Divine Mercy Sunday! Congratulations to our Confirmandi!
Divine Mercy Sunday!
Congratulations to our Confirmandi!
On Easter Sunday evening, I joined via TV for Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi message and blessing. “Urbi et orbi” means “To the city [of Rome] and to the world.” Urbiet Orbi is a special apostolic blessing the pope gives yearly on Easter Sunday, Christmas, and other special occasions. When I took the phone on Monday morning, I saw the breaking news about Pope Francis’ passing. I told myself that it was not true and disregarded the news. When I saw it repeatedly, I switched on the TV and realized it was true. One of many prominent messages of Pope Francis was on mercy. We began the Divine Mercy chaplet on Good Friday and celebrated Easter, the culmination of God’s Mercy. In his Urbi et Orbi message on Easter Sunday evening, he stated that the resurrection is the basis of our hope. He said, "Hope is no longer an illusion." He thanked Christ for His crucifixion and resurrection and said, “Hope does not disappoint! (cf. Rom5:5). That hope is not an evasion, but a challenge; it does not delude but empowers us.”
We celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday on the Second Sunday of the Easter season. Pope St. John Paul II declared that the second Sunday of the octave day of Easter should be Divine Mercy Sunday. On the 30th of April 2000, the Second Sunday of Easter, St. Pope John Paul II celebrated the Eucharist in Saint Peter’s Square and proceeded to the canonization of Blessed Sister Faustina. St. Faustina invites us to keep our faith and hope fixed on God, the Father, rich in mercy, who has saved us by the precious blood of His Son. St. John Paul II has a great role in spreading the message of Divine Mercy. In a dream, St. Theresa of Lisieux asked St. Faustina, an apostle of Divine Mercy, to trust in Jesus, and she would be a saint (Diary 150). Later, St. Faustina wrote in her diary 1588, "In the Old Covenant, I sent prophets wielding thunderbolts to My people. Today, I am sending you with my mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart."
God entrusted St. Faustina a mission: 1) to remind the world of the truth of our faith revealed in Holy Scripture about the merciful love of God towards every human being, even the greatest sinner; 2) conveying new forms of devotion to Divine Mercy; 3) initiating a great movement of devotes and apostles of Divine Mercy who would lead people toward the renewal of Christian life in the spirit of this devotion, means childlike confidence in God and an active love of neighbor.
Pope Francis continued to spread the message of Mercy. On April 24, 2022, on Divine Mercy Sunday, the Pope reflected on the Gospel of John 20:19-31, and highlighted three ways Jesus imparts mercy to His disciples: 1. Peace- Jesus' greeting, "Peace be with you," brings joy and forgiveness beyond the disciples’ fears and failures. The peace transformed the disciple to encounter the risen Christ. 2. Forgiveness- Pope said, “Jesus shows mercy, the Pope said, is by bestowing the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins.” Pope Francis described confession as "the Sacrament of resurrection, pure mercy," emphasizing that it is not about our sins but God's mercy. 3. Comfort in the wound- Pope Francis said, the wounds of Jesus are “open channels between Him and us, shedding mercy upon our misery.” Jesus allowed Thomas to touch his wounds, which the Pope said happens at every Mass, where “Jesus offers us His wounded and risen Body.” Today, Sunday, April 27, at 2:30 pm, our cluster will have a Divine Mercy Sunday service at Immaculate Conception. It includes Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available. Please come and join. Thank you.
Confirmation: Our young women and men were preparing for a long time to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please come and join them for the confirmation, which is on Wednesday, April 30th, at 6 pm. Apostles received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It was life-changing for them. They received the gift of the Holy Spirit. What are they? There are seven of them: 1. Wisdom, which helps to understand things from God’s point of view; 2. Understanding which allows us to understand the deeper meaning of supernatural truth; 3. Knowledge helps us to appreciate the life God has given: begin to see God’s presence in people, things, and nature, and treat them with proper dignity; 4. Right Judgment or Counsel helps to make the right decision God wants us to make; 5. Reverence or Piety, which allows one to trust God more, strengthens relationships; 6. Courage or Fortitude helps us stand up for what we believe; 7. Fear of the Lord or Awe and Wonder helps stay on the right path to heaven. Fear of the Lord is because I love God and I want to please Him.
Please join me in congratulating our young men and women on their Confirmation. Continue to pray for them, and let us reaffirm our commitment.