(OSV News) — The upcoming celebration of the Divine Mercy devotion will focus specifically on the Eucharist and the need for “spiritual fatherhood.”
Approximately 15,000 pilgrims are expected to attend the annual Holy Mercy Sunday weekend, April 6 and 7, at Holy Mercy National Shrine in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The shrine is also home to the American Province of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, who oversee the shrine.
The shrine’s 350-acre grounds will be transformed into what organizers call a “mini tent city,” with Mass on both days, as well as opportunities for confession, Eucharistic adoration and the prayer of the Rosary.
Divine Mercy Sunday, celebrated on the second Sunday of Easter, was established by Pope St. John Paul II in 2000 on the occasion of the canonization of 20th century Polish mystic St. Maria Faustina Kowalska. As a sister of Our Lady of Mercy, this unassuming saint is dedicated to Jesus Christ’s devotion to His Mercy through various prayers, annual feasts, and statues featuring rays of blood and water issuing from His mouth. She told how she enjoyed numerous visions that inspired her to further her devotion. heart.
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the United States Military Diocese and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will serve as principal celebrant for the April 7 outdoor liturgy, which will be streamed live on Father Marian’s dedicated streaming site, DivineMercyPlus.org It is planned that .
The Catholic Church in the United States is in the midst of a national Eucharistic revival, and the congregation continues its efforts to emphasize the centrality of the Eucharist to the Catholic faith.
In addition, Marian Fathers is planning a sold-out April 6th conference entitled “Godly Fathers Strengthen Families.” The conference will feature a talk by Marian Father Chris Aller, Provincial of the U.S. Province, author, and television host. Father Donald Calloway, a Marian companion, is a provincial pastor and vocations director and the author of over 15 books. and filmmaker Jim Wahlberg, executive director of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, which works to support urban youth. Wahlberg is also an executive producer on the films Mother Teresa: No Greater Love and the upcoming film The Thirst of Jesus: The Eucharistic Miracle.
The themes of divine mercy, the Eucharist and spiritual fatherhood are all intertwined, Father Aral told OSV News.
“The very fact is that the gifts God bestows on us in His mercy are best expressed through His fatherhood,” Father Aller said. “In his mercy he gave us his Son.”
The Eucharist “is a manifestation of that gift,” he added. “So it’s a perfect combination.”
The three panelists will also speak on the televised “Pre-Massage Show” on April 7th, along with Archbishop Broglio and former NFL players Elvis Grbac and Ben Steele.
Over the weekend, prayer flags made up of thousands of pieces of cloth with prayer intentions sent to the shrine from across the United States will be on display. Interpreters for Spanish, Polish, Italian and French speakers will be on display. More than 400 volunteers will assist the pilgrims, including German or Tagalog.
According to the diary that St. Faustina was instructed to keep by her spiritual director, Christ offers those who go to confession and receive Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday a complete remission of their sins, as well as a temporary blessing to them. He promised to forgive his punishment.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that sin has “double consequences.” According to its teachings, if sin is serious in nature, it can deprive a person of communion with God and result in eternal punishment. But temporal punishment arises from the nature of all sins, even venial sins, and requires purification that “arises from fervent charity.”
According to the Catechism, the Sacrament of Reconciliation returns people to God’s grace and “unites us with God in an intimate friendship.” Nevertheless, it describes the “temporary punishment of the remnants of sin” that is purified through works of mercy, charity, prayer, and repentance to complete the conversion of the soul. Such temporary punishments can also be alleviated in whole or in part by indulgences granted by the Church.
St. John Paul, on Divine Mercy Sunday, under the usual conditions (receiving sacramental confession and communion, praying for the Pope’s intentions), completely out of love for St. He granted complete indulgence to believers who participate in divine mercy devotion with a detached spirit. Even if it’s a heinous crime.
This last condition may be difficult to meet, Father Aral said. That is why the “extraordinary promises and extraordinary graces (of Christ to St. Faustina)” that accompany Divine Mercy Sunday are so precious.
“There are only two things you have to do: go to confession and receive Holy Communion,” he said. “What God is basically saying is: ‘I want you to come back to the sacraments, so all I ask of you is to go to confession and receive Holy Communion. And I pour out upon you this most incredible gift, which is called a gift: all the temporary punishment of your sins will be forgiven you.”
He said that Holy Mercy Sunday is “not a rabbit’s foot or a magic wand,” as participants must turn from sin and “desire to be good” as part of this unique opportunity to draw deeper into God. ” he emphasized.
“Today is a day of free grace,” Father Aral said. “It’s like the Lord saying, ‘I’m going to wipe your blank slate clean.’ All you have to do is go to confession and Holy Communion.”
Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow @GinaJesseReina on X (formerly her Twitter).
