The Easter Octave is an eight-day celebration that begins on Easter Sunday and concludes on the Second Sunday of Easter. On May 5, 2000, just days after the canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska, Pope St. John Paul II declared that the Second Sunday of Easter would henceforth be known as Divine Mercy Sunday.
This feast is rooted in the revelations recorded in St. Faustina’s Diary, where she detailed her private encounters with Jesus. In these profound conversations, Jesus expressed His deep desire to pour out His mercy upon the world:
“My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. 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. … Let no soul fear to draw near to Me. … It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.”
— St. Faustina’s Diary, no. 699
Holy Week is often considered the pinnacle of the liturgical year. In this sacred time, we reflect deeply on Scripture and contemplate Jesus’ Passion, death, and Resurrection. We come to rediscover that His sacrifice—freely and undeservedly given—is the ultimate expression of divine love and mercy. As Pope Benedict XVI beautifully said:
“Mercy is the central nucleus of the Gospel message; it is the very name of God, the Face with which he revealed himself in the Old Covenant and fully in Jesus Christ, the incarnation of creative and redemptive Love.”
— Regina Caeli address, March 30, 2008
So why is Divine Mercy Sunday such a fitting conclusion to the Easter Octave?
Because the Resurrection of Christ is not the end of the story—it is an invitation to live in the light of His mercy. The Cross conquered sin, but our dependence on God's mercy remains constant. The joy of Easter is inseparable from the grace of mercy poured out through the Sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist.
As St. John Paul II explained:
“What is mercy if not the boundless love of God, who, confronted with human sin, restrains the sentiment of severe justice and, allowing Himself to be moved by the wretchedness of His creatures, spurs Himself to the total gift of self, in the Son’s cross …? Who can say that he is free from sin and does not need God’s mercy? As people of this restless time of ours, wavering between the emptiness of self-exaltation and the humiliation of despair, we have a greater need than ever for a regenerating experience of mercy.”
— Regina Caeli message, April 10, 1994
As we celebrate Easter and approach Divine Mercy Sunday, we invite you to let this message echo in your life far beyond the Easter Octave. Open your heart to the transforming power of mercy and continue the journey of renewal.
For more inspiration during this sacred season, explore The Easter Impact and The Risen Jesus—spiritual readings to help you live the joy and meaning of Easter every day.
