Divine Mercy & Saint Faustina

Compiled by Enncrave

The GRACES ON DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY (APRIL 12, 2026)

In Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus has given us an incredible gift of mercy and an incredibly easy way to attain it. So what was the promise Jesus made for this one day only, and what two easy things do you need to do to receive this life-changing grace?

As you prepare to receive Holy Communion in any Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday, offer a prayer as follows: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, You promised St. Faustina that the soul that has been to Confession (I have) and the soul that receives Holy Communion with trust in Divine Mercy (I am) will receive the complete forgiveness of all sins and punishment. Lord, please give me this grace. Jesus, I trust in You.” https://www.youtube.com/@DivineMercy_Official

https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/mercy-sundays-special-graces-plenary-indulgence-are-they-same

Divine Mercy has been called “the greatest grassroots movement in the history of the Catholic Church” and has changed millions of lives.

Divine Mercy gets to the heart of Sacred Scripture. To begin, mercy is “love’s second name,” as John Paul II said. It’s a particular kind of love, a particular mode of love when it encounters suffering, poverty, brokenness, and sin. Divine Mercy is when God’s love meets us and helps us amid our suffering and sin. In fact, because we’re all sinners on this side of eternity, and suffering is our lot in life, God’s love for us here always takes the form of mercy. The Lord always steps out in compassion to help us poor, weak, and broken sinners. From our perspective, every good we receive is an expression of Divine Mercy. https://marian.org/divine-mercy/what-is-it

The “Divine Mercy Chaplet” was given to St. Faustina by Jesus as a means of honoring His Sacred Passion and imploring mercy for poor sinners and the world.

Divine Mercy is both a Message and a Devotion. As JPII and Pope Benedict stated, the message of Divine Mercy is NOT optional. It is the “nucleus of the Gospel” and an integral part of Christian life and prayer – not a secondary devotion. So, in answer to all the criticism about St. Faustina and the devotion of Divine Mercy, Fr. Chris Alar explains where Divine is within the Mass: EVERYWHERE!

https://www.youtube.com/@DivineMercy_Official

Easter Sunday is the culmination of salvation history, yet the liturgical celebration extends beyond a single day. As Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, explains, the Easter Octave is not merely a week of celebration but a single liturgical day lasting eight days. While many believe the feast ends on Sunday, the Church teaches that every day of the Octave is a solemnity. This period connects Easter Sunday directly to Divine Mercy Sunday, forming a unified mystery of grace. Father Chris emphasizes that we are at the top of the pyramid of the liturgical year, where the seven days of the Octave symbolize our earthly pilgrimage, and the eighth day represents eternity.

On the first day, Jesus opened the door to Heaven, which had been blocked since the Fall. However, an open door is insufficient if we do not walk through it. The eighth day symbolizes the moment we enter eternity. To walk through this door, we must be dressed in a white wedding garment, spotless and pure. Father Chris uses the analogy of a wedding feast where Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church is the Bride. If the bride arrives with a stained garment, she is not prepared. The stains on our soul are sin and the temporal punishment due to sin. While Confession removes the guilt of sin, penance addresses the consequences.

On Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus promises a unique grace. If we go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on this day, we receive the complete forgiveness of not only all sins but all punishment due to sin. Father Chris describes this as a second Baptism, where the soul is wiped clean and returns to the purity of original Baptism. This fulfills the Jewish Day of Atonement, where the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies. Now, the Precious Blood is applied to our souls, cleansing us entirely. This grace is available to those who prepare their hearts between Easter and the eighth day.

Fr. Mark Baron, MIC, invites you to come in person to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday on April 27! Jesus told St. Faustina, “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.” This is a day of extraordinary grace. Our Lord promised that whoever receives Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday, having already made a good Confession and being in a state of grace, will receive not only full forgiveness of sin, but also remission of all punishment due to sin.

The Diary of Saint Faustina- Divine Mercy in My Soul