celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter . Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy ( Diary , # 699 )… My Heart rejoices in this Feast ” ( Diary , # 998 ).
Jesus ’ mandate for the solemn celebration of this Feast was first communicated to Sr . Faustina when she received the vision of the Divine Mercy Image on February 22 , 1931 ( Diary , # 47 , 49 , 742 , xxxiii ). Thereafter , this vision of Jesus became the “ pattern ” for the Image to be painted ( details in section ( 3.1 ) above ), which was completed in June 1934 ( Diary , # 47 ). Jesus also ordered that the Feast of Mercy be on the “ First Sunday after Easter ” ( Diary , # 742 , 699 ), to be known as the “ Divine Mercy Sunday ” ( Diary , xliv ). The selection of the first Sunday of Easter captures the basic link between the mysteries of man ’ s redemption and God ’ s mercy , in Christ ; which is further underlined by His mandate to make the Novena of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy to start on Good Friday , in preparation for the Feast ( Diary , xxiv ).
Sr . Faustina first observed the “ Feast of Mercy ” privately , on the first Sunday after Easter in April 1934 , in accord with the “ command ” of Jesus to do so ( Diary , # 280 ). But , at that time , the Divine Mercy Image was still not finished , as it would need another two months for it to be done ( Diary , # 47 ). However , she celebrated it fervently “ through interior recollection and exterior mortification , wearing the belt for three hours , and praying continuously for sinners and for mercy on the whole world ” ( Diary , # 280 ).
But , the Lord Jesus told Sr . Faustina that the “ Feast of Mercy ” be celebrated solemnly , in the church and in the world , in a certain way : 345 1 . Observe the Feast of Mercy ( Divine Mercy Sunday ) 346
I desire that there be a Feast of Mercy ( Diary , # 49 )… My Heart rejoices in this Feast ( Diary , # 998 )… I demand the worship of My mercy through the solemn
345 Ibid ., Faustina , Diary , # 47-50 , 280 , 699 , 742 ; Odell , Faustina - Apostle of Divine Mercy : The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion , 189 . 346 Ibid ., Faustina , Diary , # 49 , 742 , 570 , 699 , 998 , 206 , 965 .
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