Divine Mercy Sunday

What is Divine Mercy Sunday?

Instituted by St. Pope Jon Paul II, Divine Mercy Sunday focuses on the gift of mercy and love given through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. This spiritual practice finds its origins in the visions and diary of St. Faustina.

St. Faustina was a Polish nun who received visions from Jesus, including one of Jesus wearing a white garment with beams of red and white coming from His heart, which came to be known as the image of Divine Mercy. She wrote in her diary that he said:

"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…
My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy."

According to the vision, those who receive communion and attend confession on the Feast of Mercy receive total forgiveness of sins.