Partake in Divine Mercy Sunday holy hour

Published: April 4, 2024

“Today, fixing our gaze with you on the face of the Risen Christ, let us make our own your prayer of trusting abandonment and say with firm hope: ‘Jesus, I trust in You!’” — St. John Paul II, canonization Mass of St. Faustina Kowalska, May 1, 2000

The celebration of Christ's resurrection continues with Divine Mercy Sunday, which recognizes that God's love and mercy endure forever and overcome any sin that separates us from him. This year, we celebrate this feast on April 7.

St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, wrote in her diary that she witnessed a vision of Jesus on Feb. 22, 1931, while she was living at a convent in Plock, Poland. She wrote that Jesus had one hand raised in benediction and the other resting over his heart, from which emanated two rays of light. 

The apparitions to St. Faustina formed the basis of the worldwide divine mercy devotion we have today. St. John Paul II canonized St. Faustina on May 1, 2000. Five days later the Vatican decreed that the Second Sunday of Easter would henceforth be known as Divine Mercy Sunday. 

On Divine Mercy Sunday, parishes often host holy hours, which might include eucharistic adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Benediction, Praises of Divine Mercy, Litany of the Precious Blood, novenas, rosaries, or other prayers and songs. Some also offer the sacraments of anointing of the sick and reconciliation. Arkansas Catholic published a list of 19 parishes planning Divine Mercy Sunday events in its April 6 issue. Visit Arkansas Catholic to find an event near you. If your parish is not listed, please contact the parish directly to find out if special events are planned.

Another option is to visit our diocese's Shrine of Divine Mercy, which was dedicated at St. Edward Church in Little Rock in 2023. It is open to visitors daily. Mass, reconciliation and eucharistic adoration are offered at special times. See schedule or learn more.

There are also online options for those who are homebound. Watch Pope Francis celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday Mass at St Peter's Basilica. Also, the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, offers Mass, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the rosary and talks via livestream. Visit Catholic Icing and Teaching Catholic Kids for tips to teach your kids about this devotion. In addition, please consider praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for peace in Ukraine and the Holy Land.