Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Parish issued the following announcement on April 16

A person was going through a very dark time, questioning the meaning of life, not feeling very purposeful or worthwhile, and feeling disconnected and unappreciated. Suddenly, they gazed up at the night sky, found themselves in awe of all the stars and constellations, and exclaimed, “I am here on purpose and I am loved!” Having been brought by God to this moment of intense connection and awareness, his life changed from that moment on.

If we are always preoccupied with the challenges, obligations, and stuff of daily life, we can easily miss the wonderful opportunities when the resurrected Christ is knocking at our door. If we open ourselves to the fullness of experience, we will find ourselves listening and embracing all that is around us, being caught up in the magnificence of creation’s grandeur and knowing in our heart and soul that God is and I am.

While that sounds like a simple, tell-me-something-I don’t-know kind of revelation, it is life changing when it takes root in the depth of a person’s soul. Stumbling upon this awesome truth and internalizing it doesn’t require an assent of the mind. It beckons for a claim on our soul. We find ourselves knowing something profound that cannot be explained or reasoned, but purely is. When we are caught up in an experience and encounter the truth, it doesn’t matter how all of the pieces got put together. Truth is simply truth. The “my Lord and my God” responses we utter are not evoked because all of the pieces of faith and life make reasonable sense. The “my Lord and my God” affirmations come when we are lifted up out of our preoccupations and silliness and are in the presence of mystery and mercy.

God is mystery, one who is beyond our grasp but at the same time within our reach, knowable yet unknowable. And when in the presence of mystery, there comes an intense experience of mercy. We know deep within the essence of ourselves — and in the very life of creation — this beating, unconditionally accepting, life-sustaining, profound, mysterious yet familiar presence of love. We have found our peace. “Peace be with you.” Breathe in and breathe out. Peace.

Divina Misericordia

“Tomás exclamo: ‘Tú eres mi Señor y mi Dios.’ Jesús replicó: ‘Crees porque me has visto. ¡Felices los que no han visto, pero creen!’” (Juan 20:28-29). La aparición de Jesús y la incredulidad de Tomás tiene una referencia fuerte de fe. Su incredulidad se convierte en una profunda confesión y convicción de fe. Esta escena del Evangelio se repite día a día en la Eucaristía cuando convencidos del amor de Jesús hacia nosotros le decimos desde el fondo de nuestro corazón, Señor mío y Dios mío. También hoy la Iglesia celebra el Domingo de la Misericordia, a ocho días de la Resurrección del Señor. Es como si fuera un solo día de celebración.

Pero ¿de dónde viene el celebrar el Domingo de la Misericordia? San Juan Pablo II dio a la Iglesia el decreto Misericors et miserator el 5 de mayo del año 2000. Así fue como quedo establecido el Domingo de la Divina Misericordia en la Liturgia de todo el mundo. Ese domingo fue canonizada Santa Faustina por el Papa San Juan Pablo II. Nos dice la historia que el Papa Juan Pablo II beatificó (1993) y canonizó (2000) a Santa Faustina justamente en el segundo domingo de Pascua de ambos años. “Y tú, Faustina, don de Dios a nuestro tiempo, don de la tierra de Polonia a toda la Iglesia, concédenos percibir la profundidad de la misericordia divina, ayúdanos a experimentarla en nuestra vida y a testimoniarla a nuestros hermanos.” dijo el Papa en la canonización de su compatriota polaca. Jesús resucitado se manifiesta a nosotros en la Eucaristía de cada domingo. ¿Crees esto?

Original source can be found here.

Source: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Parish