Year 33 No.

61 2nd Sunday of Easter / Divine Mercy Sunday (A) — White April 19, 2020

Our Gospel today is a source

of reflection for today’s Feast
of the Divine Mercy, as we

T
celebrate God’s forgiveness
and love. Jesus’ mercy is in fact
compared to an ocean because

I rust
his sense of compassion
for weak human beings is
inexhaustible. In 1931, the

in you
Lord appeared to St. Faustina
Kowalska in a vision whereby
she saw Jesus in a white
garment with his right hand
raised in blessing. His left hand
was touching his garment near

S
his heart, whence two large rays
halom must have been the We could not blame Thomas
came forth, one red and the
first word the apostles heard since he saw with his very eyes other pale, at the crucifixion,
from the Risen Christ—and, if how Jesus agonized on the when Jesus side was thrust with
seeing their dead-until-now cross for three hours, bathed a lance, blood and water burst
Lord weren’t stunning enough, in blood—a crown of thorns forth. These two liquids stand to
the shalom would surely have on the Master’s head, a deep symbolize for us two important
made hairs stand to their roots. wound on the side and nail sacraments which nourish our
To hear the word “peace” at marks through the hands and Christian life: Baptism and the
this point must certainly be feet. How could Jesus have Eucharist.
surprising; after all, the apostles possibly bounced back to life
There are five main forms
had abandoned their Master to after these terrible wounds?
of the devotion to the Divine
his death and scampered away The risen Christ shows his Mercy: the first is the Divine
to save their own skin. Jesus mercy on Thomas by appearing Mercy image with the specific
had to say the word twice. This to him and to the other apostles inscription “I Trust in You.” The
word does not only initiate without any rancor. After a second is the Feast of Divine
reconciliation: it is also a wish greeting of peace, Jesus shows Mercy, celebrated every second
and a prayer that the other his hands and his side to Sunday of the Easter season;
person may receive from God Thomas. the third is the recitation of
the best possible blessing. The Thomas’ profession of faith the Chaplet of Divine Mercy;
apostles could hardly believe in Jesus is always recounted the fourth is the Three O’Clock
their ears! Jesus comes back every second Sunday of Easter: prayer; and the fifth—the most
alive, breathes on them the “My Lord and my God!” universal of all the forms—
Holy Spirit, and commissions Thomas and the other apostles is the propagation of acts of
them to continue the work Jesus grappled with their faith in mercy to the whole humanity. It
has begun with them! the resurrection of Jesus. They is always good to ask ourselves:
were also bedeviled by their After God has shown me his
The apparition is too good own shortcomings, haunted
to be true that Thomas, who mercy, what concrete acts of
by their guilty conscience for kindness or mercy have I done
was absent on this occasion, not having stood up for Jesus for a neighbor recently?
thought his fellow apostles when he was led like a lamb
were only making up this story. to slaughter. — Fr. Paul J. Marquez, SSP
 THE INTRODUCTORY RITES Gloria through the apostles. All who
All — Glory to God in the believed were together and
Entrance Antiphon highest, and on earth peace to had all things in common;
(1 Pt 2:2) people of good will. We praise they would sell their property
(Recited when there is no opening song.) you, we bless you, we adore and possessions and divide
you, we glorify you, we give them among all according to
Like newborn infants, you you thanks for your great glory, each one’s need. Every day
must long for the pure, Lord God, heavenly King, O they devoted themselves to
spiritual milk, that in him God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus meeting together in the temple
you may grow to salvation, Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord area and to breaking bread
alleluia. God, Lamb of God, Son of the in their homes. They ate their
Father, you take away the sins meals with exultation and
Greeting of the world, have mercy on us; sincerity of heart, praising
(The sign of the cross is made here.) you take away the sins of the God and enjoying favor with
world, receive our prayer; you all the people. And every
P — The Lord be with you. are seated at the right hand of day the Lord added to their
All — And with your spirit. the Father, have mercy on us. For number those who were being
you alone are the Holy One, you saved.
Introduction alone are the Lord, you alone are
(These [or similar words] may be the Most High, Jesus Christ, with — The word of the Lord.
used to address the assembly.) the Holy Spirit, in the glory of All — Thanks be to God.
God the Father. Amen.
P — Today we hear the story Responsorial Psalm (Ps 118)
of Thomas. Like Thomas, may Collect
the Lord open our eyes to
R — Give thanks to the Lord,
P — Let us pray. (Pause) for he is good, his love is
the power of the resurrection God of everlasting mercy, everlasting.
and transform our doubts and who in the very recurrence Sr. M.C.A. Parco, FSP
fears into confident faith and of the paschal feast kindle the      
   
G Em
boundless joy. faith of the people you have       
Today is Divine Mercy 
made your own, increase, Give thanks to the Lord,for he is
Sunday. Promoted by Sr. we pray, the grace you have
Fa u s t i n a Kowa l s k a , t h i s bestowed, that all may grasp 
G

C Am
 D7
      
4

d e vo t i o n i s a p e r e n n i a l and rightly understand in what    

invitation for us to face, font they have been washed, good, his love is e ver las
with confidence in divine by whose Spirit they have
goodness, the difficulties and been reborn, by whose Blood

9 G
trials of the present and the they have been redeemed.  
future. Through our Lord Jesus ting.
Christ, your Son, who lives 1. Let the house of Israel say,/
Penitential Act and reigns with you in the “His mercy endures forever.”/
unity of the Holy Spirit, one Let the house of Aaron say,/
P — Brethen (brothers and God, for ever and ever. “His mercy endures forever.”/
sisters), let us acknowledge All — Amen. Let those who fear the Lord
our sins, and so prepare THE LITURGY say,/“His mercy endures
ourselves to celebrate the OF THE WORD forever.” (R)
sacred mysteries. (Pause) 2. I was hard pressed and was
First Reading (Acts 2:42–47) falling,/ but the Lord helped
P — You were sent to heal the (Sit)
contrite of heart : Lord, have me./ My strength and my
mercy. courage is the Lord,/ and he
Luke narrates the transforming
has been my savior./ The joyful
All — Lord, have mercy. effect of Jesus’ resurrection on the
shout of victory/ in the tents of
believers. In the power of the Holy
P — You came to call sinners: the just. (R)
Spirit, the first Christians build
Christ, have mercy. up a sharing and worshipping 3 . Th e s t o n e wh i ch t h e
All — Christ, have mercy. community. builders rejected/has become
the cornerstone./ By the Lord
P — You are seated at the right A reading from the Acts of the has this been done;/ it is
hand of the Father to intercede Apostles wonderful in our eyes./ This
for us: Lord, have mercy. is the day the Lord has made;/
All — Lord, have mercy. THEY DEVOTED themselves let us be glad and rejoice in
to the teaching of the apostles it. (R)
P — May almighty God and to the communal life, to
have mercy on us, forgive the breaking of bread and Second Reading (1 Pt 1:3–9)
us our sins, and bring us to to the prayers. Awe came Peter encourages us that our
everlasting life. upon everyone, and many faith in the Risen Christ fills us
All — Amen. wonders and signs were done with joy and sustains us.
A reading from the first Letter breathed on them and said into hell; on the third day he
of Saint Peter to them, “Receive the Holy rose again from the dead; he
BLESSED be the God and Spirit. Whose sins you forgive ascended into heaven, and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, are forgiven them, and whose is seated at the right hand of
who in his great mercy gave us sins you retain are retained.” God the Father almighty; from
a new birth to a living hope Thomas, called Didymus, there he will come to judge
through the resurrection of one of the Twelve, was not the living and the dead.
Jesus Christ from the dead, with them when Jesus came. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
to an inheritance that is So the other disciples said to the holy catholic Church,
imperishable, undefiled, and him, “We have seen the Lord.” the communion of saints,
unfading, kept in heaven for But he said to them, “Unless the forgiveness of sins, the
you who by the power of God I see the mark of the nails in resurrection of the body, and
are safeguarded through faith, his hands and put my finger life everlasting. Amen.
to a salvation that is ready to into the nailmarks and put my
be revealed in the final time. hand into his side, I will not Prayer of the Faithful
In this you rejoice, although believe.”
now for a little while you may Now a week later his P — Let us turn to the Father
have to suffer through various disciples were again inside and plunge into his loving
trials, so that the genuineness and Thomas was with them. mercy that is greater than
of your faith, more precious Jesus came, although the sin, evil, suffering, and death.
than gold that is perishable doors were locked, and stood In Jesus, we have victory,
even though tested by fire, may in their midst and said, “Peace salvation, and eternal life.We
prove to be for praise, glory, be with you.” Then he said
to Thomas, “Put your finger give thanks to the Father as
and honor at the revelation we say:
of Jesus Christ. Although you here and see my hands, and
have not seen him you love bring your hand and put it R — Father, we trust in you.
him; even though you do into my side, and do not be C — For the leaders of the
not see him now yet believe unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to Church that, believing in
in him, you rejoice with an and experiencing the Lord’s
indescribable and glorious him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you infinite mercy, they may
joy, as you attain the goal of
your faith, the salvation of come to believe because you always proclaim it to God’s
your souls. have seen me? Blessed are people, we pray: (R)
— The word of the Lord. those who have not seen and C — For our local and national
All — Thanks be to God. have believed.” leaders that, like the apostles,
Now Jesus did many other
signs in the presence of his they may attend to the needs
Alleluia (Jn 20:29) (Stand) of our communities and work
disciples that are not written
All — Alleluia, alleluia. in this book. But these are for peace, unity, and progress,
You believe in me, Thomas, written that you may come to we pray: (R)
because you have seen me, believe that Jesus is the Christ, C — For those who, like
says the Lord; blessed are the Son of God, and that Thomas, live in doubt and
they who have not seen me, through this belief you may
but still believe! Alleluia, fear, that the peace and
have life in his name.
alleluia. forgiveness of the Risen
— The Gospel of the Lord. Christ may strengthen them
Gospel (Jn 20:19–31) All — Praise to you, Lord to face life’s challenges and
P — A reading from the holy Jesus Christ. difficulties, we pray: (R)
Gospel according to John. C — For all of us gathered here
All — Glory to you, O Lord. Homily (Sit)
that, immersed in the ocean of
ON THE EVENING of that Profession of Faith (Stand) Divine Mercy, we may live as
first day of the week, when ministers of the Lord’s peace
the doors were locked, where All — I believe in God, the and reconciliation, we pray:
the disciples were, for fear Father almighty, Creator of (R)
of the Jews, Jesus came and heaven and earth, and in Jesus
stood in their midst and said Christ, his only Son, our Lord, C — Let us pray for the urgent
to them, “Peace be with you.” concerns of our community
(At the words that follow, up to and our personal intentions
When he had said this, he and including the Virgin Mary,
showed them his hands and (pause). We pray: (R)
all bow)
his side. The disciples rejoiced P — God our Father, in Jesus
when they saw the Lord. Jesus who was conceived by the
said to them again, “Peace be Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin you have shown us your
with you. As the Father has Mary, suffered under Pontius boundless love and infinite
sent me, so I send you.” And Pilate, was crucified, died and mercy. Teach us to love you in
when he had said this, he was buried; he descended return, entrust our lives to your
love and mercy, and serve you
in our brothers and sisters.
This we ask through Christ
our Lord.
All — Amen.
THE LITURGY OF
THE EUCHARIST
Presentation of the Gifts
(Stand)
P — Pray, brethren…
All — May the Lord accept
the sacrifice at your hands
for the praise and glory of his
name, for our good and the
good of all his holy Church.

Prayer over the Offerings

P — Accept, O Lord, we
pray, the oblations of your
people (and of those you have who comes in the name of the Through Christ our Lord.
brought to new birth), that, Lord. Hosanna in the highest. All — Amen.
(Kneel)
renewed by confession of THE CONCLUDING RITES
your name and by Baptism, Acclamation (Stand)
they may attain unending All — When we eat this Bread P — The Lord be with you.
happiness. and drink this Cup . . . All — And with your spirit.
Through Christ our Lord.
All — Amen. Solemn Blessing
THE COMMUNION RITE
P — B ow d ow n f o r t h e
Preface I of Easter The Lord’s Prayer blessing. (Pause)
All — Our Father… May God, who by the
P — The Lord be with you. P — Deliver us, Lord… Resurrection of his Only
All — And with your spirit. Begotten Son was pleased
P — Lift up your hearts. All — For the kingdom . . .
to confer on you the gift of
All — We lift them up to the Invitation to Peace redemption and of adoption,
Lord. Invitation to Communion give you gladness by his
P — Let us give thanks to the (Kneel) blessing.
Lord our God. All — Amen.
All — It is right and just. P — Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away P — M ay h e , by wh o s e
P — It is truly right and just, redeeming work you have
our duty and our salvation, at the sins of the world. Blessed
are those called to the supper received the gift of everlasting
all times to acclaim you, O freedom, make you heirs to an
Lord, but on this day above of the Lamb. eternal inheritance.
all to laud you yet more All — Lord, I am not worthy All — Amen.
gloriously, when Christ our that you should enter under
Passover has been sacrificed. P — And may you, who have
my roof, but only say the already arisen with Christ
For he is the true Lamb word and my soul shall be
who has taken away the sins in Baptism through faith, by
healed. living in a right manner on
of the world; by dying he has
destroyed our death, and by Communion Antiphon this earth, be united with him
rising, restored our life. (Cf. Jn 20:27) in the homeland of heaven.
All — Amen.
Therefore, overcome with Bring your hand and feel the
place of the nails, and do not P — And may the blessing
paschal joy, every land, of almighty God, the Father,
every people exults in your be unbelieving but believing, and the Son, (†) and the Holy
praise and even the heavenly alleluia. Spirit, come down on you and
Powers, with angelic hosts, remain with you for ever.
sing together the unending Prayer after Communion (Stand)
All — Amen.
hymn of your glory, as they P — Let us pray. (Pause)
acclaim: Grant, we pray, almighty Dismissal
All — Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God, that our reception of this P — Go forth, the Mass is
God of hosts, heaven and earth paschal Sacrament may have a ended, alleluia, alleluia.
are full of your glory. Hosanna continuing effect in our minds All — Thanks be to God,
in the highest. Blessed is he and hearts. alleluia, alleluia.