Deacon Jeff's Blog - Divine Mercy Sunday

Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, which was established by St. John Paul II during the Canonization Mass of St. Faustina Kowalska on April 30, 2000. This date was the Second Sunday of Easter in 2000, and thus St. John Paul declared every Second Sunday of Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday.

To understand more about the Divine Mercy of Jesus, we need to know a bit more about the saint to whom the revelations were given: St. Faustina. Helena Kowalski was born on August 25, 1905, and was the third of ten children born to a poor, but deeply religious family.

At an early age, Helena stood out because of her devotion to prayer, work and helping the poor (understanding she too was very poor). She felt a calling to religious life in her teenage years, but her parents could not afford the money it took for admission to any of the convents.

Helena went out by herself to work and save the money. On August 1, 1925, Helena entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and took the name, Sr. Maria Faustina. Even though her life seem insignificant, monotonous, and dull, she hid within herself an extraordinary relationship with God. The angels, saints, the Blessed Mother, and the souls in Purgatory were a real part of her daily life. In her conversations with God, she was instructed to write everything she was told in a diary, which today is a very popular book: The Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska.

St. Faustina is most well known for her development of The Divine Mercy Chaplet, prayed by many at the 3 o’clock hour daily. She knew of Jesus’ incredible mercy for everyone, and the Chaplet is the most profound tool to feel his mercy. St. Faustina battled with tuberculosis for many years and passed away at the very young age of 33.

​We will offer adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacrament of Reconciliation from noon-3pm this Sunday, and will pray the Chaplet at 3:00. Please make the time to join us and feel the awesome mercy Jesus can offer you!

- Deacon Jeff

Email Deacon Jeff