SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER TO BE KNOWN AS DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

VATICAN CITY, APR 30, 2000 (VIS) - At 10 a.m. today, the second Sunday of Easter, John Paul II celebrated the Eucharist in St. Peter's Square and canonized Polish Blessed Maria Faustyna Kowalska (1905-1938), virgin of the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy.

The Pope told the 150,000 people present that Christ entrusted the new saint with His message of mercy in the period between the First and Second World Wars: "Jesus said to Sister Faustyna: 'Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustingly to divine mercy'. Through the work of this Polish nun, this message remains forever linked to the twentieth century. ... It is not a new message, but it can be seen as a particularly illuminating gift that helps us to live the Easter Gospel more intensely, in order to offer it as a ray of light to the men and women of our time."

"It is important," he went on, "that we accept in its entirety the message that comes to us from God's Word on this second Sunday of Easter. From now on, throughout the whole Church, this day will take the name of 'Divine Mercy Sunday'."

The Holy Father confirmed that the message of Christ's mercy "continues to reach us thorough the gesture of His hands, stretched out to suffering man. This is how Sister Faustyna saw Him and how she announced Him to men on all continents. Hidden in her convent at Lagiewniki in Krakow, she rendered her life a hymn of mercy: 'Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo'."

"Above all, this consoling message is addressed to those who, afflicted by a particularly difficult trial or crushed by the weight of sins committed, have lost all faith in life and are tempted to give in to despair. ... How many souls have been consoled by the invocation suggested by divine Providence through Sister Faustyna: 'Jesus, in You I trust'! This simple act of abandonment to Jesus breaks through the darkest clouds and allows a ray of light to fall into the life of all."

At the end of Mass and prior to praying the Regina Coeli, the Pope addressed greetings in various languages to pilgrims from all over the world who were present at the celebration, as well as to others who were connected by satellite to St. Peter's from the Lagiewniki Shrine.

Later in the day, after Jubilee Vespers, which are celebrated by a prelate every evening at 7:30 in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II appeared at his study window, which overlooks the square, and greeted the pilgrims present. The Holy Father recalled that this morning he had proclaimed Sister Faustyna Kowalska a saint and encouraged everyone to always trust in God's merciful love.

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