Pray for peace on Divine Mercy Sunday

Published: April 19, 2022

“Divine Mercy reaches human beings from the heart of Christ crucified. … 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 24.

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 or other prayers and songs. Some also offer the sacraments of anointing of the sick and reconciliation.

Arkansas Catholic offers a list of parishes celebrating Divine Mercy activities in the Diocese of Little Rock. If your parish is not listed, please contact your parish directly to find out if special events are planned.

If you are unable to participate in person, there are online resources to help you observe this feast at home. Watch Pope Francis celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday Mass at St Peter's Basilica.

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.

This year, consider praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for an end to the war in Ukraine, for an end to the suffering being endured during the war and for the peace, not only in Ukraine but worldwide. "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world."