By Krysia Clews

This will be already the sixth time of celebrating this remarkable feast since the late Holy Father John Paul II, during the canonization of St Faustyna, made it an official feast for the whole Catholic Church. And a remarkable feast it is - offering us the grace of complete remission of sins and punishment if we worthily receive the Holy Communion on that day.

Christ said to St Faustyna: I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls , and especially for poor sinners. Whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment.

It is important though, to fulfill the basic requirements of devotion to be able to receive this wonderful grace.

Preparation for the Feast consists of a novena of Chaplets to the Divine Mercy for nine days, starting on Good Friday. (the novena is intended for the whole world).

Jesus said to St Faustyna: By this novena I will grant every possible grace to souls.

The mystery of the Feast of Divine Mercy and its wonderful promises attached to it , is connected with the confession (on that day or within an octave) and the reception of Holy Communion on that day. It is the promise of complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. In other words, this grace is equal only to the one we receive in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.

Jesus told St Faustyna: I want this image, to be solemnly blessed on the First Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depth of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day are open all the divine floodgates through which graces flow. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet.

The Feast of My Mercy has issued forth from My very depths for the consolation of the whole world and is confirmed in the vast depths of my tender mercies.

To encourage the faithful to propagate the worship to the Divine Mercy, the Lord promises motherly care in life and mercy at the hour of death. He especially encourages priests, assuring them that hardened sinners will repent on hearing their words when they speak about My unfathomable mercy, about the compassion I have for them in My heart.….All those souls who will glorify My mercy and spread its worship, encouraging others to trust in My mercy, will not experience terror at the hour of death. My mercy will shield them in that final battle.

We therefore need to:
1. Say the novena of chaplets, starting on Good Friday
2. sincerely repent of all our sins, go to the holy confession and place all our trust in Jesus.
3. Receive the Holy Communion on the day of the Feast.
4. Venerate the Image of the Divine Mercy (if there is one in the church)
5. Be merciful to others, through our actions, words, and prayers on their behalf.

Jesus told St Faustyna: I want the Image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it.

We say the chaplet of Divine Mercy by reciting on the rosary beads: Our Father, Hail Mary, I believe in God….

On the five large beads:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
On the small beads:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
To conclude: (3 times)
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

We shall celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy in St John the Evangelist, Breck Rd. Poulton-le-Fylde, at 2pm on 23rd April, starting with the Holy Hour during which the confessions will be heard, followed by the chaplet, blessing of the picture of Merciful Jesus, the veneration of the relic of St Faustyna and the mass. After the service the refreshment will be served in the hall. All are welcome.