Apostle's Creed
- On the Large Bead Before Each Decade
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 Ten Small Beads of Each Decade
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. - Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times)
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. - Closing Prayer
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.
Intentions
- For those that find it difficult to be separated from the church building, that they may remember that the church is not building but the people, we will get through this together, we pray to the Lord for his Divine Mercy…
- For those that suffer from depression and anxiety, that this time of isolation and uncertainty has increased those feelings, that they may have people in their lives to help them get through it, we pray to the Lord for his Divine Mercy….
- For all healthcare workers, first responders and all others who are on the front lines taking care of us, we pray that they will be protected during these times, we pray to the Lord for his Divine Mercy….
- For those who have died, especially those who died due to COVID-19 complications, that they may be welcomed in to heaven through the Lord’s Divine Mercy.We pray to the Lord
Lord, hear our prayer
Blessed Faustina’s Praises Of the Divine Mercy
The Love of God is the flower – Mercy the fruit.
Let the doubting soul read these considerations on Divine Mercy
and become trusting.
After each praise, say "I Trust in You"
Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the bosom of the Father ...
Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God ...
Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery ...
Divine Mercy, fountain gushing forth from the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity ...
Divine Mercy, unfathomed by any intellect, human or angelic ...
Divine Mercy, from which wells forth all life and happiness ...
Divine Mercy, better than the heavens ...
Divine Mercy, source of miracles and wonders ...
Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe ...
Divine Mercy, descending to earth in the Person of the Incarnate Word ...
Divine Mercy, which flowed out from the open wound of the Heart of Jesus ...
Divine Mercy, enclosed in the Heart of Jesus for us, and especially for sinners ...
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in the institution of the Sacred Heart ...
Divine Mercy, in the founding of Holy Church ...
Divine Mercy, in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism ...
Divine Mercy, in our justification through Jesus Christ ...
Divine Mercy, accompanying us through our whole life ...
Divine Mercy, embracing us especially at the hour of death ...
Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life ...
Divine Mercy, accompanying us every moment of our life ...
Divine Mercy, shielding us from the fire of hell ...
Divine Mercy, in the conversion of hardened sinners ...
Divine Mercy, astonishment for Angels, incomprehensible to Saints ...
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in all the mysteries of God ...
Divine Mercy, lifting us out of every misery ...
Divine Mercy, source of our happiness and joy ...
Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingness to existence ...
Divine Mercy, embracing all the works of His hands ...
Divine Mercy, crown of all of God's handiwork ...
Divine Mercy, in which we are all immersed ...
Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts ...
Divine Mercy, only hope of despairing souls ...
Divine Mercy, repose of hearts, peace amidst fear ...
Divine Mercy, delight and ecstasy of holy souls ...
Divine Mercy, inspiring hope against all hope ...
| Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself |
Prayer For A Merciful Heart
O Jesus, I understand that Your mercy is beyond all imagining, and therefore I ask You to make my heart so big that there will be room in it for the needs of all the souls living on the face of the earth … and the souls suffering in Purgatory … Make my heart sensitive to all the sufferings of my neighbor, whether of body or soul. O my Jesus, I know that You act toward us as we act toward our neighbor …Make my heart like unto Your Merciful Heart … Transform it into Your own Heart that I may sense the needs of other hearts, especially those who are sad and suffering. May the rays of mercy rest in my heart … Jesus, help me to go through life doing good to everyone
You expired, O Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls
and an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world.
O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy,
envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus,
as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You. Amen
The Hour of Great Mercy
In His revelations to St. Faustina, Our Lord asked for a special prayer and meditation on His Passion each afternoon at the three o’clock hour, the hour that recalls His death on the cross.
At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion (Diary, 1320).
As often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners; for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every soul. In this hour you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world — mercy triumphed over justice. (1572)
My daughter, try your best to make the Stations of the Cross in this hour, provided that your duties permit it; and if you are not able to make the Stations of the Cross, then at least step into the chapel for a moment and adore, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, My Heart, which is full of mercy; and should you be unable to step into the chapel, immerse yourself in prayer there where you happen to be, if only for a very brief instant. (1572)
From these detailed instructions, it’s clear that Our Lord wants us to turn our attention to His Passion at the three o’clock hour to whatever degree our duties allow, and He wants us to ask for His mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, unfathomable love of the Sanctifier, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, expression of the greatest might of God, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in creation of heavenly spirits, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingness to existence, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, shielding us from deserved punishment, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, lifting us from the misery of sin, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, justifying us through the Person of the Incarnate Word, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, which flowed out from the wounds of Christ, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, giving us the Blessed Virgin Mary as Mother of Mercy, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in revealing the mysteries of God, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the founding of the Holy Church, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in instituting the Holy Sacraments, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, first of all in the sacraments of Baptism and Penance, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the Holy Eucharist and the sacrament of Holy Orders, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in calling us to the holy faith, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the conversion of sinners, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in sanctifying the just, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in perfecting of the pious, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, fount of help for the sick and the suffering, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, only hope of despairing souls, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, accompanying us in every moment of our life, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, anticipating our needs with graces, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, repose of the dying, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, heavenly delight of the saved, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, respite and relief of the souls in Purgatory, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, crown of All Saints, we trust in You.
Divine Mercy, inexhaustible source of miracles, we trust in You.
Lamb of God, who revealed the greatest mercy in redeeming the world by dying on the cross,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who mercifully offers Yourself for our sake in every holy Mass,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away our sins with inexhaustible compassion,
have mercy on us.
V: The Mercy of God is above all His works.
R: Hence, we will praise The Divine Mercy forever and ever.
Let us pray:
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, King of mercy, who with You and the Holy Spirit shows us mercy now and forever. Amen.