I just wanted to say that I am really happy that Jesus appeared to Saint Faustina and gave us the Feast of Divine Mercy. It is so awesome that we have the opportunity to receive the grace of being completely forgiven our sins and the punishment for them during this time. The punishment that at any other time(except in Babtism), would still be there, until we did all the penances we needed or were eventually prayed for to get out of purgatory; if it were not for this special grace. I only hope that everyone takes the opportunity to get this grace and more. If it is unknown to anyone, please learn about it; all you have to do is ask. For those who know about it-don't you think it is a wonderful Feast?

-- Sonya (johnsonya2003@hotmail.com), April 07, 2004

Answers

For anyone who may want to learn more here is a great site: http://www.familyland.org/Information.asp?ContentCategoryID=348 God bless you all!

-- Sonya (johnsonya2003@hotmail.com), April 07, 2004.

Divine Mercy is a great devotion. Thank God the Holy Father saw goo to lift the ban n the devotion in the 1960s.

-- Andrew (andyhbk96@hotmail.com), April 07, 2004.

I am glad he did. We have a very holp Pope. We are so blessed. I just wish more people would learn about the Feast of Divine Mercy. They would be so happy that they did.

-- Sonya (johnsonya2003@hotmail.com), April 07, 2004.

what is this feast??? WHEN is it?? can someone attend it and be totally absolved from sin in lieu of confession?

thanks

-- jas (wutizdivinemercy@lost.com), April 07, 2004.

The Feast of the Divine Mercy, Divine Mercy Sunday, April 18, 2004

This feast is not only a day in particular for worshipping God in His mystery of Mercy, but also a time of Grace for all people. The Lord Jesus said (to Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska) : “I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. … Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of Salvation, that is, recourse to My Mercy. If they will not adore My Mercy, they will perish for all eternity.”

The greatness of this feast is measured by the measure of extraordinary promises that the Lord attached to this feast : Jesus said, “ … whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment,” and also, “On this 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. … Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet.”

To profit from those great gifts we must fulfill the conditions of the Divine Mercy devotion (trust in God’s goodness and active love toward neighbor), be in the state of sanctifying Grace – having gone to Holy Confession, and worthily receive Holy Communion. Jesus explained: “No soul will be justified until it turns with confidence to My Mercy; and this is why the first Sunday after Easter is to be the Feast of Mercy, and on that day, priests are to tell everyone about My great and unfathomable Mercy.”

-- Diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938)

Fulfill all 4 specific conditions in order to obtain a Plenary Indulgence (A plenary indulgence means that by the merits of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the Saints, the full remission of the temporal punishment due to sacramentally forgiven sins is obtained. The person becomes as if just baptized and would fly immediately to Heaven if he or she died in that instant.) on Divine Mercy Sunday :

I. Sacramental Confession (within about 20 days before Divine Mercy Sunday)

II. Eucharistic Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday

III. Prayer for the intentions of the Pope (1 Our Father & 1 Hail Mary)

IV. In a Catholic Church, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin, even a venial sin, do A or B :

A. In the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite 1 Our Father and 1 Apostles/Nicene Creed, adding a devout prayer to the Merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. “Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!”)

B. Take part in the prayers and devotions held in honour of Divine Mercy (Divine Mercy Chaplet)

Go to www.ewtn.com for more info.

-- John (JcSsun@yahoo.com), April 07, 2004.

I feel I need to share this with you all. I went away from the way of Catholic worship and attended a non Catholic christian fellowship group much to my devout mothers dismay. So my mother one day gave me the Divine Mercy Novena leaflet and asked me to start the prayers if I wished to. So as not to displease her I started the Novena on Good Friday and because I had to take her for Holy Mass I went for the Divine Mercy Service and Mass on the Feast day. I also went for confession through obedience to her. At confession much to my own amazement I confessed that I was not going for Mass and was attending another service ( because it all stated with thirsting for the knowledge of the Holy Bible). This wonerful priest asked me to meet a Catholic priest outside the confessional and have a talk. But after that as I came and knelt in front of the Blessed Sarcrement I had this strong urge to return for Holy Mass. I must admit all the time I was at those non catholic christian services I missed my Blessed Mother and felt sad and incomplete. Since then my spiritual journey became the most important thing in my life. I am sure the Lord heard my mothers prayers too to turn me around. So since then I say the chaplet everyday and also never miss this great Feast day that God has given us in His wonderful Love and Mercy. God Bless, Ramanie.

-- Ramanie Weerasinghe (lilanw@yahoo.com), April 08, 2004.

Ramanie, I am so glad that you came back to the church. My husband was in the non Catholic Christian churches when I met him, and my friend and I asked him to meet with a priest to talk to him about his questions on the Catholic Church. He did and then I asked him to go to a silent retreat with another very wise priest. He really got a lot of his questions answered. He said that he came back to the church, because he realized that the Eucharist is truly Jesus and not symbollically, but really-body, blood, soul and divinity. I am so happy that you also came back home. God bless you.

-- Sonya (johnsonya20003@hotmail.com), April 09, 2004.