Divine Mercy Sunday 2026

On Divine Mercy Sunday, April 12, 2026 (the Second Sunday of Easter, Year A), the Church invites us to immerse ourselves in the boundless mercy of the Risen Christ. The readings beautifully echo this theme of new life, trust, and communal witness to God's saving power.

 The Readings

The First Reading from Acts 2:42-47 portrays the early Christian community devoted to the Apostles' teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. They lived with one heart and mind, sharing everything in common, and the Lord added daily to their number those being saved. This passage shows the fruit of the Resurrection: a Church born from mercy, where forgiveness and unity transform lives and draw others to Christ.

The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24) cries out, "His mercy endures forever!" It celebrates the stone rejected by the builders becoming the cornerstone, a fitting image for the Risen Lord who turns our failures into the foundation of hope.

In the Second Reading (1 Peter 1:3-9), St. Peter blesses God for giving us "a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" — an inheritance that is imperishable. Even though we have not seen Him, we love Him and believe in Him, rejoicing with inexpressible joy as we await the salvation of our souls. This reminds us that faith in the merciful Christ sustains us amid trials.

The Gospel (John 20:19-31) brings us into the upper room where the risen Jesus appears to the fearful disciples, breathes the Holy Spirit upon them, and grants them the power to forgive sins: "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them." To the doubting Thomas, He offers His wounds, eliciting the profound confession, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus then pronounces a blessing for us: "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." This encounter reveals mercy as both personal encounter and sacramental reality, inviting us to trust in the One who overcomes our doubts and fears.

 The Devotion to Divine Mercy

These readings converge on Divine Mercy Sunday, established by St. John Paul II in 2000 at the canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska. Through her Diary, Jesus revealed His desire for the whole world to know and trust in His unfathomable mercy, especially in these troubled times. The devotion centers on the Image of the Divine Mercy — Jesus with rays of blood and water streaming from His Heart — inscribed with the words "Jesus, I trust in You." It calls us to venerate this image, perform works of mercy (spiritual and corporal), and trust completely in God's love.

 The Special Promise and Indulgence

Jesus attached an extraordinary promise to this feast: "The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment." On this day, the floodgates of mercy are thrown open wide. It is like a "second baptism," renewing our souls in the grace of our initial washing in the waters of regeneration. Many also seek the plenary indulgence offered by the Church for Divine Mercy Sunday, which requires sacramental Confession (within about 20 days before or after), reception of Holy Communion, prayer for the intentions of the Pope, and participation in prayers and devotions honoring the Divine Mercy (such as public recitation of the Chaplet). Whether through the special promise or the indulgence, the Lord invites even the greatest sinners not to fear but to draw near with trust.

 The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

A powerful weapon in this devotion is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, prayed on ordinary rosary beads. It begins with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed. On the large beads we pray: "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 small beads: "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world." It concludes with the Trisagion ("Holy God...") three times.

Jesus promised great graces to those who recite it with trust:

- "Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death."

- "It pleases Me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet."

- At the hour of death, He will defend such souls as His own glory.

- The Chaplet serves to appease God's wrath and brings unimaginable graces to souls who trust in His mercy.

It is especially powerful when prayed for the dying, for sinners, and for the whole world. Many pray it daily at 3 p.m., the Hour of Mercy, uniting themselves to Christ's Passion.

 Personal Reflection

As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday in 2026, let us ask ourselves: Do we truly trust in Jesus' mercy, or do we, like Thomas, hold back in doubt? The readings challenge us to move from fear to faith, from isolation to communion, and from sin to the freedom of forgiveness. In a world marked by division, anxiety, and moral confusion, the message is clear: God's mercy is greater than our sins. He does not desire to punish but to heal and save.

Let this Sunday be a fresh start. Approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation with contrition, receive the Eucharist with lively faith, venerate the Divine Mercy Image, and pray the Chaplet with confidence. Spread this devotion by performing acts of mercy toward others — forgiving as we have been forgiven, comforting the sorrowful, and sharing the Good News that "His mercy endures forever."

Jesus, I trust in You. May the rays of Your mercy enlighten our hearts, renew the Church, and bring peace to the world. Amen.

Why Was the Divine Mercy Devotion Prohibited?

The Divine Mercy Devotion, centered on the visions of St. Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938), a Polish nun, is today one of the most popular Catholic devotions worldwide. It includes the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the image of Jesus with rays of mercy emanating from His Heart, and the feast of Divine Mercy Sunday (the Second Sunday of Easter). 

Yet, for nearly 20 years—from 1959 to 1978—the Vatican’s Holy Office (now the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith) prohibited the spreading of this devotion “in the forms proposed by Sister Faustina.”

Many Catholics wonder why a devotion now so enthusiastically promoted by the Church (including by St. John Paul II, who canonized Faustina) was once suppressed. The answer lies not in a definitive theological condemnation but in historical circumstances, communication barriers, and cautious discernment.

 The Origins of the Devotion

Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, a simple nun in the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Kraków, claimed that Jesus appeared to her multiple times between 1931 and 1938. He asked her to:

- Paint an image of Himself with the inscription “Jesus, I trust in You.”

- Promote a special devotion emphasizing God’s infinite mercy.

- Establish a feast on the Sunday after Easter.

- Pray and promote the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the conversion of sinners and the dying.

Faustina recorded these experiences in her Diary, a spiritual journal written in Polish. After her death in 1938, her confessor, Fr. Michał Sopoćko, worked to promote the image and devotion, which began spreading, especially in Poland.

 The Prohibition: What Happened?

The Holy Office issued a formal Notification on March 6, 1959 (published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis), which stated:

1. The supernatural nature of the revelations made to Sister Faustina is not evident.

2. No feast of Divine Mercy is to be instituted.

3. The diffusion of images and writings promoting the devotion to Divine Mercy in the form proposed by Sister Faustina is forbidden.

This built on earlier concerns dating back to the pontificate of Pope Pius XII. Some sources indicate her writings were even placed on the Index of Prohibited Books for a time. Under Pope John XXIII, the Holy Office acted more decisively.

The prohibition was disciplinary rather than a dogmatic judgment against the core idea of God’s mercy (which is, of course, central to Christianity). It specifically targeted the “forms proposed by Sister Faustina”—the particular image, the new feast, and associated writings and practices.

 Why Was It Prohibited? The Main Reasons

The primary cause was faulty and incomplete translations of Faustina’s Diary. The Vatican received Italian or other translations that were inaccurate or confusing. These versions sometimes made it appear that Faustina was speaking presumptuously or blurring the distinction between her own words and those attributed to Jesus. This raised suspicions of doctrinal issues, such as potential semi-Pelagianism (over-emphasizing human effort in obtaining grace) or an overly casual presentation of private revelations.

Compounding this was the Iron Curtain. Poland was under communist rule in the 1950s, making it extremely difficult to smuggle original Polish documents or accurate materials to Rome. The Vatican had limited, second-hand, or erroneous information to evaluate. The Holy Office was acting prudently based on what it had—standard procedure for evaluating private revelations and new devotions.

Additional factors sometimes cited by historians include:

- A general caution in that era against “new” devotions that might distract from established ones like the Sacred Heart.

- Theological scrutiny of the specific image (e.g., rays coming from the breast rather than explicitly the Heart) and the proposed feast.

- The Holy Office’s role in safeguarding the faithful from unverified claims, especially amid postwar confusion and the rise of various spiritual movements.

The 1959 decree was not an infallible declaration that the revelations were false or demonic. It was a provisional measure: “pending further investigation,” as some analyses describe it. The Church has always been cautious with private revelations, approving them only after rigorous examination (and even then, they are not binding on the faithful).

 How and Why the Ban Was Lifted

In the 1960s, Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, Archbishop of Kraków (and future Pope John Paul II), played a pivotal role. He knew the Polish context, the original Diary, and the positive fruits of the devotion among the faithful. In 1965, he opened the informative process for Faustina’s cause for beatification and commissioned a thorough theological analysis by Fr. Ignacy Różycki, a respected Thomist. This study, along with accurate translations and original documents, reached Rome.

On April 15, 1978, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a Notification declaring that the 1959 prohibitions “are no longer binding.” It noted that many original documents unknown in 1959 had been examined, and circumstances had changed. The letter explicitly stated there was no longer any impediment to spreading the devotion in its authentic forms.

Just six months later, in October 1978, Cardinal Wojtyła was elected pope. As John Paul II, he became a powerful advocate:

- He beatified Faustina in 1993.

- Canonized her in 2000 (the first saint of the new millennium).

- Instituted Divine Mercy Sunday for the universal Church.

- Consecrated the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków and frequently preached on God’s mercy (see his encyclical Dives in Misericordia).

The devotion’s rapid global spread since then—chaplets prayed at the hour of mercy (3 p.m.), the image venerated in countless parishes, and millions participating in Divine Mercy Sunday—demonstrates its pastoral value.

 Lessons from the History

The temporary prohibition of the Divine Mercy Devotion illustrates several important truths about the Church:

- Prudence in discernment — The Church moves slowly and carefully with private revelations to protect the faithful. Mistakes or incomplete information can occur, but the process includes mechanisms for correction.

- The role of providence — What seemed like a setback became an opportunity for deeper study. Accurate scholarship and the persistence of Polish Catholics (including the future pope) led to vindication.

- Mercy remains central — Even during the ban, the Church never denied God’s mercy. The devotion simply needed proper framing and verification.

- Obedience and patience — Supporters of the devotion generally respected the 1959 Notification while working through proper channels. This humility helped lead to its eventual approval.

Today, the Divine Mercy message—“Jesus, I trust in You”—resonates powerfully in a world hungry for hope. It reminds us that God’s mercy is greater than our sins, available especially to the greatest sinners, and that we are called to be merciful to others.

The history of its prohibition and restoration is not a scandal but a testament to the Church’s careful guardianship of the faith and her ability to recognize authentic spiritual gifts when properly understood.

“Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.” — Words attributed to Jesus in St. Faustina’s Diary (No. 300).

Whether you pray the Chaplet daily or are just discovering the devotion, its core call is timeless: trust in the infinite mercy of God, who desires not the death of the sinner but that he turn and live (Ezekiel 33:11).

Divine Mercy Sunday 2025: Pope Francis Embodied Mercy

Reflection on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, 2025: Readings for Year C and Pope Francis’s Legacy of Mercy

On April 27, 2025, the Catholic Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter, a day dedicated to reflecting on God’s infinite mercy as revealed through Jesus Christ. This feast, instituted by St. John Paul II in 2000 following the visions of St. Faustina Kowalska, holds special significance this year as it comes just six days after the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, and one day after his funeral on April 26. The readings for Year C, as outlined by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), invite us to ponder the mercy of Christ through His resurrection, the early Church’s witness, and His appearance to the doubting Thomas. In this reflection, we’ll explore the themes of these readings and how Pope Francis embodied divine mercy during his life and even after his death, leaving a legacy that resonates deeply with this sacred day.

First Reading: Acts 5:12-16 – Signs of Mercy in the Early Church

The first reading from Acts paints a vivid picture of the early Christian community in Jerusalem, where the apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, perform “many signs and wonders.” People bring the sick to the streets, hoping that Peter’s shadow might fall on them and heal them, and “a large number of people from the towns… were all cured.” This passage reflects the Church as a conduit of God’s mercy, a place where physical and spiritual healing flows freely through the apostles’ faith and the power of Christ’s resurrection.

This reading challenges us to consider how the Church today continues to be a vessel of mercy. The early Christians’ trust in the apostles mirrors the trust we’re called to place in Christ’s mercy, especially on Divine Mercy Sunday. It’s a reminder that God’s healing is available to all, no matter their condition, just as the crowds in Acts sought healing without distinction. The image of Peter’s shadow healing the sick also points to the subtle, often unseen ways God’s mercy works in our lives—through the Church, through others, and through our own acts of love.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 – A Song of Mercy and Triumph

The responsorial psalm, with its refrain “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting,” is a joyful celebration of God’s enduring mercy. The psalmist recounts being “pushed hard” but not falling, for “the Lord helped me.” It also includes the prophetic verse, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” pointing to Christ’s resurrection as the ultimate act of divine mercy—turning rejection and death into triumph and life.

On Divine Mercy Sunday, this psalm invites us to give thanks for God’s mercy in our own lives. The phrase “his love is everlasting” reminds us that God’s mercy is not a one-time event but a constant reality, available even in our darkest moments. As we sing these words, we’re called to trust in the mercy that raised Jesus from the dead, a mercy that can transform our own struggles into opportunities for grace.

Second Reading: Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 – Christ’s Mercy in Glory

In the second reading, John shares his vision on the island of Patmos, where he sees the risen Christ, “one like a son of man,” dressed in a robe with a golden sash, His hair white as wool, and His voice like rushing waters. Christ declares, “Do not be afraid… I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.” This vision of the glorified Christ reassures John—and us—that death has no power over Him, and His mercy extends through all time.

This reading is a powerful reminder of the eternal nature of Christ’s mercy. His command, “Do not be afraid,” echoes the message of Divine Mercy Sunday: trust in Jesus, the source of all mercy. The image of Christ holding “the keys to death and the netherworld” assures us that His mercy triumphs over sin and death, offering us hope and forgiveness. For me, this passage is a call to surrender my fears and doubts to Christ, trusting that His mercy is greater than any failing.

Gospel: John 20:19-31 – Mercy for the Doubting Thomas

The Gospel reading recounts two appearances of the risen Jesus to His disciples. On the evening of Easter Sunday, Jesus appears in the locked room, saying, “Peace be with you,” and shows His wounds, commissioning the disciples to forgive sins. A week later, He appears again for Thomas, who had doubted, inviting him to touch His wounds and believe. Jesus declares, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed,” a message for all future generations, including us.

This Gospel is at the heart of Divine Mercy Sunday, as St. Faustina recorded that Jesus requested this feast be celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter to emphasize His mercy. The scene with Thomas highlights Christ’s patience and compassion—He doesn’t rebuke Thomas for doubting but meets him where he is, offering tangible proof of His resurrection. The gift of the Holy Spirit and the authority to forgive sins underscore mercy as the mission of the Church, a mission we’re called to live out through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and acts of forgiveness in our daily lives.

Pope Francis: A Living Icon of Divine Mercy

Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, after a stroke and heart failure, embodied the mercy celebrated on Divine Mercy Sunday throughout his 12-year papacy and even in his death. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Francis chose his papal name after St. Francis of Assisi, a saint of poverty and peace, signaling his commitment to the marginalized. His episcopal motto, miserando atque eligendo (“by having mercy and by choosing”), reflected his lifelong focus on mercy, a theme he carried into his papacy.

During his life, Francis lived out divine mercy in countless ways. He washed the feet of prisoners, refugees, and the sick during Holy Thursday services, showing that no one is beyond God’s love. His 2016 Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy emphasized forgiveness, with Francis declaring, “God never tires of forgiving us; it is we who tire of asking for forgiveness.” He opened holy doors not just in Rome but in prisons and cathedrals worldwide, symbolizing access to mercy for all. Francis also showed mercy to the LGBT+ community, approving same-sex blessings in 2023 and saying, “Who am I to judge?”—a radical departure from past papal stances. His 2019 Document on Human Fraternity, signed with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, promoted interfaith dialogue, extending mercy across religious divides.

Francis’s advocacy for the poor was another expression of mercy. His first papal trip in 2013 to Lampedusa, where he mourned migrants lost at sea, and his 2022 apology to Indigenous Canadians for the Church’s role in residential schools, demonstrated his commitment to those on the margins. His encyclical Laudato si’ linked care for the earth with care for the poor, showing how mercy extends to all creation. Even in his final days, despite battling double pneumonia and chronic health issues, Francis called for peace in Gaza and Ukraine during his Easter message on April 20, 2025, embodying mercy until the end.

Mercy After Death: Francis’s Lasting Impact

Even after his death, Pope Francis’s legacy of mercy continues to inspire. His funeral on April 26, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square, attended by 250,000 people, included a homily by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re that highlighted Francis’s mercy as a central theme of his papacy. Re noted Francis’s outreach to migrants, saying, “He built bridges, not walls,” a call to mercy that resonated with the diverse crowd, including leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump, who met to discuss peace—a moment some dubbed “the Pope’s miracle.”

Francis’s burial at Santa Maria Maggiore, a church dear to him for its connection to the poor, included 40 marginalized individuals—prisoners, migrants, and survivors of trafficking—invited to the private ceremony. This act ensured that even in death, Francis’s mercy reached the “least ones,” mirroring Christ’s mercy in the Gospel. The simplicity of his burial, with a tomb inscribed only with “Franciscus,” reflects his humility, a final testament to a life of merciful service.

Tying It All Together: Mercy in Our Lives

The readings for Divine Mercy Sunday 2025 call us to trust in Christ’s mercy, as seen in the healing power of the early Church, the eternal victory of the risen Christ, and Jesus’s compassion for Thomas’s doubts. Pope Francis lived this mercy, reaching out to the poor, the outcast, and the suffering, and his legacy continues to challenge us to do the same. On this Divine Mercy Sunday, as we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we can draw inspiration from Francis’s example—his life reminds us that mercy is not just a divine gift but a call to action, to love others as Christ loves us.

For me, this Sunday is a chance to reflect on where I need to show more mercy in my own life—perhaps in forgiving someone who has hurt me or reaching out to someone in need. Francis’s life, and even his death, shows that mercy is a lifelong journey, one that transforms both the giver and the receiver. As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, let’s honor Pope Francis by living out the mercy he so beautifully embodied, trusting that he now intercedes for us from heaven, a true saint of mercy.

How has Pope Francis’s legacy of mercy touched your life? What does Divine Mercy Sunday mean to you this year? Share your reflections in the comments below.

Divine Mercy Sunday

The Second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday, offers a profound opportunity for reflection and spiritual growth. The readings for this day are rich with themes of faith, community, and the boundless mercy of God. 

The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 4:32-35) presents a vision of the early Christian community living in unity and selflessness. It paints a picture of believers sharing everything in common, ensuring that no one among them was in need. This passage challenges us to consider the depth of our own commitment to communal living and generosity.

The responsorial Psalm (Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24) echoes the joy of salvation and deliverance, inviting us to express gratitude for God's enduring love and the victory over death manifested in the Resurrection.

In the second reading, the First Letter of John (1 John 5:1-6) speaks to the victory that overcomes the world—our faith. It calls us to reflect on the nature of our faith and how it empowers us to face the world's challenges with courage and hope.

The Gospel reading from John (John 20:19-31) recounts the appearance of the risen Christ to his disciples and the famous encounter with Thomas, who doubts until he sees Jesus' wounds. This narrative invites us to ponder the areas of our lives where we harbor doubt and how the presence of the risen Lord can transform that doubt into belief.

These readings collectively remind us of the early Christians' experiences following the Resurrection of Jesus. They were grappling with their own doubts and fears, much like we do today. Yet, they found strength and conviction in their encounters with the risen Christ and in the fellowship of the community.

Divine Mercy Sunday emphasizes God's compassion and forgiveness. It is a day to remember that, despite our own doubts and struggles, God's mercy is always available to us. It is a call to trust in God's mercy, to seek forgiveness, and to extend that same mercy to others.

As we reflect on these readings, we are invited to deepen our understanding of God's mercy and to live out the implications of the Resurrection in our daily lives. It is a time to renew our faith, to strengthen our bonds with the Christian community, and to embrace the mission of sharing God's love and mercy with the world. 

For those seeking to delve deeper into these reflections, resources and homilies are available that explore the readings of the Second Sunday of Easter in greater detail. These can provide further insight and inspiration for personal meditation or group discussion. The journey of faith is ongoing, and the Second Sunday of Easter offers a rich source of spiritual nourishment to fuel that journey.

The Divine Mercy: A Historical and Devotional Overview

The Divine Mercy is a powerful Catholic devotion that focuses on the mercy of God, particularly as it is expressed through Jesus Christ. The history of this devotion is deeply intertwined with the life of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who lived in the early 20th century. It was through her that the message of Divine Mercy was spread, a message that has since touched the hearts of millions around the world.

Saint Faustina was born in 1905 and entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in 1925. During her life, she reported having visions and conversations with Jesus, where He conveyed the depths of His mercy and the importance of sharing this message with the world. One of the most significant elements of these revelations was the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, a prayer that Jesus gave to Saint Faustina with promises of extraordinary graces for those who would recite it with trust in His mercy.

The Chaplet is a sequence of prayers that is recited using ordinary rosary beads and begins with the Sign of the Cross, followed by an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed. The core of the Chaplet consists of two main prayers repeated on the beads: "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," and "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world." These prayers reflect the sacrificial love of Jesus and plead for His mercy for ourselves and the entire world.

The Divine Mercy devotion also includes the Divine Mercy Novena, which begins on Good Friday and concludes on Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday following Easter. This novena involves reciting the Chaplet for nine days, along with additional prayers and intentions provided by Jesus to Saint Faustina. The culmination of this period is Divine Mercy Sunday, a day especially dedicated to the celebration of God's infinite mercy.

The message of Divine Mercy is not just a call to personal prayer but also a call to action. It encourages the faithful to perform acts of mercy towards others, both in deeds and prayers. This aspect of the devotion aligns with the broader Christian call to love and serve one another, reflecting the mercy that God has shown to humanity.

The Divine Mercy devotion has been officially recognized and celebrated by the Catholic Church, with Pope John Paul II being a notable advocate. He canonized Saint Faustina in 2000 and declared the second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday, thereby institutionalizing the celebration of Divine Mercy within the liturgical calendar of the Church.

Today, the Divine Mercy devotion continues to inspire individuals to turn to God's mercy and to be instruments of that mercy in the world. It serves as a reminder of the boundless love and compassion that God offers and calls us to extend that same mercy to others in our lives.

For those interested in learning more about the Divine Mercy and how to pray the Chaplet, there are numerous resources available, including detailed guides and videos that provide step-by-step instructions and reflections. Whether one is new to the devotion or has been practicing it for years, the Divine Mercy offers a profound way to connect with the heart of the Christian faith—the merciful love of God.

Sunday of Divine Mercy

We are now in the Easter season of the Church's liturgical calendar. During this time, the first reading is from the New Testament and not the Old.  This is done to reflect the new covenant taking hold after Jesus resurrected.

In the first reading, we read of the many miracles that happened via the hands of the apostles.  The people carried out their sick and laid them on mats just so Peter's shadow can fall on them.  When his shadow fell on them, the people were healed. We see Sacramentals at work!  This reading tells us what happened after Jesus' resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. The apostles were no longer those timid men who ran after Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:50).  They were brave men full of faith and witness to their teacher Christ. To ensure the faith of the people and attraction of others, God performed many miracles via the apostles using unconventional means such as handkerchiefs and shadows (Acts 19:11-12).  These miracles brought the people to thank God just as we read in today's Responsorial Psalm.

We must always give thanks to the Lord, not only because He is the Lord, but because He is good and His love endures forever!  This Psalm today is one of my favorites and shows an early litany. Some of our separated brethren in the Protestant faith attack Catholics because we use litanies. They call it "vain-repetitious prayer." However, we see in this Psalm that repetition is good and not vain.  Praising God while repeating certain things is not vain nor bad. We must thank God because His mercy endures forever.  In this year of Mercy and on this Divine Mercy Sunday we must not forget this and should meditate on it. God is merciful.  He forgives and loves (Romans 5:8).  We should shout with joy like a shout of victory.  We should praise the stone which the builders rejected and which has become the cornerstone: Jesus.

The second reading reminds of the victory of Christ over death. He holds the keys to death and the netherworld. Jesus is Lord of the living and the dead (Romans 14:9).  We get apocalyptic imagery describing the gloried Lord surrounded by seven gold lamp stands, seven symbolizes perfection.  Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 14:6). There is no one else from which we get saved (Acts 4:12).  We must not be afraid as we read in the reading.  God is love and loves all of His creation. We have nothing to fear only the loss of God's presence and love.

Finally in the Gospel, we read of Jesus appearing to the apostles and telling them "Peace be with you." He shows them His hands and side to prove it was really Him. Then He promises them the Holy Spirit and gives them the power to forgive sins.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is officially born, so to speak.  In this year of Mercy and Divine Mercy Sunday, we should focus on asking God for mercy and going to confession, daily if possible. Priests have the power to absolve sins.  This is not something the Church made up.  It comes directly from Jesus Himself.

We then see a part that really spoke to me as a former atheist. Thomas, called Didymus was not present when Jesus appeared.  When he arrived, they told him that Jesus was present, but he did not believe them.  Like an atheist, he needed 'evidence.' He was a materialist who needed to see the mark of the nails in His hands and needed to touch the wounds in order to believe.  A week had passed and the disciples were together and this time Thomas was present.  Jesus came into the room though the doors were locked and told them once again, "Peace be with you."  Jesus being God knew what had happened the week before in regards to Thomas and told Him, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe."  Thomas immediately answered, "My Lord and my God!"  Jesus then says, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."  How blessed are those indeed who believe in God yet have not seen Him. Atheists often criticize believers for their 'blind faith.' They believe without seeing. However, believers seen via faith which is a higher state or perception. Faith brings the mind, heart, soul and senses to perceive what is beyond space, time and matter (2 Corinthians 5:7).  Faith is not easy to process (Hebrews 11).  The late Mother Angelica who passed away last Easter Sunday said, “Faith is one foot on the ground, one foot in the air, and a queasy feeling in the stomach.”  The figure of Thomas in the Gospels to me represents atheists and agnostics who need to see to believe.  We do not need to see Jesus as a human walking before us in order to believe just like we do not need to see George Washington before us in order to believe he existed and was the United States' first president. We are smarter than that.  The Gospel ends telling us that Jesus did other things that were not recorded. All of these things were done in order to bring others to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, let us ask God for forgiveness and seek His mercy.  Let us be merciful towards our brothers and sisters in the world.  May Jesus Christ be praised.


Readings:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040316.cfm

2nd Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday & Doubts

A week has passed since Easter Sunday, the day of the resurrection of our Lord. Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday.  Mercy is intertwined with the resurrection. Had Christ not risen from the dead, then we would not have been redeemed (1 Corinthians 15:17-19).  The Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ opened up the doors to salvation for all of us. God's mercy now reigns supreme calling us to repentance and happiness in his grace (2 Timothy 1:9).
The Divine Mercy is a devotion that has always been around. However, it has become more centralized due to the visions of Sister Faustina of Poland who had visions of Jesus from 1931 to 1938.  During this period, Christ would reveal to Sister Faustina his desire to have all people reside in Him. This desire is so great that He offers graces of mercy to all people.  Christ even taught Sister Faustina a chaplet which is to be recited on Rosary beads.

See more here:
http://www.sacerdotus.com/2012/04/divine-mercy-sunday.html
http://www.sacerdotus.com/2012/04/divine-mercy-novena.html


Message to readers:
Please help fund this work. Hosting this site and running this work is not free. I have to pay for the domain name, materials I mail people, postage etc.  Moreover, I want to expand Sacerdotus Radio hosted on blogtalkradio which costs money and also want to publish some writings.  Without your generosity, I will not be able to continue this on my $70 a month stipend. Please donate and help me raise the funds necessary to run and expand.   I will probably have to stop this work if I am not able to keep up with costs.  Please go to this site to make your donation which you can report on taxes as a gift, thanks and God bless: http://www.gofundme.com/3avl7o


In the first reading from Acts, we read of how the early Church was of one heart and mind. Everyone shared everything and had no needs.  They truly believed they were a family in Christ.  Unfortunately today, we have thousands of Christian sects claiming to be the one true Church of Christ. They distort Sacred Scripture in order to fit their heresies and attack one another in a false sense of religious zeal and piety.  These sects offer all kinds of false teachings and lure people in with entertainment and false promises of prosperity if they accept Christ (2 Timothy 4:3).  This is why we as Catholics must pray for unity and evangelize those who are outside of the visible Body of Christ, the Catholic Church.  However, we too must restore that image of the Church being a family.  How many times have we gone to Mass for years and have not even known the name of other parishioners?  We must try our best to be friendly with one another and accept one another as brothers and sisters (Romans 15:7).  Some try to use today's first reading to justify Communism or Socialism.  This is a bad interpretation. Sharing things is not socialism or communism.  It is being human. We are one family in God and should share. The Church herself is the Body of Christ with many members all functioning for the same purpose (Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27).  The first reading emphasizes this. Each member of the Church community must care for one another. This care must also extend to those outside of the Church via the works of mercy (Matthew 25:31-45). As we do this, we spread around God's mercy to all and call others to repentance while giving thanks to God as today's Psalm states.

The responsorial Psalm for today beings with the phrase, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love is everlasting."  We recall in the Psalm how our ancestors in the house of Israel proclaimed God's mercy and goodness.  God was always there for His people (Psalm 73:23). The mercy God offers is eternal, always tugging at our stubborn hearts (Psalm 100:5). This mercy brings us to believe more and grow in faith.  Faith is extremely important as we read in the second reading.

In the second reading, we are reminded that our belief in Jesus makes us begotten by God. We become part of the Blessed Trinity, not as gods or deities, but as a family with God as our Father and creator. We must always obey God's commandments and remain in grace. By doing this, we demonstrate that we love God and will remain in God (John 14:15, John 15:10).  Today's second reading mentions the water and blood that flowed from the side of Christ when He was pierced by the lance (John 19:34). The image of the Divine Mercy demonstrates this vividly as beams of red and blue light emanating from the heart of Christ.  These represent the waters of Baptism and the Blood of Christ we receive in the Holy Eucharist.

Finally in the Gospel, we listen to the story that impacted me a lot as a former atheist. The disciples were locked behind doors afraid of the Jews. Jesus then appears to them out of nowhere. He tells them "peace be with you."  This would have been some sight.  Imagine if you were in a room locked and someone you thought was deceased appeared in the room and said "boo" to you. Would that not startle you? Anyhow, Jesus then shows them His hands and side to confirm to them that He was really the Lord who was crucified. He tells them that as the Father has sent Him so He will send them. This tells us that we take upon Jesus' ministry to bring truth. peace, love, joy, mercy, redemption and forgiveness to the world (Mark 16:15, 2 Corinthians 4:1).  We must spread the Gospel to all people and not stop speaking of what we have experienced in our faith (Acts 4:20). Christ then tells them that they will receive the Holy Spirit and will be able to forgive the sins of others. This is the birth of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Once again, Christ is showing us His Divine Mercy.  There is no sin that God will not forgive unless it is the sin against the Holy Spirit which is the sin of not trusting in God's mercy and therefore not repenting (Matthew 12:22-32, St. Augustine: Enchiridion lxxxiii, De Verb. Dom,. Serm. lxxi, De Serm. Dom. in Monte xxii). This does not mean that a sin is more powerful than God, no sin is (Isaiah 1:18, Isaiah 43:25-26, Hebrews 10:17).  What this does mean is that if we do not repent nor have any trust in God's mercy, then we close ourselves to forgiveness. So the problem here is not God somehow withholding mercy, but man abusing his free will and not opening himself to God's Divine Mercy.

Lastly, we read of Thomas called Didymus. He was not with the disciples when Jesus appeared so he was confused at what was going on. The others told him that they saw the Lord and he is incredulous of their story and states, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."    These words remind me of myself years ago as an atheist and skeptic, as well as my friends and those who I have encountered who are still atheists. We want to see "empirical" evidence of God. We will not believe until we "see the mark of the nails and put {a hand} into His side."  Thomas was echoing the words of atheists today. However, his doubts would not remain unchallenged. A week later, Jesus appears to the disciples again who were locked in a room. This time, Thomas was present and Jesus approaches him telling him, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe."  Once Thomas does this he realizes that this man is really Christ and exclaims, "My Lord and my God!"  This is why I always state that atheism is part of religious belief, so to speak.  Like Thomas, atheists are open to belief. If they were not, then they would not be so fixated on the topics of God, faith, and religion. Have you ever wondered why atheists claim there is no God or claim to lack belief in one, yet that is all they talk about? This is interesting and I explore this here: (http://www.sacerdotus.com/2012/12/why-do-atheists-care-about-god.html).

This is an inner desire to search for God.  It is the "God gene" at work. In order for atheists to "find God," they must seek Him.  There is no other way.  No argument, no writings from apologists will ever truly present God to anyone. Only a humble heart who seeks God will encounter Him (Matthew 5:8). An atheist has to pray to God and invite Him in.  We who do believe must not believe solely based on "hard evidence" per se, but via love and trust. If you are married now or have a girlfriend or boyfriend, will you like it if your significant other demanded proof that you love him or her?  This would be a big turn off and would disrupt a relationship. It creates distrust and suspicion.  Similarly, if we only believe in God when He "shows Himself" or does something for us, then our relationship is not with God, but with His abilities or favors. This is why Jesus tells Thomas, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed,"  We must not be like the fools who claim there is no God just because they cannot see Him (Psalm 14:1). We must believe and trust God always (Ephesians 6:16).  Ironically the image of the Divine Mercy has on the bottom, "Jesus I trust in you."  This faith opens us to the Divine Mercy that washes away our sins. We do not need to see, hear or touch God as we do one another in order to believe (2 Corinthians 5:7). I explore this further here: (http://www.sacerdotus.com/2012/11/no-evidence-for-god-therefore-no-god.html).  God is everywhere and His mercy extends to all. Blessed indeed are those who believe without seeing and who trust and spread the Divine Mercy of God.  May Jesus Christ be praised!


Readings:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041215.cfm

      

John XXII & John Paul II to be Canonized

Great news!  Both Popes, John XXIII and John Paul II will be canonized on April 27, 2014; the feast day of Divine Mercy or Divine Mercy Sunday!

This confirms previous reports.

John XXII was born Angelo Roncalli and served as a military chaplain during World War I.  He was responsible for the Vatican II council which helped the Church keep up with the modern times but without changing her teachings.  He was a humble Pope who later developed stomach cancer.

John Paul II is probably more known today especially by the youth.  He was born Karol Wojtyla in Krakow, Poland.  He took dealt with wartime in his native land and ministered to the youth.  He was an actor and later was ordained a priest.

Both Popes were very humble, holy and in touch with the people.  They both bore the Cross of Christ throughout their lives, especially during their pontificates where they suffered greatly.

This is a great time for the Church.  May Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II pray for us.  Rumor has it that both living popes, Benedict XVI and Francis will celebrate the Mass in April 2014!   


Source:

http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=126865

http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=126863