The Feast of the Divine Mercy or Divine Mercy Sunday falls on the Octave Day of Easter (Low Sunday), the Sunday immediately following Easter Sunday. Divine Mercy Sunday is named in honour of the Divine Mercy devotion, which was promoted by Saint Faustina Kowalska, “the Apostle of Mercy”.

Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament (1905-1938) was a Polish nun, visionary, and mystic. She entered religious life in 1926 and received several visions of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Saint Joseph. She was beatified in 1993 and canonized in 2000 by Venerable Pope John Paul the Great. She was also proclaimed one of the patrons of World Youth Day. Saint Faustina kept a diary, which was later published under the title Divine Mercy in My Soul: The Diary of Saint Faustina.

The Image of the Divine Mercy

On 22 February 1931, Christ appeared to Saint Faustina as the “King of Divine Mercy”, wearing a white garment. His right hand was raised in a sign of blessing and the other was touching His garment at the breast. From beneath the garment emanated two large rays, one red, and the other white. According to the diary of Saint Faustina, Christ said: 

“Paint an image according to the pattern you see with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You… I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over its enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory” (Divine Mercy in My Soul: The Diary of Saint Faustina, 47 & 48).

Christ also said that “the two rays represent blood and water,” in reference to the “blood and water” mentioned in the Gospel of John (19:34). Acting upon orders she received from Christ, Saint Faustina had a picture of this vision painted.

The Image of the Divine Mercy visualizes the Gospel reading for the Octave Day of Easter (John 20:19-31) which, in both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of the Roman Rite, tells of the appearance of the Risen Christ to His disciples in the cenacle and the institution of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’” (John 20:21-23).

This the Holy Apostles passed down through apostolic succession to all bishops and priests, and which the faithful receive in sacramental absolution when the priest says some of the most beautiful words in the history of mankind:

“God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Divine Mercy Sunday and the Promise of Christ

According to the diary of Saint Faustina, Christ said: 

“I desire that there be a Feast of Mercy. I want this image, which you will paint with a brush, to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy” (Divine Mercy in My Soul: The Diary of Saint Faustina, 49). 

“On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity” (Divine Mercy in My Soul: The Diary of Saint Faustina, 699).

The devotion of Divine Mercy Sunday was celebrated unofficially in many places for years until 2000, when in conjunction with Saint Faustina’s canonization, Pope John Paul the Great decreed that the Sunday after Easter would officially be known as “the Second Sunday of Easter or the Sunday of the Divine Mercy” (in Latin: Dominica secunda Paschæ seu de divina misericordia).

“Throughout the world the Second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that mankind will experience in the years to come” (Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 23 May 2000).

In 2002, Venerable Pope John Paul the Great granted indulgences associated with this devotion, thereby institutionalizing with the full authority of the Church the Promise made by Christ to Saint Faustina, in regards to the Feast of Divine Mercy.

“And so the Supreme Pontiff, motivated by an ardent desire to foster in Christians this devotion to Divine Mercy as much as possible in the hope of offering great spiritual fruit to the faithful… granted the following Indulgences: 

·         a plenary indulgence, granted under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of Supreme Pontiff) to the faithful who, on the Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday, in any church or chapel, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honour of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. ‘Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!’);

·         A partial indulgence, granted to the faithful who, at least with a contrite heart, pray to the merciful Lord Jesus a legitimately approved invocation” (Apostolic Penitentiary, 29 June 2002).

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

In 1935, Saint Faustina had a vision which described what is now called the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The prayer is said on ordinary rosary beads. First is said one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and then the Apostles’ Creed. Then on the “Our Father” beads is said:

Eternal Father,

I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity

of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

On the “Hail Mary” beads, the following is said:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,

have mercy on us and the whole world.

In conclusion, the following is said three times:

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,

have mercy on us and the whole world.

According to the diary of Saint Faustina, Christ said: 

“My daughter, encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given you. It pleases Me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet” (Divine Mercy in My Soul: The Diary of Saint Faustina, 1541).

Nota bene: Domina Nostra Publishing is currently working on publishing the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (Corona Divinæ Misericordiæ) in Latin and English… ora pro nobis!

The Pope of Divine Mercy

“The paschal mystery is the culmination of this revealing and effecting of mercy, which is able to justify man, to restore justice in the sense of that salvific order which God willed from the beginning in man, and through man, in the world” (Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Dives in misericordia, n. 7).

Being Polish, Venerable Pope John Paul the Great naturally had a strong love of Saint Faustina and the Divine Mercy devotion. As Archbishop of Krakow, he began a new investigation into the life and writings of the saint. According to his biographer George Weigel, the Venerable Pope felt “very near” to Saint Faustina as he began writing his 1980 encyclical letter Dives in misericordia (“Rich in Mercy”).

In addition to beatifying and canonizing Saint Faustina, he used his full authority as the Vicar of Christ to institutionalize Divine Mercy Sunday in the General Roman Calendar, and the Promise of Divine Mercy Sunday as a plenary indulgence.

Venerable Pope John Paul the Great died on the evening of Saturday, 2 April 2005, the Vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday. Coincidence? Some say there are no coincidences, only “God incidences”!

Geoffrey W. M. P. Lopes da Silva

Publisher and Executive Editor

Passiontide or the Season of the Passion (Tempus Passionis) begins on the Fifth Sunday of Lent in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (pre-Vatican II liturgy), officially called the First Sunday of the Passion (Dominica prima in Passione) or Passion Sunday (Dominica de Passione). This brief liturgical sub-season within the Season of Lent lasts for two weeks, ending on Holy Saturday.

Traditionally, all crucifixes and images are covered with violet veils. The custom of the veiling was associated with the Gospel reading for Passion Sunday: “So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple (Saint John 8:59).”

The term Passiontide is not used in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite to denote the last two weeks of Lent. However, the focus of the liturgy in both the Mass and in the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours) marks a significant shift in focus. For instance, the Roman Missal contains this rubric for the Fifth Sunday of Lent:

“The practice of covering crosses and images in the church may be observed, if the episcopal conference decides. The crosses are to be covered until the end of the celebration of the Lord’s passion on Good Friday. Images are to remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.”

Also, during the Fifth Week of Lent, the Preface of the Passion of the Lord I (The Power of the Cross) is used, while the Preface of the Passion of the Lord II (The Victory of the Passion) is used on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week (Hebdomas Sancta).

Meanwhile, in the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours, it is optional to begin using the hymns proper to Holy Week.

As Holy Week and the Solemnity of Easter approach, let us pray that our hearts and minds are properly renewed and purified, to observe the sacred mysteries of these most holy days with the love, devotion, and purity of heart that they deserve.

The old Roman Martyrology lists two Saint Valentine’s for today, 14 February:

“At Rome, on the Flaminian Way, in the time of Emperor Claudius, the birthday of St. Valentine, priest and martyr, who after having cured and instructed many persons, was beaten with clubs and beheaded.”

Romæ, via Flamínia, natális sancti Valentíni, Presbyteri et Mártyris, qui, post multa sanitátum et doctrínæ insígnia, fústibus cæsus et decollátus est, sub Cláudio Caesare.                

“At Teramo, St. Valentine, bishop and martyr, who was scourged, committed to prison, and, because he remained unshaken in his faith, was taken out of his dungeon in the dead of night and beheaded by order of Placidus, prefect of the city.”

Iterámnæ sancti Valentíni, Epíscopi et Mártyris, qui, post diútinam cædem mancipátus custódiæ, et, cum superári non posset, tandem, médiæ noctis siléntio ejéctus de cárcere, decollátus est, jussu Præfécti urbis Plácidi.

Neither saint seems to have anything to do with romantic love, hearts, flowers, or chocolates!

Saint Valentine of Rome and Saint Valentine of Teramo, pray for us!

Laudetur Iesus Christus!

In the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, this Sunday is the first day of the Season of Septuagesima. This brief liturgical season consists of just three Sundays: Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima.

The Season of Septuagesima serves as a preparatory time before Lent, which is now just over three weeks away. In the Extraordinary Form, violet vestments are worn and the Alleluia is no longer said or sung until the Easter Vigil. This Season of Septuagesima might look like Lent, but it isn’t, as the Lenten penitential observances of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that all Catholics are called to practice do not begin until Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

Whether or not one goes to Mass in the Extraordinary Form, this remains a good time of year to begin thinking about the coming Lenten season. As we gather our blessed palms from around the house and bring them to our parish for burning for Ash Wednesday, now is the time to begin giving Lent some thought. May you all have a blessed and fruitful Septuagesima Season!

Ora pro nobis!

Geoffrey W. M. P. Lopes da Silva

Publisher and Executive Editor

Laudetur Iesus Christus! 

I hope you all have had a blessed Christmas season, and are having a good New Year thus far!

After a long absence, the Weblog for Domina Nostra Publishing is back. We hope to keep the blog a bit more active, with news and information about Domina Nostra Publishing, the Catholic book publishing industry, and other items of interest to our customers, readers, and benefactors.

Domina Nostra Publishing has encountered a number of difficulties due to the current economic crisis, and many of our numerous projects that are in the works have been put on hold indefinitely. Please pray for us, that we may continue to successfully publish Catholic books in Latin and English.

Ora pro nobis!

Geoffrey W. M. P. Lopes da Silva

Publisher and Executive Editor  

My apologies for not posting anything in a while; time is certainly flying by! 

Considering that we have now begun the Third Week in Lent (Hebdomada Tertia in Quadragesima), I thought it would be a good time to highlight The Way of the Cross in Latin and English. A full product description for this title can be viewed here. 

The Way of the Cross in Latin and English was published in 2005. The beautiful crucifix that can be seen on the cover and on page 54 is located above the main altar of San Carlos Cathedral in Monterey, California. 

I would like to invite all visitors to share their thoughts on the Way (or Stations) of the Cross in general. Consider the following:           

·         How important is this devotion in your spiritual life?

·         Do you make use of it during Lent?

·         Does your parish make use of this devotion during Lent, and if so, is any ever Latin used?

·         Do you make use of it outside of Lent?

·         If you do not make use of this devotion at all, why not?   

These questions are just meant to spur a discussion. I think we can all learn from each other!   

Ora pro nobis!

Geoffrey W. M. P. Lopes da Silva
Publisher & Executive Editor  

Welcome to the first post of the official weblog of Domina Nostra Publishing, a four-year-old publishing house specializing in Latin and English books for Catholics.

The purpose of this weblog is to post news and information regarding our activities and publications, as well as to provide a place for others to share their thoughts about our titles. We also hope to use this weblog to solicite ideas and suggestions regarding future projects.

Please visit us often, and feel free to share your thoughts!

Ora pro nobis!

Geoffrey W. M. P. Lopes da Silva
Publisher & Executive Editor