Divine Mercy

Today is the Feast of Divine Mercy on account of the Gospel reading at Mass, in which we hear how, on the first Easter Day, Our Lord appeared to His apostles (without Thomas) and, having greeted them: “Peace be with you”, He breathed on them the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins.

          This is not the same outpouring of the Spirit as will come on the day of Pentecost after Our Lord has ascended to heaven. Today’s special gift from Our Lord is the first fruit of His death and resurrection and is given to the Apostles to administer.

          They in their turn handed on this gift of the Spirit for the forgiveness of sins in the sacrament of Holy Orders. Hence the vital connection between Divine Mercy and sacramental confession.                ~   Fr. Paul Dobson