By Bakah Derick
Christians of St Paul Quasi Parish Nkwen have been challenged to be ambassadors and missionaries of mercy. A priest whose name we got as Fr Collins gave the challenge during the early morning Holy Mass on Sunday 24 April 2022 to mark this year's feast of Divine Mercy.
"If our country must have peace then we must be merciful" the priest said
The feast of Divine Mercy he said ends nine days of novena prayers which started on Good Friday. During the novena prayers, Fr Collins detailed that those who took part prayed for sinners, priests, souls of children, those in polgatory and those who do not believe in the existence of God.
"Divine Mercy prayer helps all to God more and his sorrowful heart...Divine Mercy members are apostles and missionaries of God's mercy in communities." He said
The priest encouraged all to be merciful and to do that he said, they must "have the capacity to forgive, show kindness, pity and compassion to others."
While encouraging the faithful to merciful in homes and communities, Fr Collins emphasised that a merciful person is one who is charitable and makes sacrificed. Such mercy he noted must be offered before it is asked for.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches on cooporale and spiritual works of mercy which are fundamental in the life of a Christian.
Divine Mercy feast is celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter
Established by St. Pope John Paul II in the year 2000, Divine Mercy Sunday grew from messages that Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun and now a saint, received from Jesus in the 1930s, as World War II approached.
The image associated with Divine Mercy Sunday is based on Jesus’ appearance to St. Faustina. According to her recollection, his right hand was raised in a blessing and his left hand was touching his garment above his heart.
"Red and white rays emanated from his heart, symbolizing the blood and water that was poured out for our salvation and our sanctification. St. Faustina said the Lord requested that “Jesus, I trust in you” be inscribed under his image and that his image be painted and venerated throughout the world. In a series of revelations to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s, our Lord called for a special feast day to be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. Today, we know that feast as Divine Mercy Sunday, named by Pope St. John Paul II at the canonization of St. Faustina on April 30, 2000." Several Roman Catholic Church sources say.
Here is a pictorial presentation of the four keep facts of the feast of Divine Mercy by the Catholiclink...
