Second Sunday of Easter

Divine Mercy Sunday

The Month of April Dedicated both to Devotion to the Eucharist and Devotion to the Holy Spirit

In other years: Saint Bernadette Soubirous, Patron Saint of the Sick (1844-1879)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 61:1-5 The Reception of Visiting Monks

Mass: Acts 2:42-47; Resp Ps 118; 1 Pt 1:3-9; Jn 20:19-31

By the Lord has this been done.

Mary, Queen of Peace,

Mary, Queen of Mercy,

Saint Michael the Archangel,

pray for us. 

Jesus, Bread of Life,

Holy Spirit, come,

have mercy on us.

Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustfully to divine mercy ...

My daughter, say that I am love and mercy personified.

(Jesus to Faustina Kowalska)

Welcome to Divine Mercy Sunday on this Second Sunday of Easter, the day dedicated to Divine Mercy by Pope Saint John Paul II when he canonized Saint Faustina Kowalska, April 30, 2000. The pontiff preached this during the homily: "It is important that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on the Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church will be called 'Divine Mercy Sunday'." I remember this day in 2003, April 27th that year, when I made my First Monastic Profession. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever (Ps 118:1). At the same time, I recall my memorable visit to the beautiful country of Lithuania around 2009, when I went with dear Agne to visit the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Vilnius. The chapel was packed, standing room only. 

Heeding the words of Pope Saint John Paul II, look to today's readings, reflect. What does it mean to find peace in divine mercy? The second reading from the First Letter of Saint Peter is enough to keep anyone busy. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ... (1 Pt 1:3ff)

Peace be with you ... Receive the Holy Spirit. 

(Jn 20:19-22)

There is one form of power for the three powers of faith, hope, and charity, for everything in this life is based on faith; by it we believe, we hope and we love what we do not see. This is faith. By it we now walk as long as we pilgrimage to the Lord ...

Faith is indeed the first step forward to God. As the Apostle says: It behooves those going to God to believe that He is the rewarder of those seeking Him. Faith is the root of all the powers and the foundation of all good works. Nor is there any power which is not derived from faith. There are no buildings but only ruins outside the foundation of faith.

(William of St Thierry, The Mirror of Faith, Ch 2, 4; Ch 9, 13)

Our Lady Mary, Mother of Mercy, help us to attain the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls (see 1 Pt 1:9). I believe, help my unbelief.

Faustina, a gift of God for our time, a gift from the land of Poland to the whole Church, obtain for us an awareness of the depth of divine mercy; help us to have a living experience of it among our brothers and sisters. May your message of hope and light spread throughout the world, spurring sinners to conversion, calming rivalries and hatred and opening individuals and nations to the practice of brotherhood. Today, fixing our gaze with you on the face of the risen Christ, let us make our own your prayer of trusting abandonment and say with firm hope: Christ Jesus, I trust in you. Jezu, ufam tobie!

(Pope Saint John Paul II, Homily of the Holy Father, Mass in St Peter's Square for the Canonization of Sr Maria Faustina Kowalska, April 30, 2000)

United in faith and prayer, we go forth, believe and proclaim in word and deed with Saint Faustina: Jesus is love and mercy personified!

SAINT MARIA FAUSTINA KOWALSKA,

SAINT BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS,

PRAY FOR US.

Today’s photo: This Fetid Adder’s Tongue is a new one to me. I’m told you have to pay attention to see it. The contributor of the photo eyed the flower last week. In her words, “I was quite excited when I began to see the flowers on the path along the creek from the monastery and the guest houses. The spotted leaves are eye catching but it is easy to miss the beautiful flowers.” In an article about Fetid Adder's Tongue, the author wrote: “The act of looking, of paying attention is akin to prayer for me …” May all this be a reminder then, to pay attention, and "finally, never lose hope in God's mercy" (Rule of Saint Benedict, 4:74). Amen. 

© Gertrude Feick 2023