Even non-Catholics know that the Easter season is upon us.  Easter Sunday is one of the most important days of the Catholic calendar, but what a lot of people don’t know is that just one week later is another significant feast day, Divine Mercy Sunday.

Sister Faustina was a Polish nun in the early 1900’s.  In 1931 the Lord appeared to Sister Faustina in a vision.  Jesus stood clothed in white garment with one hand on his heart and two rays, one red for his blood and the other white for water, coming out of his chest.  Jesus taught her a chaplet and said that anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death.

Pope John Paul II canonized Sister Faustina, making her Saint Faustina in 2000, and established Divine Mercy Sunday as a feast day for the entire church.  This day, though not known by many, is a special day of repentance, forgiveness, and mercy that the Lord Jesus Christ gave as a gift to his people.

The following our guidelines for the Divine Mercy Novena:

1.      Celebrate the Feast on the Sunday after Easter.

2.      Sincerely repent all sins.

3.      Place complete trust in Jesus.

4.      Go to Confession, preferably the week before that Sunday.

5.      Receive Holy Communion on the day of the Feast.

6.      Venerate the image of Divine Mercy.

7.      Be merciful to others, through our actions, words, and prayers on their behalf.