# Celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday
*2022-04-24*

> Bill Young reflects on the meaning of Divine Mercy Sunday, shares excerpts from his prayer book, leads the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and invites listeners to join a Zoom prayer session.

## Opening Thoughts

Good evening, this is Bill Young. I’m recording alone tonight because my co‑host John O’Rourke is already in bed after a long day. Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, and our parish—St. David’s Catholic Church—celebrated Mass, confession on Friday, and a ministry fair where we talked about the Legion of Mary and Christ’s love.

## What Divine Mercy Sunday Means

In my 2007 prayer book (page 516) I have a concise explanation of the feast: Divine Mercy Sunday is to be celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter to highlight the unity of the Paschal mysteries and the mercy of God. The day is a “day of grace” for all, offering the same forgiveness and renewal that baptism gives. The Church teaches that those who go to confession and receive Holy Communion on this day obtain complete remission of sins and temporal punishment.

## Indulgences and the Chaplet

Pope John Paul II, on 13 June 2003, attached a plenary indulgence to the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday for the faithful who fulfill the usual conditions—confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions—while reciting the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The indulgence also requires a devoutly‑held intention to obtain the mercy of Christ.

## Prayer of the Chaplet

I led the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, beginning with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed, then reciting the prayers of the Chaplet. (The full text of the Chaplet is omitted here for brevity.) After the Chaplet I prayed a short litany based on the diary of St. Faustina, repeatedly affirming, “I trust in you,” for each attribute of Divine Mercy.

## Personal Reflections and Invitation

The homily today reminded me of the risk‑and‑reward of the Christian life. Just as my son, a 28‑year‑old motorcyclist, weighs the danger of riding a bike, we weigh the spiritual risk of following Christ. Jesus took the greatest risk—His life—for our salvation, and the reward is eternal life. On Divine Mercy Sunday the “risk” is modest: go to confession, receive Communion, pray the Chaplet. The reward is God’s boundless love and freedom from sin.

Tomorrow at 3 p.m. Eastern I’ll host a Zoom session for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy with John O’Rourke. I’ll post the link on the podcast page. I encourage you to join, pray together, and share this celebration with friends, family, and members of the Legion of Mary.

*Divine Mercy Sunday invites us to experience God’s infinite mercy through simple acts of faith—confession, communion, and prayer.*