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 Events Occurring on Divine Mercy Sunday: Beatification of Pope John Paul II (Scott 1471, 2011) Canonization of Pope John Paul II (Scott 1559, 2014) The Second Sunday of Easter (the Sunday following Easter Sunday) is celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday, or the Feast of the Divine Mercy. This day also concludes the Octave of Easter. The Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy started with Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun and mystic, who reported visions and visitations from Jesus in the early 1900’s. In His conversations, He asked Sister Faustina to paint “the vision of his merciful divinity being poured from his Sacred Heart”. Here is the first such presentation, a painting now located in the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Vilnius, Lithuania:  “Divine Mercy” Painting by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski (1934) From Wikipedia, in the Public Domain In addition, He also asked that a Feast of Divine Mercy be established on the first Sunday after Easter. Pope John Paul II actively promoted this cause. On April 30, 2000, the Second Sunday of Easter that year, he canonized Saint Faustina Kowalska, and the Second Sunday of Easter was officially designated as the Sunday of the Divine Mercy. One year later, Pope John Paul II stated: ”Jesus said to Sr Faustina one day: ‘Humanity will never find peace until it turns with trust to Divine Mercy’. Divine Mercy! This is the Easter gift that the Church receives from the risen Christ and offers to humanity.”The ties of Pope John Paul II to Divine Mercy Sunday are striking. He died on Saturday, April 2, 2005, which was the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday (April 3, 2005). He would be beatified on Divine Mercy Sunday, May 1, 2011 (by Pope Benedict XVI) and canonized on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, 2014 (by Pope Francis).  Blessed Carl Acutis Unknown Photographer From Wikipedia Qualifies as fair use under United States copyright law This year, Divine Mercy Sunday has also been designated as the "Jubilee of Adolescents" for the Holy Year 2025. It was also planned to be the day for the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis. However, with the death of Pope Francis, the canonization has been postponed. The new celebration date has not been determined. Blessed Carlo Acutis died of leukemia at age 15 in 2016. He has inspired many with his faith and his wide-spread evangelization, particularly among young people. He created a website which cataloged Eucharistic miracles, furthering his mission and reach. When the day finally arrives for his canonization, he will become the first “millennial saint”, having been born in 2001. Vatican City has planned a stamp to be issued to commemorate the canonization, with the stamp being issued jointly with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. The official announcement for the 1.30-euro stamp is given in the references, but its image is currently not available. REFERENCES: |
