Since the year 2000, on the first Sunday after Easter, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. On April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II proclaimed Divine Mercy Sunday and canonized Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska (1905-38).
Then, what is meant by celebrating the Divine Mercy of God and living devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in our daily lives?
First of all, I think it means to resemble the heart of Jesus. In other words, it means to live with endless love, mercy, perseverance and compassion. Second, it means to pray and embrace everything like a mother who is constantly praying and working hard for the family, while accepting various situations with goodwill and generosity. Third, it means to put into practice the glad tidings of the Good News day in and day out.
Though not explicit, the devotion to the Sacred Heart and to Divine Mercy dates back to the prophets in the Old Testament. The prophets such as Hosea, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah already mentioned the merciful, faithful and compassionate love of God. "I will give them a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 11:19).
In the New Testament, the sacrificing love of Jesus is presented: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink… Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38). "One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water." (John 19:34).
From the early church, people began to meditate on the Sacred Heart of Jesus pierced with a spear. Then, Church Fathers such as Irenaeus, Hippolytus and Cyprianus said that "the Sacred Heart of Jesus is spring of love and grace. The Sacred Heart is the endless grace."
In the early Middle Ages, the devotion to the Sacred Heart was developed as personal devotion, but in the late Middle Ages, it was developed among religious people like Birgitta, Anselm, Bernardus, Bonaventura, Matilda, Albert the Great, Gertrudis, Francis, Catherine of Siena etc.
Then, Joannes Eudes (1601-80) and Margarita Maria Alacoque (1647-90) deepened the devotion to the Sacred Heart and applied it to the Liturgy, Exposition (Holy Hour) and the Office of the Hours.
Many popes like Clement XIII, Pius IX, Leo XIII, Pius X, Pius XI, Pius 11, Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul II regarded the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the synthesis of every devotion and the perfect standard for living.
In 1931, Sister Faustina, an uneducated Polish nun of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, became an apostle of mercy with her resolute refrain "Jesus, I trust in you."
The devotion to Divine Mercy includes the message of Christ's mercy, the recitation of the Divine Mercy chaplet, novena, spreading the image of Jesus of Divine Mercy, celebrating the feast of Divine Mercy, Holy Hour of great mercy, reflections and meditation on Divine Mercy, and a day of forgiveness and reconciliation for all souls.
We celebrated the extraordinary year of mercy throughout the world in 2016 because what we needed most was mercy. Now, in 2023, more than ever, we still need Divine Mercy most desperately. Especially in the continuing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, in the climate crisis, among unexpected diseases and various natural disasters, we are in dire need of endless mercy and compassion. "Lord, have mercy on us!"
The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul. When available, please feel free to visit her blog, "A piece of sunshine," at mtorchid88.blogspot.com.
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Since the year 2000, on the first Sunday after Easter, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. On April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II proclaimed Divine Mercy Sunday and canonized Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska (1905-38).
Then, what is meant by celebrating the Divine Mercy of God and living devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in our daily lives?
First of all, I think it means to resemble the heart of Jesus. In other words, it means to live with endless love, mercy, perseverance and compassion. Second, it means to pray and embrace everything like a mother who is constantly praying and working hard for the family, while accepting various situations with goodwill and generosity. Third, it means to put into practice the glad tidings of the Good News day in and day out.
Though not explicit, the devotion to the Sacred Heart and to Divine Mercy dates back........
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