With so many (so-called) Catholics away from the practice of their faith, there is a great need for evangelization. Our Lord has given us a great gift called Divine Mercy Sunday.

Jesus gave us many parables which describe His love for sinners.  He told us how the Good Shepherd rejoiced at finding His lost sheep.  Not only does He rejoice today when the sheep are found, but He is very much saddened when even just one is lost.

In His revelations to Saint Faustina, Jesus remarked that “The loss of each soul plunges Me into mortal sadness” and that “The flames of mercy are burning Me, clamoring to be spent”.  If we love Jesus, then we must do everything that we can, to find His lost sheep.

Jesus requested that a Feast of Mercy be established in the Church on the Sunday after Easter and He has made a great promise to any soul that would turn to Him by going to Confession and then receiving Holy Communion on that feast-day.

He said “Whoever approaches the fountain of life on this day will be granted the complete forgiveness of sins and punishment”.  Jesus is attempting to get souls to receive Holy Communion in a perfect state of grace, without sin.

He also said:  “I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, and especially for 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.  The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion will obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.  On that day are opened all the divine floodgates through which graces flow.  Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet”. (Diary, 699)

That’s not all.  Jesus said “I want to pour out my divine life into human souls and to sanctify them, if only they were willing to accept my grace. The greatest sinners would achieve great sanctity, if only they would trust in my mercy”.

Trust is a key word for Divine Mercy.  Our Lord in His great wisdom knew that in these times, the words “Jesus, I trust in You” would have a profound meaning for those who might need some motivation to come to Him and to ask for His mercy.

Jesus said that “The greatest sinners would achieve great sanctity”.  What could be more beneficial?  What could be easier?  People just need to be seriously urged to go to Confession!

One of the requirements of Catholics is the confession of their sins at least once a year.  Studies have shown that most people are in great need of fulfilling this most important precept of the Church.  Our Lord said “I desire that priests proclaim this great mercy of mine towards souls of sinners”. What greater reason could there ever be, than Jesus’ promise, to urge everyone into Reconciliation?

The Vatican has also added a Plenary Indulgence to this feast, which is to remain perpetually in place.  The beauty of this indulgence is the increased amount of time that is gives to priests to hear confessions.  It is allowed for one to go to Confession up to about 20 days, before or after, Divine Mercy Sunday.