On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
Divine Mercy Sunday – April 11, 2010
FACTS ABOUT THE FEAST OF MERCY
St. Faustina’s Diary contains many passages in which Our Lord is quoted as requesting that a
“Feast of Mercy” be officially established in the Church. Jesus declared: This Feast emerged
from the very depths of my mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of My tender
mercies. …It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. …I
desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter of all souls, and especially for poor
sinners. 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.
Jesus stated: The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on that day
shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment due.
…Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet.
But the Lord also made it clear that He expects us to let that mercy flow through us to othersthrough
our actions, our words, and our prayers. His words to Sister Faustina are very strong and
leave no room for misinterpretation: Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be acts of
mercy…I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors
always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it …even the strongest
faith is of no avail without works (742) …if a soul does not exercise mercy in some way it will not obtain My mercy on
the day of judgment (1317).
The Vatican has officially made the first Sunday after Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday.
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