“I consider this message [of
Divine Mercy] my special task. Providence has assigned it to me in the present
situation of man, the Church, and the world.” - Pope John Paul II
During the Mass of canonization of St. Faustina
on April 30, 2000, the year of the Great Jubilee, Pope John Paul II proclaimed:
"It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us
from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on
throughout the Church, will be called Divine Mercy Sunday." The readings
on that Sunday are always about mercy, trust and the forgiveness of sins.
By the words "the whole message," the
Holy Father was referring to the strict connection between the "Easter
Mystery of the Redemption" -- the suffering, death, burial, resurrection,
and ascension of Christ, followed by the sending of the Holy Spirit -- and this
Feast of Divine Mercy, on the Octave Day of Easter. This feast adds so much
more meaning to the Easter celebrations. It was Jesus, Himself who asked for it
to be celebrated on this particular Sunday following Easter.
“…Divine Mercy! This is the Easter gift that
the Church receives from the risen Christ and offers to humanity.'' (taken from Pope John Paul II’s Homily on
Divine Mercy Sunday, 2001)
