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According to
Jesus’ wish, the Feast of Mercy is to be celebrated on the first Sunday
after Easter. Jesus is showing us the close connection between the Easter
mystery of man’s Redemption and the mystery His Divine Mercy. The
liturgy for this day extols God most fully in the mystery of His mercy.
The Feast of Mercy is not only a day designated for the singular worship
of God’s Mercy, but it is also a day of grace for all people,
particularly for sinners. Jesus attached great promises to this feast, the
greatest of which is connected with the reception of Holy Communion on
that day. It is the promise of complete forgiveness of sins and
punishment.
The
greatness of this feast lies also in the fact that everyone, even those
who are converted that very day, may obtain any grace for the asking, if
what they ask for be compatible with God’s will. "I want this
image," Jesus told Sister Faustina, "...to be solemnly blessed
on the first Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy
(49). I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all
souls, and especially for poor sinners. 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. On that day are open all the divine floodgates through which
graces flow. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be
as scarlet (699).
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