On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces 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. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy. (Diary of Divine Mercy #699)

This message, spoken by Jesus to Saint Faustina in 1931, has now come true.  What was spoken in the solitude of a cloistered convent in Płock Poland, now is celebrated by the Universal Church throughout the whole world!

Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament was known to very few people during her lifetime.  But through her, God has spoken the message of His abundant mercy to the entire Church and world. What is this message?  Though its content is endless and unfathomable, here are five key ways that Jesus desires this new devotion to be lived:

The first way is through meditation on the sacred image of The Divine Mercy.  Saint Faustina was asked by Jesus to have an image of His merciful love painted for all to see. It’s an image of Jesus with two rays shining forth from His Heart. The first ray is blue, indicating the font of Mercy coming forth through Baptism; and the second ray is red, indicating the font of Mercy poured forth through the Blood of the Holy Eucharist.

The second way is through the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday.  Jesus told Saint Faustina that He desired an annual solemn Feast of Mercy. This Solemnity of Divine Mercy was established as a universal celebration on the Eighth day of the Octave of Easter. On that day the floodgates of Mercy are opened and many souls are made holy. 

The third way is through the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.  The chaplet is a treasured gift. It’s a gift that we should seek to pray each and every day.

The fourth way is by honoring the hour of Jesus’ death every day. “  It was at 3 o’clock that Jesus took His last breath and died upon the Cross. It was Friday. For this reason, Friday should always be seen as a special day to honor His Passion and ultimate Sacrifice. But since it took place at 3 o’clock, it is also important to honor that hour each and every day. This is the ideal time to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. If the Chaplet is not possible, it’s at least important to pause and give thanks to our Lord every day at that time.

The fifth way is through the Apostolic Movement of The Divine Mercy.  This movement is a call from our Lord to actively engage in the work of spreading His Divine Mercy.  This is done by spreading the message and by living Mercy toward others. 

On this, the Eighth Day of the Octave of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, ponder the above desires of the heart of Jesus.  Do you believe that the message of Divine Mercy is meant not only for you but also for the whole world? Do you seek to understand and incorporate this message and devotion into your life?  Do you seek to become an instrument of mercy to others? Become a disciple of The Divine Mercy and seek to spread this Mercy in the ways given to you by God.

My merciful Lord, I trust in You and in Your abundant Mercy!  Help me, this day, to deepen my devotion to Your merciful heart and to open my soul to the treasures that pour forth from this font of Heavenly riches.  May I trust You, Love You and become an instrument of You and Your Mercy to the whole world. Jesus, I trust in You!

Reflection was taken from the Catholic Daily Reflections – My Catholic Life website
https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2020/04/18/the-divine-mercy/

In the Gospel both at the Vigil and on Easter Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb to grieve, only to discover it is empty. The death she expected to greet her is not there. As we walk through the sufferings and deaths of our own life, experiencing Resurrection depends on our willingness to give ourselves over to the confusion that precedes joy. It is a fragile and beautiful thing to let go of our grip on death long enough to allow our confusion to give way into a new understanding – indeed a new life beyond what has passed away. May we find ourselves rising, if slowly, from our own lives’ suffering and confusion into the joy of knowing and loving the risen Jesus, today and every day.

Prayer of the Faithful: For deep faith in Easter joy that transcends our understanding, we pray to the Lord.

Reflection is taken from the CCCB – National Pastoral Initiative for Life and The Family

“Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep.” Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday

In the Gospel both at the Vigil and on Easter Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb to grieve, only to discover it is empty. The death she expected to greet her is not there. As we walk through the sufferings and deaths of our own life, experiencing Resurrection depends on our willingness to give ourselves over to the confusion that precedes joy. It is a fragile and beautiful thing to let go of our grip on death long enough to allow our confusion to give way into a new understanding – indeed a new life beyond what has passed away. May we
find ourselves rising, if slowly, from our own lives’ suffering and confusion into the joy of knowing and loving the risen Jesus, today and every day.

Prayer of the Faithful: For deep faith in Easter joy that transcends our understanding, we pray to the Lord.

Taken from the CCCB – National Pastoral Initiative for Life and the Family

“I thirst…
… for you!”

This is the heart of our faith: we embrace death to find new life. It feels easier to avoid death but, in so doing, we miss out on the life of the Resurrection that follows. We need to recognize the different ways we behave in response to death, and we see some examples in the Passion reading. Judas betrays; Peter denies; Pilate becomes complicit in Jesus’ suffering; those who do not understand Jesus call for His death; the soldiers profit off of Jesus’ torture. Mary the Mother of Jesus, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, and John stand with Him and witness; another soldier offers a drink; Joseph and Nicodemus ask for Jesus’ body, and prepare their friend for burial. Each person must respond to the dying; the way they do will frame the choices they make in response to rising. Everyone grieves and encounters suffering differently. Each of these people, and each of us, will have to make our way through the grief, if we are to find the risen Jesus.

Prayer of the Faithful: For compassion in the many ways we face suffering and grief, we pray to the Lord.

Reflection is taken from CCCB – National Pastoral Initiative for Life and the Family.

The Passover – We are gathering to remember who we are, where we have been, and that something is about to happen that changes us. We practice this not only to mark the historical and ongoing dying and rising of Jesus, but also so we can do it in the Holy Thursdays of our ordinary lives. When we hold vigil with a loved one who is dying, we eat last meals, play last games, sing last songs. When someone is moving, we get together for a last visit, make a favourite meal, wash and pack clothes. These rituals of remembering and anticipating are critical to moving through change. Jesus eats with His friends and makes one last grand gesture of service to His people. So sink deeply into this Holy Thursday Mass and the Triduum as practice for the transitions life will ask of you in the coming year. Practice finding meaning for your life here, so you can be a witness to the God who meets us in changes of all kinds in the world.

Prayer of the Faithful: For reverence for the rituals we need, in church and in our lives, we pray to the Lord.

Text: CCCB – National Pastoral Initiative for Life and the Family

(Taken from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary post Holy Week 2019)