What is Divine Mercy?

Written by Jenn Greene

Posted by Jenn Greene, Saint Joseph Communications

What is Divine Mercy? It is God’s compassionate treatment toward sinners. He yearns to be with each one of us in this life, and then forever in the next. His Divine Mercy is a gift that He gives us to do just that. Divine Mercy is a pardoning of any and every sin, which reveals the depths of God’s Heart to us. It is the forgiveness of a loving Father offered tenderly to His wayward child.

Have you ever experienced God’s mercy? I mean truly allowed yourself to be engulfed in the depth and wonder of His unfathomable Mercy? To let yourself feel the truth that God wishes to completely wash away the worst sins you’ve ever committed, and all you have to do for this to happen is trust in His mercy and seek His forgiveness? What an overwhelming concept!

How is it that the God who created the Heavens and the Earth, that created every little ant, every whale, every blade of grass, every galaxy thinks about us let alone continues to seek reconciliation after we have offended Him? Such love and mercy! God wants us to be forgiven more than we could ever want forgiveness. What a humble God He is! He emptied Himself in the form of a slave so that He might save each one of us (Philippians 2:7)! He doesn’t stop there. He is constantly reaching out to us, always inviting us to receive His forgiveness and come home. No matter what you have done, He is always willing to take you back, all you have to do is ask!

This Divine Mercy Sunday I encourage you to experience Divine Mercy like never before! Because of the special graces available, go to Confession on Divine Mercy Sunday this year! Especially if you have never gone on that day or only once before. Make this a new tradition to go to Confession each Divine Mercy Sunday. There are special promises attached to going to Confession on (or in the octave surrounding) Divine Mercy Sunday. Our Lord promises that those who go to Confession and also receive Communion in a state of grace will receive remission of the guilt and punishment of their sins.

“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 shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. 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” (Diary of Sr. Faustina, 699 – EWTN).

I pray that no matter how badly you have sinned you will engulf yourself in God’s Divine Mercy! I know from experience there is nothing like being washed clean from the guilt and stain of your sins. What a beautiful witness to show your love for Him by going to Confession on this Holy day! In doing so we accept His love and mercy for us and in return show God our love for Him! Have you ever given a gift to someone and they either treated it poorly or rejected it? How did that make you feel? This is what we do when we reject the Lord’s gifts, especially the gift of His mercy. Show your appreciation for this great gift this Divine Mercy Sunday!

If you want to check out Confession times in your local area check out Masstimes.org. Just put in your zip code, click on the Confession tab and it will pull up local churches’ Confession times. From there click on the actual Church website or call the parish, since many Churches have special Confessions available on Divine Mercy Sunday! May God richly pour out His blessings on you this Divine Mercy Sunday!