Tomorrow is the Feast of Divine Mercy
The Feast of Divine Mercy is a specific phenomenon throughout the liturgical year. For the Church does not worship separately the individual attributes of God, because each of them is only a different appreciation of the same divine nature. And yet the Church makes an exception for the Divine Mercy because it is a perfection greater and more important than others, defining in the fullest what God really is. Since St. John calls God "Love", it can be added that He is "Merciful Love", that is, "Mercy".
The greatness of the Feast of Mercy can be measured by the promises that Jesus made about the celebration of this feast. On this day, the Savior wants to be generous without limits and to grant the faithful special graces. The following promise was made in the revelation of the late spring of 1934: Whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment (Diary 300). The same promise, relating to the Feast of Mercy, was repeated in September 1936: The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. (Diary 699). Finally, for the third time, a special promise related to the celebration of the Feast of Mercy was expressed in the revelation of the end of April 1937: 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 (Diary 1109).
Therefore, the most important grace related to the Feast is the unique promise of complete forgiveness of sins and punishments, addressed to all who will go to confession and Holy Communion on the Feast of Mercy. We must mark after Fr. Ignacy Różycki, that this grace it is theologically possible because neither it itself nor the conditions for receiving it are contrary to revealed doctrine. Of course, for pastoral reasons, Holy Confession can certainly be made before the Feast of Mercy, since Jesus' will was that on that day as many of the faithful as possible received the grace contained in the promise. On the other hand, Holy Communion should be received with dignity on the Feast of Divine Mercy itself. Of course, it should flow from the essence of the Devotion, that is, to be recerived in the attitude of trust in God's Mercy. However, it is not a requirement to perform works of mercy at the same time, because the celebration of the Feast of Mercy is a simple act of devotion to the Divine Mercy.
The grace of complete forgiveness of sins and punishments, according to Fr. Ignacy Różycki, you can compare theologically only with the grace of baptism, hence it was defined by him as second or new baptism. The magnitude of this promise may seem shocking but let us note that it does not contradict the teaching of the Church in any way. Moreover, it links the receipt of extraordinary graces with the sacramental life, being a living encouragement to fruitfully receive the sacraments.
Jesus did not limit his generosity during the Feast of Mercy to just one grace: 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 [...], On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened (Diary 699). Hence, it is on this day that Jesus wants to bestow all those who ask with confidence with both temporal and saving graces. Abundance of graces the Savior wants to impart, it concerns all people, but in a special way it is an escape for sinners.
The greatness of these graces appears in three dimensions. The first is universality. Even those who have never practiced the Devotion to Divine Mercy, even sinners converting during the Feast, they have the same share in the fulfillment of the promises related to the celebration of the Feast. Secondly, this greatness applies to both temporal and saving grace. Third, all degrees of grace are available on that day, if asked with confidence. No other form of the Devotion has been associated with such a great and extraordinary abundance of graces.
Please come and join us for the Celebration the Feast of Divine Mercy at Christ the King Church.
Schedule of the Celebration of Divine Mercy Feast
At Christ the King Parish
624 N Rossmore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004
10:30 AM - Solemn Mass (English)
12:30 PM - Solemn Mass (Spanish)
2:30 PM - Gather to celebrate Divine Mercy Feast
3:00 PM - The Great Hour of Mercy
· Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
· Chaplet of Divine Mercy - (Bilingual)
· Reflection: Divine Mercy in My Soul
· Great Hour of Mercy Prayers and Divine Mercy Litany - (Bilingual)
· Station of the Cross
· Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
· Entrustment of the World to Divine Mercy
· Veneration of the Relics of Saint Faustina, Blessed Michael Sopoćko,
Saint John Paul II and Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe
I see you Tomorrow
fr. george