(Photo by Chris Albert)
SAUK CITY — Divine Mercy Sunday will be celebrated on April 7 at Divine Mercy Parish at St. Aloysius Church, 115 Madison St. in Sauk City. The festivities will begin at 2 p.m.
The Feast of Divine Mercy has its roots deeply planted in the Old and New Testament and in the early Catholic Church tradition.
Divine Mercy Sunday
In the Great Jubilee Year 2000, Pope John Paul II declared that throughout the universal Church, the Sunday after Easter will now be known as Divine Mercy Sunday.
The message of Divine Mercy is that God is merciful. He is love itself poured out for us and this love is more powerful than any kind of evil in which individuals, humanity, or the world are entangled. We all need Divine Mercy.
Pope John Paul II referred to the many instructions that Jesus gave to St. Faustina in 1931 regarding His request for a Feast of Mercy on the Sunday after Easter.
Jesus promised that He would open His heart and pour out His mercy like a “whole ocean of graces” to those who go to Confession and receive Holy Communion.
Jesus told St. Faustina, “My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world. Who can measure the extent of my goodness? . . . Come then, with trust to draw graces from this fountain. . . . You will give me pleasure if you hand over to me all your troubles and griefs. I shall heap upon you the treasures of my graces.”
He also instructed her to paint an image of Him just as He appeared to her and to have it blessed and venerated on the first Sunday after Easter throughout the world. The Image of the Divine Mercy will also be on display at St. Aloysius Church
Novena and Chaplet
In preparation for this Feast of Mercy, the Divine Mercy Novena and Chaplet will be led by Ann Black in the Divine Mercy Chapel at St. Aloysius Church.
These nine days of prayer in preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday will be offered at 3 p.m. beginning on Good Friday, March 29.
Festivities on April 7
The festivities on Sunday, April 7, will begin at 2 p.m. in St. Aloysius Church with a talk on Divine Mercy Sunday.
Eucharistic Adoration will begin at 2:30 p.m., the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m., and Confession will be available in the church throughout the day.
Benediction is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and will be followed by a procession with the Divine Mercy Image to the Divine Mercy Chapel in the church.
There will also be free literature and sacramentals available in the side lobby throughout the afternoon with light refreshments after the procession. Assisted listening devices will also be available.
Thoughts on mercy
Dawn Helt, of Prairie du Sac, shared her thoughts and remembrances about the mercy of Jesus.
“Years before I knew about Divine Mercy Sunday, my heart was heavy because I knew I had sinned much.
“One miraculous day… I didn’t chicken out and I walked through the doors of the confessional and confessed everything that I could remember. . . . I needed to hear Jesus say to me ‘I absolve you of your sins’ as Jesus is speaking those words through the priest.
“I stepped out of the confessional feeling like my feet weren’t touching the ground, a peace that the world cannot give. I knew that I was loved and forgiven by Jesus.”
Divine Mercy Parish would like to encourage everyone to come for a portion or all of the afternoon and take advantage of the incredible promises available on this great Feast of Divine Mercy Sunday.