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Knights of Mercy Program A call to all Knights of Columbus Councils and Assemblies |
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COMMISSIONED TO ASSIST OUR CHURCH This is designed especially for the Knights of Columbus councils and assemblies so that they may assist our Holy Father John Paul II and our Church to celebrate our new feast called Divine Mercy Sunday. One of the necessary parts of the solemn celebration of this feast is the veneration of the Image of Divine Mercy in the Church and this will be the main focus of the “Knights of Mercy Program”. This new feast was made official by decree on May 5th 2000 by the Vatican at the request of Pope John Paul II. Pope John Paul II indicated the he had fulfilled the will of Christ by instituting this new Feast of Divine Mercy. Jesus through St. Faustina requested a Feast of Mercy on the Sunday after Easter. Our Pope has been hoping that everyone takes full advantage of the special graces available on this feast day.
EXTRAORDINARY GRACES What special graces, you might ask? It is the promise that Jesus made for a total pardon of sins and punishment for anyone that would go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on this Feast of Mercy (Divine Mercy Sunday). Our Lord said “Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (From the diary of St. Faustina, entry 300) To further put the Church’s stamp of approval on Our Lord’s promise, the Vatican just issued a Plenary Indulgence for Divine Mercy Sunday on June 29th, 2002. The decree states that priests should inform the faithful about the plenary indulgence and to lead the prayers required after all the masses. It also calls for priests to be very generous in hearing confessions and to encourage everyone to do acts of mercy. A SPECIAL CALLING FOR THE KNIGHTS Because the Knights have a special calling to assist the Church in its endeavors, and because we are in solidarity with the mission of the Pope, we must do our best to assist every parish to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. It is very clear, from the words of Jesus that this feast is to be a refuge and shelter for all souls, especially for poor sinners. As Knights we are called to do acts of charity and there could be no greater act of charity than to participate in the salvation of the poor lost or alienated souls. We have many Catholics that have fallen away from the Church. Many only go to mass once a year, probably on Easter. Many more have not gone to Confession in a long time and these poor souls could also be damned for eternity. What better acts of charity could we do than to assist our Church in celebrating this great feast which can provide for them the total forgiveness of their sins and punishment? Our Lord said “On that day all the Divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy…Tell souls about this great mercy of Mine, because the awful day, the day of My justice is near.” (Diary, 699, 965)
WE ARE CALLED TO EVANGELIZE Pope John Paul II stated in his greetings in August 2002 “The theme for the 120th Supreme Convention – (“Now Is the Time for the Great Catch”)- is a summons to ever trust in the Lord’s command to 'put out into the deep' ( Lk 5:4) in obedience to His word." Our Lord is calling out to His Vicar, Pope John Paul II, as He did to Peter “to cast our nets out once more” using Divine Mercy Sunday to obtain that Great Catch. We must help our Holy Father to let down these nets. The results, as we remember from Luke’s Gospel, was an incredible catch of fish. In the same way, by trusting in the promise of Our Lord, we can bring home many lost souls on this new Feast of Mercy (Divine Mercy Sunday). Our Lord said “How very much I desire the salvation of souls!... if only they were willing to accept My grace. The greatest sinners would achieve great sanctity, if only they would trust in My mercy.” (Diary, 1784) The graces on Divine Mercy Sunday are fully capable of totally restoring a terrible lost sinner to complete sanctity and in turn, that new found soul in Christ will radiate that merciful love to all others. OUR LORD’S INSTRUCTIONS AND PROMISE Jesus said, “Do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace.” (Diary, 1074) And His promise: “Souls who spread the honor of My mercy I shield through their entire life as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior.” (Diary, 1075) It is clear that we must do everything that we possibly can to spread the message of Divine Mercy. What follows is a simple plan to ensure that every parish will be prepared to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. This will bring about a great renewal in the Church and bring home that “Great Catch” of many inactive, poor lost souls.
THE SIMPLE PLAN 1. Contact your parish: Ask if your parish has an Image of Divine Mercy suitable for veneration and large enough for everyone to see on Divine Mercy Sunday. If they need an image, the Knights could offer to purchase one for the parish. They are available on this website in the on-line catalog in different sizes, laminated and ready to be framed, already framed, or as a ready to hang tapestry. Our goal is to have the image venerated in every single parish. 2. Approach your pastor: Ask your pastor if he has a copy of the Decree for the Plenary Indulgence for Divine Mercy Sunday. In case your pastor does not have a copy, print one out for him by clicking on the words above underlined in red that will access the official plenary indulgence from the Vatican website. Be sure to approach your pastor with much humility and respect. 3. Offer to have a procession: Approach your pastor again and make him an offer to process with the Image of Divine Mercy using the Honor Guards (if possible) on Divine Mercy Sunday. Remember that Our Lord asked that the image be solemnly blessed and venerated on the Feast of Mercy. If the Honor Guards are not available then Sir Knights can process in their Tuxedos or with other Brother Knights. 4. Show your pastor the images: Before purchasing an image, check with your pastor to see which one he would like to use. Show him the different kinds available on this website by printing out the Online Catalog or view it with him on the parishes’ office computer. Some of the pastors will want to permanently install the images in their churches or other facilities. You might also consider purchasing one for your council or assembly. Our Lord has made great promises regarding the veneration of the images. 5. Provide information about the feast: Also available on this website are many different articles about Divine Mercy Sunday that could be used for local and diocesan newspapers and also for the parish bulletin. You should focus on reaching those that have been away from the Church and those that have not been to Confession in a long time and are in need of receiving mercy. 6. Encourage your pastor: Try to encourage your pastor to announce the feast on Palm Sunday and especially on Easter Sunday when there are many people in attendance that do not attend mass weekly. Kindly ask him to encourage everyone to come back to the regular practice of Sunday mass, starting with Divine Mercy Sunday and encourage them to go to Confession if needed. 7. Prepare your fellow members: Explain to fellow members the graces that are available on Divine Mercy Sunday. Provide information so that they may tell others about Divine Mercy Sunday. Many have fallen away from going to Confession on a regular basis. Our Holy Father has called us all to resume the practice of frequent Confessions. 8. Ask for extra Confession time: Ask your pastor if he could make extra time for Confessions for those that did not go before Easter. According to a Vatican document issued during the Jubilee Year 2000 called "The Gift of the Indulgence" it is allowed for someone to go to Confession within about 20 days before or after the feast. | Home | Message for Catholics | Vision | Feast After Easter? | How to Celebrate | ©Copyright 2003, Apostles of Divine Mercy Taken from the www.divinemercysunday.com website's "Knights of Mercy Program". Call Robert R. Allard, Director, A.D.M for more information at 1-888-732-0722 |
