tender mercy

Divine Mercy Sunday

The Feast of the Divine Mercy or Divine Mercy Sunday falls on the Octave of Easter (the Sunday immediately following Easter). It is dedicated to the devotion to the Divine Mercy promoted by St. Faustina, and is based upon an entry in St. Faustina's diary stating that anyone who participates in the Mass and receives the sacraments of confession and Eucharist on this day is assured by Jesus of full remission of sins.

According to the notebooks of Saint Faustina, Jesus made the following statements about this day: "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 all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity." (Diary of Saint Faustina, 699)

The devotion was celebrated unofficially in many places for some years. On April 30, 2000 (Divine Mercy Sunday of that year), Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faustina and designated the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday in the General Roman Calendar, with effect from the following year. He also decreed a plenary indulgence associated with this devotion. Pope John Paul II said he felt a closeness to St. Faustina when he was writing Dives in misericordia . He died during the vigil of the Divine Mercy Sunday in 2005.

On the calendar observed for the traditional Latin Mass, this day is not observed. It remains Low Sunday; Dominica in albis depositis; the Octave Day of Easter; Pascha clausum; Thomas Sunday; or Quasimodo Sunday.

The Litany of The Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the bosom of the Father, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, fountain gushing forth from the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed by any intellect, human or angelic, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, from which wells forth all life and happiness, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, better than the heavens, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, source of miracles and wonders, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, descending to earth in the Person of the Incarnate Word, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, which flowed out from the open wound of the Heart of Jesus, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, enclosed in the Heart of Jesus for us, and especially for sinners, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in the institution of the Sacred Heart, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the founding of Holy Church, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in our justification through Jesus Christ, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, accompanying us through our whole life, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, embracing us especially at the hour of death, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, accompanying us every moment of our life, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, shielding us from the fire of hell, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in the conversion of hardened sinners, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, astonishment for Angels, incomprehensible to Saints, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in all the mysteries of God, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, lifting us out of every misery, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, source of our happiness and joy, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingness to existence, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, embracing all the works of His hands, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, crown of all of God's handiwork, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, in which we are all immersed, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, only hope of despairing souls, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, repose of hearts, peace amidst fear, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, delight and ecstasy of holy souls, I Trust in You.
Divine Mercy, inspiring hope against all hope, I Trust in You.