A Great celebration this weekend: 2nd Sunday of Easter, arriving at the Octave Day(8th day) of Easter and Feast of Divine Mercy

What an amazing Sunday we celebrate, and it is already underway across more than most of the world with the vigil already complete or underway.  In one particularly amazing Sunday, and all Sunday's are amazing as we recall the Resurrection which indeed happened on the 1st day of the week(Sunday), we celebrate the 2nd Sunday of Easter, the Octave of Easter(now arriving at the 8th day of Easter, hence octave, and the Feast of Divine Mercy!

We have already discussed how stupendous a feast Easter is that the Church, in her wisdom and authority, declares it an eight day feast.  Every day this week we have celebrated Easter and, in a particular way, we do so again this Sunday.  We always are given that poignant Gospel reading of St. Thomas, complete with his doubts and fears, that demands proof, on Thomas' part.  But indeed, immediately upon receiving this proof, St. Thomas gives us the response that we, the faithful, have uttered for centuries: my Lord and my God!!

And indeed we remember that Jesus said to Thomas, and those gathered together, and US, yes, US...blessed are those who have not seen but believed.

Of course we are blessed every time we attend Mass to see Jesus: the Eucharist; the precious body, blood, soul & divinity of our Resurrected Lord Jesus!

Now Divine Mercy: we know that Jesus Himself, back in the 1930's appeared to Faustina Kowalska in Poland and gave her, to give to all of US, the feast of Divine Mercy.  At the 3 p.m. hour, the hour of His death on the first altar of the Church, the bloody cross, we are called to gather and celebrate Divine Mercy.  We follow the Divine Mercy Novena, which began on Good Friday and reaches it's conclusion this Sunday, we pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy(for the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world) and we venerate his image of Divine Mercy, where we see those hopeful words: Jesus I trust in You and we see the rays of crismson and white coming from His heart, His side; the very blood and water which flowed from His body upon the cross when the soldier thrust a lance into his side.

Do you celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday?  Does your parish have a special Divine Mercy celebration?  Do you pray the novena?  Do you try and attend Reconciliation during the period prescribed for Divine Mercy?

If at all possible, try and find the local parish closest to you that celebrates the Feast of Divine Mercy. Or perhaps tune in to the celebration from the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Massachusettes.  I believe the time for the Mass is noon central.

Happy 2nd Sunday of Easter!
Happy Easter Octave!
Happy Feast of Divine Mercy!

Holy God, holy mighty one, holy immortal One; have mercy on us and on the whole world!