Beatification Pope John Paul II

Beatification of Pope John Paul II

Divine Mercy Sunday

May 1, 2011

“Thus the message of divine mercy is also implicitly a message about the value of every human being. Each person is precious in God’s eyes.”
(Pope John Paul II)

This year on Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope John Paul II will be beatified reaching the second level in the three levels of becoming a Saint.

The choice of the Feast of Divine Mercy, May 1, 2011, is not accidental. Pope John Paul II had a deep devotion to Sr. Faustina Kowalski and to the Divine Mercy devotion that is identified with her.

The following excerpts from the sermon of Venerable Pope John Paul II given on the occasion of his canonization of Sister Faustine Kowalska on April 30, 2000, the Second Sunday of Easter, that “each person is precious in God’s eyes,” are as applicable today as they were eleven years ago.

“It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church will be called “Divine Mercy Sunday”. In the various readings, the liturgy seems to indicate the path of mercy which, while re-establishing the relationship of each person with God, also creates new relations of fraternal solidarity among human beings. Christ has taught us that man not only receives and experiences the mercy of God, but is also called to practice mercy towards others: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”. He also showed us the many paths of mercy, which not only forgives sins but reaches out to all human needs. Jesus bent over every kind of human poverty, material and spiritual….

It is not easy to love with a deep love, which lies in the authentic gift of self. This love can only be learned by penetrating the mystery of God’s love. Looking at him, being one with his fatherly heart, we are able to look with new eyes at our brothers and sisters, with an attitude of unselfishness and solidarity, of generosity and forgiveness. All this is mercy!...

Sr Faustina Kowalska wrote in her Diary: “I feel tremendous pain when I see the sufferings of my neighbors. All my neighbors’ sufferings reverberate in my own heart; I carry their anguish in my heart in such a way that it even physically destroys me. I would like all their sorrows to fall upon me, in order to relieve my neighbor.” (Diary p. 365) This is the degree of compassion to which love leads, when it takes the love of God as its measure!...

It is this love which must inspire humanity today, if it is to face the crisis of the meaning of life, the challenges of the most diverse needs and, especially, the duty to defend the dignity of every human person. Thus the message of divine mercy is also implicitly a message about the value of every human being. Each person is precious in God’s eyes; Christ gave his life for each one; to everyone the Father gives his Spirit and offers intimacy. …

Today, fixing our gaze with you on the face of the risen Christ, let us make our own your prayer of trusting abandonment and say with firm hope: Christ Jesus, I trust in you!”

For items related to Pope John Paul II
please visit Lynn's Timeless Treasures