As the world mourns the demise of Pope Francis, we celebrate the silver jubilee of the canonization of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, OLM (30 April, 2000) and the Feast of Mercy for this Jubilee Year of Hope. The theme of this year’s Feast of Mercy is “Divine Mercy, inspiring Hope against all hope” (Diary no. 949). In this chat with the Editor, NETA NWOSU, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Oladunjoye, Chaplain, Divine Mercy Devotion, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos speaks on the significance of the Devotion to “The Divine Mercy,” 3 O’clock in the afternoon as the “Hour of Great Mercy, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Feast of Mercy, Divine Mercy Sunday and other contemporary subjects.
How did the Devotion to “The Divine Mercy’ come about? What does the Devotion to “The Divine Mercy” signify?
The Devotion to the Divine Mercy (or God’s Mercy) became popular after the contents of the Diary, “Divine Mercy in my soul” of St. Maria Faustina Helena Kowalska (St. Faustina for short, 1905 – 1938) were released. Prior to that time, the knowledge of the mercy of God has always been there. The life and Diary of St. Faustina made the knowledge and devotion to Divine Mercy popular and widespread. The Devotion to the Divine Mercy signifies our unwavering trust in the Mercy of God as the only hope of humanity (Diary no. 699). The sacred scripture is full of stories of Divine Mercy in action.
In the Gospels, Divine Mercy became incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ. Indeed, God isn’t merciful because of Himself. He’s because of us. And we make Him happy when we not only ask Him for mercy but also when we trust in His unfathomable and infinite mercy. In Diary no. 699, He said: “Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.”
Why is 3 ‘O’ Clock so important for practising the Devotion to Divine Mercy?
3 O’clock is the time our Lord died on the cross on Good Friday. In His several apparitions to St. Faustina, He named 3 O’clock (in the afternoon) as the “Hour of Great Mercy for the whole world” (Diary no. 1320). At this time, we’re called to implore His mercy, even for a brief moment and immerse ourselves in His passion particularly His abandonement at the time of agony. To anyone who’ll observe this hour of mercy is promised several favours, blessings and mercies.
The 3 O’clock prayer can be found in Diary no. 187 which is “O blood and water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You (3ce).” In the Divine Mercy Devotion, ‘trust’ in God’s mercy is very fundamental. Without it, every hope for mercy will be in vain. That’s why the signature of the Divine Mercy Image is not “Jesus, have mercy on me” but “Jesus, I trust in You” (Diary nos. 47, 50).
What happens when you pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet?
We surrender ourselves trustfully to the infinite, unfailing and unfathomable mercy of God. Divine Mercy is the only hope of humanity, saints and sinners. Without it, even the holiest can’t be saved. What is the meaning of Divine Mercy Sunday?
What does the Feast of Divine Mercy entail?
Divine Mercy Sunday was demanded by our Lord in several of His apparitions to St. Faustina. Indeed, the entire Easter Octave is about Divine Mercy and forgiveness. That’s why the Novena to Divine Mercy covers the most of this period, beginning on Good Friday. The theme of Mercy has always been in the Mass of the second Sunday of Easter.
The title “Divine Mercy Sunday” was given to this second Sunday of Easter for the Universal Church by Pope St. John Paul II on 30th April, 2000 at the canonisation ceremony of the first Saint of the 21st century – St. Maria Faustina. By 5th May, 2000, the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacrament issued a decree that this appellation is not an optional one for the second Sunday of Easter. It’s an obligatory one for the Universal Church.
What is the role of the parish primarily on Divine Mercy Sunday?
The parish, led by the Parish Priest or Priest-in-Charge should help prepare the faithful for this Sunday by catechesis and sacramental confession. Specially, on Divine Mercy Sunday, the homily should be based on the contents of this Divine Mercy Doctrine. That Sunday, the priest should lead the faithful in the veneration of the Divine Mercy Image. The Divine Mercy Image is one special image of our Lord painted at His bidding by one polish artist – Eugene Kazimirowski, under the supervision of St. Faustina in 1934. According to our Lord’s prescription, the image should be on the sanctuary as a constant reminder that the fount of Divine Mercy is always there for us to drink from. No one can have too much of God’s mercy. It’s the case that we don’t know much about it, trust in Him or devoted to Him.
Can one receive extraordinary graces on Divine Mercy Sunday?
Yes. Our Lord promised that “those who’ll make sacramental Confession and receive Holy Communion on this day shall receive the complete forgivenenss of sins and total cancellation of due punishments” (Diary no. 699). How can the physically challenged receive the graces promised on Divine Mercy Sunday when they can’t get to the Church due to their challenges? Everyone who trusts in Divine Mercy and fulfills the conditions can obtain these graces.
The physically challenged, the emotionally down, the spiritually lukewarm, etc. are not left out. One of the special characteristics of the Divine Mercy Sunday is that the Divine Mercy Image will be solemnly blessed by the priest (Diary no. 49). The physically challenged can venerate this image wherever they see one, in the church or an already blessed one at home. What is fundamental is that each venerating soul trusts in Him who’s Divine Mercy incarnate – Jesus Christ.
Please shed more light on God’s mercy in hell and purgatory.
In hell, God’s mercy is not available to damned souls. In fact, there damnation is as a result of the rejection of God’s mercy. On the other hand, purgatory exists as a result of and testament to God’s Mercy. So, in hell, there’s no more redemption. In purgatory, there’s redemption. The destiny of the souls in purgatory is heaven. That’s why we have devotions to them. Simply put, for the souls in hell, no redemption is possible. For the souls in purgatory, no damnation is possible.
Why do we call Mary ‘Mother of Mercy’?
Mary is called the Mother of Mercy – Mater Misericordiae, because she’s the daughter of God the Father, the eternal source of Divine Mercy; the Mother of God be Son, Jesus Christ, the mercy incarnate Himself; and the spouse of the Holy Spirit, the spirit of our merciful God. As she had mercy on the couple at the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee (Jn. 2:1-11), She is ready to have mercy on every of her children, christian or not, who trustfully approaches her for her unfailing intercession. The desire of God that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4) is also her desire.
What is the theme of this year’s Divine Mercy Sunday celebration? Please enlighten us on the theme.
The theme is “Divine Mercy, inspiring Hope against all Hope” (Diary no. 949). As we’re in the Jubilee Year of Hope, our hope in the mercy of God does not disappoint us (Rom. 5:5). Hope is a theological virtue. Without it, our faith is sterile and our love incomplete. The Doctrine of Divine Mercy is not a political ideology, a scientific finding, a technological breakthrough or psychological discovery. It is one that cannot be weakened, damaged or retailed by Artificial Intelligence.
It is one that is fullest, purest, safest and most appropriate for every trusting soul no matter the depth of their sinfulness or the height of their righteousness. As He said to her “Before I come as a just judge, I first open the door of My mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of my mercy, must pass through the door of my justice” (Diary no. 1146). And who is so righteous as to survive Divine Justice? No sin can overwhelm or frustrate the Mercy of God.
The totality of the sins ever committed by humanity cannot even weaken it. May God help us to hope in and trust in His unfathomable mercy, ever available for us. And may we become proud ambassadors of His endless mercy for fallen and helpless humanity. Amen.
Jesus, I trust in You!
