3-April-2005 -- Catholic News Agency
POPE JOHN PAUL LEFT MESSAGE FOR DIVINE
MERCY SUNDAY
Vatican City, Apr. 03, 2005 (CNA) - A message by Pope John Paul
II
for Divine Mercy Sunday, written prior to his death, was read today
at the at the end of the first funeral mass celebrated for the
pontiff.
Archbishop Leonardo Sandri read the text before the recitation
of the
Regina Coeli, which during the Easter season replaces the Angelus.
The feast of Divine Mercy, celebrated on the first Sunday after
Easter, was dear to the pontiff, who instituted the feast day several
years ago
"To all of mankind, who so often seems lost and dominated
by the
power of evil, egoism and fear, the Risen Lord offers as a gift
His
love, which pardons, reconciles and opens the soul again to hope,"
the Pope had written. "It is a love that converts hearts and
gives
peace. How the world needs to understand and welcome Divine Mercy!"
In his text, the Pope commented on the Gospel reading in which
the
Risen Christ appears to the Apostles and shows them His punctured
hands and side. "Those glorious wounds that He made an incredulous
Thomas touch eight days later reveal God's mercy who `so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son'," the Pope's text
read.
"Lord, who with Your death and Resurrection revealed the Father's
love, we believe in You and with trust we repeat today: Jesus, I
trust in You, have mercy on us and on the entire world," the
text
continued.
"May the liturgical solemnity of the Annunciation, which we
will
celebrate tomorrow encourage us to contemplate with the eyes of
Mary
the immense mystery of this merciful love that bursts forth from
the
heart of Christ," he concluded.
