Abbey-Roads2

Go to the font of Mercy - let no one hinder you.

When John Paul II proclaimed the Second Sunday of Easter as the feast of Divine Mercy, a priest friend of mine complained that he felt the devotion was inappropriate to the Easter season.  He never felt attracted to the devotion, and thought it was contrary to the spirit of Easter to focus upon the Passion.  “After all, we just finished Lent and the observance of Holy Week.”  I’ve known a few priests who are not attracted to the devotion, believing it a novelty, or an ‘add-on’ to the richness of the Paschal liturgy.  That doesn’t make these priests less than devout of course.

I am surprised that there are some people who think Easter morning should somehow erase the memory of the Passion, forgetting the Mass itself is a perpetuation of the Sacrifice of Calvary.  When we meditate the Easter Gospels, we witness Our Lord explaining to the disciples why it was necessary that he suffered and died, opening their minds to the scriptures.  He had Thomas probe his wounds, while he showed the disciples his wounds when he appeared to them.  Our Lord did not intend us to put his suffering and death behind us and simply distract ourselves with the joy of the Resurrection.

I recall being surprised to see the retired Abbot of my monastery making the Way of the Cross on Easter Sunday, after morning Mass.  At first it did indeed strike me as incongruous with the celebration of Our Lord’s Resurrection, yet upon deeper reflection, I understood that it remains an essential consideration to fully understand the power flowing from the Resurrection of Christ.

The Novena

The novena begins on Good Friday and culminates in the celebration of the feast of Divine Mercy.  Many people use the prayer formula dictated by Our Lord to St. Faustina.  That is a good practice, however, one is not bound to these prayers, since they were given specifically to St. Faustina for her use.  St. Faustina recomended the novena of chaplets to the Divine Mercy, since this prayer is so efficacious and accompanied by many promises from Our Lord.  Nevertheless, any prayer may be used, and it is good to imitate the pattern of Faustina’s novena, and bring a group of souls to Our Lord each day.

However, the novena is not a prerequisite to receive the graces of the feast of Divine Mercy.  To receive the pardon Our Lord wishes to grant that day, it is only necessary to come to him, to venerate his mercy, and to ask for his mercy.  In addition he requested certain conditions be met, to confess our sins to a priest, and to receive him in Holy Communion that day, venerating his merciful love.  To spend some time in adoration of the Divine Mercy that day would also be an appropriate act.

“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.” - Diary of St. Faustina

When the Holy Father proclaimed the feast, the conditions for a plenary indulgence were thereby set and given for those who participate in the Celebration of that day.  These conditions include, Confession and Communion 8 days before or after the feast, with prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, along with the prayers of the Creed and an Our Father, including an appropriate prayer to the Divine Mercy, even as simple as, “Jesus I trust in you!”   These acts should be performed before the Blessed Sacrament, exposed or in the tabernacle.  Many Churches have a special celebration in honor of the Divine Mercy on this day, in order to help the faithful meet the requirements for these things.  (EWTN has a more informative site concerning the devotion to the Divine Mercy, go here for more details.) 

Ray at Stella Borealis is also publishing Colleen Perfect’s (Catholic Parents Online) transmission of the Novena prayers of St. Faustina.  I’m certain he will be posting local churches that will be holding special devotions that day.