THEOLOGY OF THE FEAST OF THE DIVINE MERCY [Catholic Caucus]

The establishment of the Feast of The Divine Mercy on the octave day of Easter fulfilled the purpose of the restoration of the liturgical year, allowing "the faithful through their faith, hope and love to share more deeply in the whole mystery of Christ as it unfolds throughout the year" (Moto Proprio of Pope Paul VI, 1969, on the Liturgical Year and Roman Calendar, quoting Vatican II on the Liturgy, 102). It ensures even greater prominence to the paschal mystery of Christ, so that the faithful more effectively "lays hold of the mysteries of Christ and are filled with His saving grace" (Ibid).

How does it achieve these purposes? In a number of ways: The Feast of Mercy has its roots deeply planted in the Old and New Testament and in the early Church Tradition. It is a feast with three distinct dimensions, each emphasizing an aspect of the paschal mystery that needs to be brought out more clearly and appropriated by the faithful: merciful love, atonement, and covenant.

The Feast of Mercy is a Celebration and a Summation of God's Merciful Love

The Triduum of Holy Week, along with the entire Easter season, focuses on various aspects of the paschal mystery. Holy Thursday celebrates the Mass of the Chrism and the evening Mass of the Mandatum - the washing of the feet of the disciples, ordination to the priesthood, the institution of the Eucharist, and the last discourse of Our Lord promising the sending of the Holy Spirit. Good Friday commemorates the passion and death of Jesus on the cross. The Easter vigil, the pinnacle of the paschal mystery, celebrates the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Redeemer who is our light and salvation, bringing us new life by water and the Holy Spirit. The Easter season continues this celebration, leading to the Ascension of the Lord and to Pentecost - the fulfillment of the promise to send the Holy Spirit.

The Feast of Mercy focuses on God's mercy as an event! It focuses on God's continuing action of mercy throughout salvation history as we see it recorded in the letter to the Romans, chapters 9, 10,11, culminating in His loving plan to have mercy on all! (See Rom 11:32.) This Feast is a summation of the event to His mercy active in our lives now. It is because of His mercy that we have forgiveness of sin and new life as children of God. This needs to be celebrated!

The Feast of Mercy is a Day of Atonement

The Feast of Mercy is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Day of Atonement (see Lv 16, Lv 23:26-32 and Sir 50). It is a day of forgiveness of sins for those who approach the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is an annual celebration like the Day of Atonement - all sins and punishment are washed away in His infinite mercy. The focus of this paschal event is on God's mercy for us sinners and His free gift to those who turn to Him with trust.

Interestingly enough, the texts of the liturgy for that Sunday (Second Sunday of Easter) already focus on the forgiveness of sins and mercy. The gospel is of Jesus appearing in the upper room and bestowing the authority to forgive sins (see Jn 20:19-5 1), and the other readings are about the blood and water and the proclamation of mercy (there was no need to change the texts)!

Our Easter liturgy had fulfilled the major feasts of the Old Testament - Passover and Pentecost - and was only missing the Day of Atonement. This Feast of Mercy now completes the needed fulfillment of Old Testament feasts.

The Feast of Mercy is the Covenant of Mercy

The octave day has its roots in the Old Testament and New Testament as the Day of Covenant. On the eighth day after His birth, a male child was circumcised as a sign of the covenant and given His name (Gen 17:12-14; see also Lk 2:21 for the circumcision of Jesus).

In the early church the newly baptized, newly born in Christ, wore white robes until the Sunday in White (Dominica in Albis) the octave day of Easter, symbolizing their innocence. The Feast of Mercy once again celebrates the white innocence we receive by the Covenant of Mercy.

St. Augustine calls these days "days of mercy and pardon" (# 156, Dominica in Albis) and the Sunday "the compendium of the days of mercy." And then, referring to the setting aside of the white robes, he warns, "Let not our interior purity be lessened as we set aside its exterior symbols." (#156, Dominica in Albis)

Like the covenant of Sinai we, too, prepare for the Feast by purification from our sins and by the sprinkling of blood and proclaiming of the law (Ex 19:14-15; Ex 24:6-8) - but this time we are cleansed by the precious blood of the Lord and the Proclamation of His mercy.

On the octave day of Easter we, too, ratify the Covenant of Mercy, reaffirming not only our Baptism, already renewed at the Easter vigil, but also the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist.

Interestingly enough, all the elements of creation are structured in units of eight (as seen in the periodic table), and musical chords resonate with the octave.

The Feast of Mercy is the octave day of the Resurrection, which strikes the resonant chord of Easter, developing the meaning and richness of the paschal mystery and applying it in a new and deeper way. It resonates with all of nature, sounding anew the grace of the resurrection, alleluia!

The Feast of Mercy - the Desire of the Lord

As we have seen, the reasons for establishing the Feast of Mercy are strong and clear in themselves. The Feast is rooted in the Old Testament, and an earlier form of the Feast was celebrated from the fourth century as Dominica in Albis. But, in our times, there is an additional reason that makes the need for the Feast of Mercy ever more urgent, and that strengthens the meaning and effectiveness of such a feast for the faithful. In a series of reported revelations to Saint Faustina Kowalska, Our Lord specifically and repeatedly asked that the Feast of Mercy be established on the octave day of Easter.

One day, as Saint Faustina was offering all her prayers and sufferings so that this feast would be established, as Our Lord desired, she said to Him: "They tell me that there is already such a feast and so why should I talk about it?" Jesus answered: "And who knows anything about this feast? No one! Even those who should be proclaiming My mercy and teaching people about it often do not know about it themselves. That is why 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)

The idea of this special celebration of God's mercy on the Sunday after Easter is not a new or radical idea stemming simply from private revelation. Our Lord, through Saint Faustina, is simply reemphasizing what was strongly urged by Saint Thomas the Apostle in the earliest liturgical document in existence, the "Apostolic Constitutions." There we read: "After eight days (following the feast of Easter) let there be another feast observed with honor, the eighth day itself on which He gave me, Thomas, who was hard of belief, full assurance, by showing me the print of the nails, and the wound made in His side by the spear."
This feast had been celebrated in the early Church.

One of the greatest Doctors of the Church, St. Gregory of Nazianzen, also supports this Feast, declaring that the Octave day of Easter is even a greater Feast than Easter though it takes nothing whatever away from the greatness of the Day of the Resurrection itself. Easter Sunday is the boundary between death and life (a creation). But its eighth day, the Octave, is the fulfillment of what Easter is all about - perfect life in eternity (a second creation, more admirable and more sublime than the first).

Easter Sunday represents our creation in the life of Grace through faith in the Risen Savior. The Octave Sunday of Easter represents the fulfillment of that "creation in grace." Thus it is, as St. Augustine says, "The most privileged octave-day" and certainly merits the title "Feast of The Divine Mercy."

The "most privileged octave-day" did not even appear under that title in the revised Roman Missal - It was called that only in the "Ordo" - the book that regulates the celebration of the liturgy. Our Lord surely knew what He was saying to Saint Faustina: "And who knows anything about this feast? No one! Even those who should he proclaiming My mercy and teaching people about it often do not know about it themselves." (Diary 341)

We now have the key to understanding the Image of The Divine Mercy with its rays signifying the Blood and Water that flowed from Christ's pierced side with the inscription (Jesus, I Trust In You), and to Our Lord's insistence that this image be specially venerated on the first Sunday after Easter, which is to be celebrated as the FEAST OF MERCY (Divine Mercy Sunday).

We can also see these rays as simultaneously symbolizing the Holy Spirit, whom Christ breathed into the Disciples during the same Octave-day appearance. On the strength of that Holy Breath, all sins are forgiven and "at-ONE-ment" with the Father is accomplished. Here, God in Christ is reconciling the world to Himself (see 2 Cor 5:18). And here the Church, the newly-born Body of Christ, is commissioned to be the instrument of reconciliation down through the ages.

This is Christ's GREAT PROMISE of complete pardon of sin and punishment on the Feast of Mercy through the reception of the Sacraments (which is a participation of Christ's death to sin and rising to divine life).

All the elements of the message and devotion to The Divine Mercy focus on the Feast of Mercy

In preparing for the Feast of Mercy we are to make a novena of Chaplets to the Divine Mercy (beginning on Good Friday), and to be purified by the sacrament of Reconciliation. Priests are to proclaim the mercy of God. The Image of Jesus, the Merciful Savior, is to be blessed and venerated as a reminder to trust in Jesus and do works of mercy. And we are to renew, ratify and seal the covenant of mercy by receiving Holy Communion.

The day of the Feast is celebrated by using the normal liturgy for that day (Second Sunday of Easter), as per decree dated May 5, 2000 for Divine Mercy Sunday, which are all focused on mercy, and a homily on God's mercy. Our Lord is asking for a Feast of His mercy to bring attention to the outpouring of the ocean of graces, and to His promise of the complete forgiveness of sins and punishment, to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion.

The desired fulfillment: a deeper sharing

Those who have been celebrating the octave of Easter in this way, as the Feast of Mercy, have experienced the desired effect of the Second Vatican Council for the liturgical year renewal - a deeper share in the mystery of Christ.

I have to say my mother would pray this chaplet. She told me I would be praying this in the future after she died. She died in 1999. In 2003 or 2004 I started this chaplet every day then got deeper on true third hour then any third hour. Am. or Pm. Then I would claim any third hour wherever in the world.

I Did not remember what my mother said to me until I was several months deep into this prayer chaplet. Since then I had several accurate dream visions. All personal except for one. Very accurate. All individuals I knew who later died.

If you remember it is for salvation for anyone to be in a state of grace. Especially before death at times. One dream I saw my friend's daughter die by a broadcast of her own drive by shooting reported on News 12 cable vision Long Island N. Y. The reporter had the same town and the name of the person. This all happen several months after dream.

Once when done I heard music without a Radio or other source. I could not explain outside of supernatural. It was the Holy, Holy, Holy in the book of Revelation. It was in my bedroom when I lived in N.Y. It was soft low music then crescendo into loud for several seconds then stopped. It was so beautiful. I cried with the joy in the Spirit.

Then I went to the Shrine of EWTN in Alabama on the walk to the riverside a lebanon catholic woman and I had the Holy Music again sang like thousands singing in a low voice like far away in the distance before you approach a choir.

I had some interesting spiritual graces before this Daily Praying of the Chaplet but never this profound and so sweet in the spirit. I could tell more but just for those who do know and do not know this is to help encourage the chaplet prays. Very important.

I read St Faustina's Diary with the Bible at Night. One of the many things recorded are that the Lord told Sister Faustina this pray chaplet is especially for these last days.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:

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.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

In 1933, God gave Sister Faustina a striking vision of His Mercy, Sister tells us:

"I saw a great light, with God the Father in the midst of it. Between this light and the earth I saw Jesus nailed to the Cross and in such a way that God, wanting to look upon the earth, had to look through Our Lord's wounds and I understood that God blessed the earth for the sake of Jesus."

Of another vision on Sept. 13, 1935, she writes:

"I saw an Angel, the executor of God's wrath... about to strike the earth...I began to beg God earnestly for the world with words which I heard interiorly. As I prayed in this way, I saw the Angel's helplessness, and he could not carry out the just punishment...."

The following day an inner voice taught her to say this prayer on ordinary rosary beads:

"First say one 'Our Father', 'Hail Mary', and 'I believe'. Then on the large beads say the following words:

'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 smaller beads you are to say the following words:

'For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.'

In conclusion you are to say these words three times:

'Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world'.

Jesus said later to Sister Faustina:

"Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to know My Infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy...."

"....When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person not as the just judge but as the Merciful Savior".

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm#ixzz1rbgdlhrW

This is real as can be. I had specifics dreams for specific people. We also pray for general people in need at the time most needed.

Praise Jesus!! AMEN!!

Thank you both for the inspirational postings. Here is one you might appreciate, as well.

Divine Mercy Inspirational Quotes

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

This particular prayer is ancient. In fact, it is an integral part of the Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Maronite (Eastern) Catholic Church. At that point in the service, the entire congregation stands in respect and faces the tabernacle. Three times, the priest chants this ancient prayer in Aramaic, the language of Jesus, Mary and the Apostles: Qadeeshat Aloho (Holy God), Qadeeshat Hayeltono (Holy Mighty One), Qadeeshat Lomoyouto (Holy Immortal One). The congregation responds: Itraham Alein (Have mercy on us!) The Maronite Church celebrates the liturgy according to the Antiochene Syriac Maronite Church. This liturgy dates back to when St. Peter served as Bishop of Antioch before proceeding to Rome.

Each time I read our Lord's response to St. Faustina's question: "They tell me that there is already such a feast and so why should I talk about it?",
"And who knows anything about this feast?, I can't help but reflect on the 2000 years of liturgical development. The ancient prayer is retained in the Maronite liturgy, not surprisingly, since it comes from the East. Whereas the same prayer only surfaces in the Roman liturgy on Good Friday (if you watched the coverage from the Vatican, you may have heard it).

Such a beautiful feast and a wonderful gift, restored to the West, by our Lord through St. Faustina.

Hi NYer, it’s Friday, bumping up with a reminder about the feast day this Sunday, the Feast of Divine Mercy. What a miraculous gift. Our Lord would do this, He asks us over and over to trust.

I would like to share an added, my opinion now, do you not think Our Lord’s promise is for everyone? You could...

If you’re not Catholic, before Sunday is best, from your heart with true contrition, confess your serious (mortal) sins to God, act in a merciful way, on the feast day would be good. Next, attend Holy Mass at a Catholic Church near you this Sunday. You CANNOT receive the Eucharist, do not go forward, instead make a “spiritual communion.” Ask Our Lord in prayer to come to you in this way since you can’t receive the Holy Eucharist. It’s God’s call then, you showed having faith, your desire for the promise of Divine Mercy.

Do not be upset with me, I am sharing PO, I could be
way off but Our Lord’s mercy, it’s unfathomable.

Originally posted at http://www.spiritdaily.com/

http://www.medjugorjemiracles.com/2012/04/divine-mercy-sunday-promises-for-your-soul-don%E2%80%99t-miss-out-it%E2%80%99s-not-too-late/

Divine Mercy Sunday, perhaps God’s greatest gift of our time.

In the 1930’s Our Lord Jesus requested through Saint Faustina Kowalska that a Feast of Mercy be established and solemnly celebrated in His Church on the First Sunday after Easter every year. The Lord said that this feast would be the “last hope of salvation.”

On the 22nd of February, 1981, Jesus Christ revealed this vision of himself to the young Polish nun, Sister Faustina Kowalska. The image was painted and became a vessel to remind the world of God’s greatest attribute, His mercy.

Divine Mercy Sunday will be celebrated April 15, 2012. The great promise of this day is the forgiveness of all sins and punishment due to sin for anyone who would go to Confession and receive Jesus in Holy Communion, on this very special Feast. According to Divine Mercy Productions, one may receive the Sacrament of Confession, also known as Reconciliation, twenty days (I had always heard 8 days before or after the feast day, stpio) before or after Divine Mercy Sunday.

In the year 2000, after many years of study by the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II, officially established this Feast of Divine Mercy and named it Divine Mercy Sunday. He died on the very vigil day of this feast and was beatified on May 1, 2011, on that same feast!

Why would Jesus offer us something so great right now? Jesus told St. Faustina that she was to prepare the world for His Second Coming and that He would be pouring out His Mercy in great abundance before He comes again as the Just Judge and as a very last hope of salvation.

From the Diary of S. Faustina, 699, Jesus said: “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.”

Bumping this up again. Our Lord’s promise on Divine Mercy
Sunday, take advantage of Saturday afternoon Confession tomorrow and offered at some parishes before Mass this Sunday.

~ ~ ~

...a reminder about the feast day this Sunday, the Feast of Divine Mercy. What a miraculous gift. Our Lord would do this, He asks us over and over to trust Him.

I would like to share an added, my opinion now, do you not think Our Lord’s promise is for everyone? You could...

Do not be upset with me, I am sharing PO, I could be
way off but Our Lord’s mercy, it’s unfathomable.

Originally posted at http://www.spiritdaily.com/

http://www.medjugorjemiracles.com/2012/04/divine-mercy-sunday-promises-for-your-soul-don%E2%80%99t-miss-out-it%E2%80%99s-not-too-late/

Divine Mercy Sunday, perhaps God’s greatest gift of our time.

Jesus Christ revealed this vision of himself to the young Polish nun, Sister Faustina Kowalska. The image was painted and became a vessel to remind the world of God’s greatest attribute, His mercy.

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