Feast of Divine Mercy - Invitation to the Banquet
The first step in hosting a great banquet for one's friends is to send out proper invitations. The invitations must include WHY the banquet is being held, WHEN it will take place, WHO is invited, and WHAT TO EXPECT (such as cocktails on the lawn, followed by a buffet meal).
In fact, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska's diary is filled with invitations from our Lord Jesus Christ to celebrate the great Feast of the Divine Mercy with Him. This year, we celebrate this Feast on Sunday, April 27. In numerous passages, Jesus spelled out for her "why," "when," "who," and "what to expect" at this special banquet.
First, why did Jesus ask the Church, through St. Faustina, to institute the Feast of Mercy? As recorded in the Diary, Jesus said to Faustina: "Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them ... the Feast of My mercy. If they will not adore My mercy, they will perish for all eternity. Secretary of My mercy, write, tell souls about this great mercy of Mine, because the awful day, the day of My justice is near."( Diary 965) In short, the main reason Jesus wanted this feast established is that He wanted to "throw a lifeline," so to speak, to souls who are perishing, souls who are drowning in sin and despair. That lifeline is this Feast, with all the tremendous promises of graces and benefits which Jesus attached to it. As He said to St. Faustina, He wanted to make this Feast Day a special "refuge and shelter" for the "consolation" of souls.
In Diary entry 1517, Jesus said: "the Feast of My Mercy has issued forth from My very depths for the consolation of the whole world." Jesus gave us this Feast as both a comfort and a lifeline for souls.
Second, "when" is this Feast to be celebrated? The answer was given directly to St. Faustina on numerous occasions. For example, in Diary entry 299, Jesus told her, "I desire that the First Sunday after Easter be the Feast of Mercy." Today, that Sunday is referred to in the Roman Missal as "The Second Sunday of Easter, or Divine Mercy Sunday."
Third, to discover "who" is invited to this great Feast and what kind of spiritual "banquet" our Lord wants to spread for us on that day, we need to consult Diary entry 699, in which Jesus spells out in detail the meaning of this feast day and the comforting promises He attached to it. Jesus said to St Faustina: "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. 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. On that day, all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.
Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity.
The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the First Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.”
From these words of our Lord, it should be clear who is invited to the Feast of Mercy. He states clearly: "I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls" - that is, for all penitent souls without exception - but "especially" for "poor sinners." Therefore, the special guests at the Feast of Mercy - the guests who will receive the most attention - are poor sinners who most need His mercy.
This means that this banquet is spread especially for poor sinners who know in truth that they are poor sinners. Only repentant sinners will be able to receive all the graces offered by Jesus on this special day. Jesus asks us to prepare for this feast day by making a good confession. Just as in Christ's parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, it was the publican who went away from his prayers "justified," for he had come before the Lord with nothing but a simple cry from his heart for mercy: "Lord have mercy on me, a sinner!" (Lk 18:9-14).
The Feast of Mercy is especially for all souls open to receive Christ's forgiveness and grace because they know they need it so badly. This Feast is for the lost, that they might be found, and for those struggling to grow in faith, hope, and love, that they may be refreshed and strengthened. Conversely, those who believe they have no need for divine mercy will not be able to receive mercy on that day. They are like the Pharisee in the parable: God cannot fill them with His grace because they are already full of themselves!
Then what graces and benefits does our Lord wish to give us on Mercy Sunday? Again, Jesus told St. Faustina (Diary, 699): "On that day, the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls approaching the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day are open all the divine floodgates through which graces flow".
Jesus is offering us a complete renewal of baptismal grace, a thorough cleansing of the soul, and the washing of it clean, renewing within us all the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit that we received at our baptism.
Jesus also left three more instructions for St. Faustina that must not be forgotten.
First, He wanted priests to proclaim clearly the message of Divine Mercy on Mercy Sunday: "On that day, priests are to tell everyone about My great and unfathomable mercy." (Diary 570). "... Hardened sinners will repent on hearing their words when they speak about My unfathomable mercy, about the compassion I have for them in My Heart." (Diary 1521)
By His providential design, our Lord has already provided a helping hand to priests in fulfilling His plan for Mercy Sunday.The traditional texts of the Missal for that Sunday proclaim His Mercy loudly and clearly. For instance, the gospel reading recounts Jesus appearing in the upper room on Easter Sunday night, bestowing a blessing of peace on His apostles and granting them the authority to forgive sins in His name. The epistle is taken from the first chapter of the First Letter of St. Peter: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great mercy has given us new birth as His sons by raising Jesus Christ from the dead." Even the opening prayer for the Mass begins with the words "God of mercy..."
Second, Jesus requested that the Image of Divine Mercy be publicly venerated on this Feast Day. For example, Jesus said to St. Faustina: "... 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." (Diary 341)
Finally, Jesus made it clear to St. Faustina that in preparation for the Feast of Mercy, we must be merciful to others through our actions, words, and prayers.
He taught St. Faustina much the same thing, in connection with the Feast of Mercy: Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be acts of mercy. I demand from you deeds of mercy that arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it. (Diary, 742)
Thanks be to God for inviting us to this great banquet of Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday.
fr. george