Celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday with Your Kids

The Church invites us to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday on the Sunday after Easter. This beautiful feast day is a wonderful opportunity to teach our children about God's boundless mercy and love.

The Divine Mercy devotion was revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, in the 1930s. Jesus appeared to her and asked that a feast of Divine Mercy be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. He promised that anyone who goes to confession and receives Holy Communion on that day will receive complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.

So what can we do to celebrate this special day with our kids? Here are some simple ideas:

Read the Divine Mercy Story

The story of St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy devotion is a powerful one, full of miracles and God's love. Read a children's version of the story together as a family, emphasizing how much Jesus wants to pour out His mercy on us.

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a beautiful prayer that takes about 15 minutes to pray. Teach your kids the simple prayers and have them help you count the beads. Explain that this prayer helps us ask for God's mercy.

Make Divine Mercy Crafts

Get creative with your kids by making Divine Mercy-themed crafts. You could paint an image of the Divine Mercy, make a Divine Mercy rosary, create a Divine Mercy poster to hang in your home or decorate a special frame to house the special image. Families can also eat special foods to commemorate the feast. Blueberries and strawberries can be arrayed like the rays of mercy flowing from Jesus' sacred heart. Ice-cream Sundaes are also a fun way to celebrate, they can be decorated with red and blue sprinkles.

Attend Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday

If possible, make plans to attend Mass as a family on Divine Mercy Sunday. Encourage your kids to go to confession beforehand so they can receive the promised graces. Perhaps allow children to ring a special Shining Light Dolls doll of Divine Mercy Jesus to focus on during Mass.

Discuss God's Mercy

Take time to talk with your kids about how much God loves us and wants to pour out His mercy. Explain that no matter what we've done, God is always ready to forgive us if we are truly sorry. Share personal stories of God's mercy in your own life.

Divine Mercy Sunday is a beautiful opportunity to focus on God's endless love and compassion. By sharing this devotion with our children, we can help them grow in their understanding of the incredible gift of Divine Mercy. So let's celebrate this special day together, teaching our kids about the boundless love of our merciful Savior.