4 Ways Catholic Radio Can Prepare You for Divine Mercy Sunday
Written by catholicradio on April 8, 2023
In the Jubilee Year 2000, on the second Sunday of Easter, known as the Octave of Easter, Saint Pope John Paul II canonized Sister Faustina Kowalska. He also declared that particular Sunday would be, from that point forward, also called the Sunday of Divine Mercy.
The Octave of a Feast Day Is a Crown of the Celebration
In the liturgical year, there is an Octave of Christmas, and also an Octave of Easter. Simply put, the celebration of our Lord’s birth and His Resurrection lasts not just for one day, but for eight. The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God marks the eighth day of the Christmas celebration. Likewise, it is Divine Mercy Sunday that marks the eighth day of the Easter celebration.
Oftentimes we think of mercy as a feeling or emotion, but in studying Sacred Scripture we find that is not the case. God is love. Love is not a feeling, it is an action. Christ laid down His life for us. So too, mercy is an action.
The wounds that Christ showed the apostles in the Upper Room after His Resurrection reveal Divine Mercy. The Gospel reading for the Octave of Easter reveals Christ who conquered sin and death. It also points to the institution of the sacrament of reconciliation.
How to Observe Divine Mercy Sunday
The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception (MIC), the official promoters of the Divine Mercy message, suggest the following:
“Thus, to fittingly observe Divine Mercy Sunday in a solemn way, we should:
- Celebrate the Feast on the Sunday after Easter;
- Sincerely repent of all our sins;
- Place our complete trust in Jesus;
- Go to Confession, preferably before that Sunday;
- Receive Holy Communion on the day of the Feast;
- Venerate the Image of The Divine Mercy (To venerate a sacred image or statue simply means to perform some act or make some gesture of deep religious respect toward it because of the person whom it represents, in this case, our Most Merciful Savior.);
- Be merciful to others, through our actions, words, and prayers on their behalf.”
As Christ is Merciful to Us, We Are to Be Merciful
Number 7 above refers to The Diary of St. Faustina, paragraph 1158. Jesus provides instruction to St. Faustina to love others as He would. Love in action includes being merciful to others.
3 Ways Catholic Radio Can Prepare Your Heart for Divine Mercy Sunday
- Our Hearts Are Directed to God Through Catholic Radio.
For some people, choosing a radio station is a mindless choice based simply on what “tickles the ears”. But if we are thoughtful, we realize that when we change our radio station, we can change our lives.
All the programs on Catholic radio are centered on the Love of Christ and the Truth of His Word and the Catholic Church. This is an antidote to a loud and sometimes divisive culture manipulated by the enemy of our souls to sow confusion in our hearts.
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Catholic Radio Teaches and Affirms the Love of God for Each Of Us.
The hosts of Catholic radio programs are rooted in their Catholic faith and have a call on their lives to evangelize. Whether lay people with call-in programs or priests who preach the gospel and air their homilies, they send Truth through the airwaves to counter error.
When we listen to these programs, our minds and hearts are like soil that is fertilized. The seeds of the Word of God can take root. We will find that the more we listen, the more we begin to think about the true, the good, and the beautiful.
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Programs on Catholic Radio Stir Up Devotion to Our Lord.
As we continue to listen to and discover favorite speakers and programs, the soil of our hearts and minds is then tilled and weeded. We recognize our own sinfulness, appreciate the gift of the sacrament of reconciliation, and desire to receive Jesus more reverently in the Eucharist.
We are transformed through the process of continual conversion as we listen to priests and Catholic teachers and scholars. Our desire to know Jesus in the Divine Mercy image increases and we begin to say with more confidence, “Jesus, I trust in You.”
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Catholic Radio Equips Us to Be Love in Action to Others.
After a time, the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, molds us to develop more empathy and compassion for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We listen to new ways to relate to and minister to others.
At this point Catholic radio has penetrated our hearts and we find ourselves wanting to extend love and mercy to others in new ways that perhaps we were never capable of before.
Living Divine Mercy is a Way of Life that Catholic Radio Supports
As we receive Divine Mercy from Our Lord, and as we share that love and mercy with others, we will have successes, but also challenges.
Catholic radio will continue to support us by encouraging delving into Sacred Scripture, looking to the teachings of the Catholic Church, and continually pointing to the sacramental life, the Holy Mass, and prayer.
At catholicradionetwork.com you will find a companion to accompany you on your spiritual journey. You can choose from five livestreams. Also don’t forget to download our mobile app for Android and Apple so you can listen anywhere, any time.
