Today is the Feast of Divine Mercy

The Feast of Divine Mercy is a significant event in the liturgical year. The Church does not worship the individual attributes of God separately, as each represents a different aspect of the same divine nature. However, the Church makes an exception for Divine Mercy, viewing it as a perfection that is greater and more important than the others, thus defining what God truly is in the fullest sense. Since St. John calls God "Love," it can be added that He is "Merciful Love," that He 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 go to confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of Mercy. We must note, after Fr. Ignacy Różycki, that this grace is theologically possible because neither it nor the conditions for receiving it contradict revealed doctrine. For pastoral reasons, Holy Confession can certainly be made before the Feast of Mercy, since Jesus' will was that as many of the faithful as possible receive the grace contained in the promise on that day. On the other hand, Holy Communion should be received with dignity on the Feast of Divine Mercy itself. It should express the essence of the Devotion, that is, it must be received with trust in God's Mercy.

The grace of complete forgiveness of sins and punishments can be compared theologically only to the grace of baptism. Hence, this grace can be defined as a 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, serving as 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 (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. The abundance of graces the Savior wants to impart concerns all people, but in a special way, it is a refuge 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, 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. 

The Lord Jesus said that “on that day are open all the Divine floodgates through which graces flow; let no soul fear to approach Me, even if its sins be as scarlet” (Diary 699). On that day, all people, even those who did not have the devotion to the Divine Mercy earlier and who became converted only then, may partake in all the graces which the Lord Jesus had prepared for this feast. His promises pertain not only to all possible supernatural graces but also to all possible rewards in this world. With trust, people can ask for everything for themselves and others as long as the subject matter of the prayer is compatible with God’s will, that is, if it is good for man from the perspective of eternity. Graces necessary for salvation are always in accord with God’s will because what God desires most is the salvation of souls, for which Jesus gave His life. Therefore, on the Feast of Mercy, all graces and rewards are available to all people and communities as long as they ask for them with trust.

 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad. (Psalm 118:24)

fr. george