Thousands Expected for National Shrine's 50th Anniversary Divine Mercy Sunday

Marian Press and Catholic Word Ask Help to Spread Divine Mercy Devotion

Effort aimed at fostering greater awareness of devotion

NECEDAH, Wisc., April 6 /Christian Newswire/ -- More than 15,000 people are expected travel this weekend to attend the annual Divine Mercy Sunday Weekend at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, the home of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception in Stockbridge, Mass.

"Divine Mercy Sunday at the Shrine this year will be unique, since we will be celebrating it during the Shrine's Golden Jubilee Year," says Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, shrine rector. "Fifty years ago, the Marians dedicated the Shrine to God's mercy and it has been drawing increasing crowds of pilgrims ever since."

The Shrine's celebration on Divine Mercy Sunday is the largest such observance in the Northeast and one of the largest in the world. The Holy Mass is broadcast around the world on EWTN, the Catholic global cable network.

As the Catholic Church prepares to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday on April 11, 2010, Marian Press and Catholic Word Publisher Group, which distributes Marian Press' materials, issued a call today for resellers, parishes, and dioceses to help dispel various misconceptions about the Divine Mercy devotion.

For instance:

Myth: Divine Mercy Sunday is just for the Sunday after Easter
Truth: Divine Mercy is for every day of the year.

Myth: The Divine Mercy devotion is only meant for Poland
Truth: John Paul II gave the devotion to the whole world.

Myth: Divine Mercy is only for Catholics
Truth: In truth, everyone needs the Divine Mercy message.

Myth: Divine Mercy is an incredibly powerful prayer, but it is only a prayer
Truth: The Divine Mercy is also a Person, Jesus Christ. To view this prayer, click here:
www.catholicword.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp? idcategory=0&idproduct=525

Myth: We pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet just once a year during the novena.
Truth: It is actually meant to be said daily at 3:00 p.m., the "Hour of Mercy," the hour Our Lord died for us. It always has been.

"The Divine Mercy devotion is uniquely powerful and crucial for our times," said Catholic Word president, Carolyn Klika. "Our Lord gave us this channel of grace through St. Faustina for every day, but the astounding aspect is that by completing the simple devotions set forth by the Church on Divine Mercy Sunday, it essentially puts your soul into the same state it was at baptism."

As Pope Benedict XVI has 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.... From Divine Mercy -- which brings peace to hearts -- genuine peace flows into the world ..."

Marian Press has as its primary focus spreading Divine Mercy through their books, booklets, pamphlets, DVDs, and CDs, which are available through Catholic Word at 800-932-3826 and www.CatholicWord.com.

Posted via email from deaconjohn's posterous