On this Friday within the Octave of Easter, the liturgy paints a vivid picture of the early Church’s courage and the Risen Christ’s gentle, providing love. As we navigate the Eighth Day of the Divine Mercy Novena, these readings harmonize beautifully with the revelations given to St. Faustina, urging us to look toward the “Abyss of Mercy.”

The Keystone and the Catch

In the First Reading (Acts 4:1-12), we witness Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, standing before the very leaders who orchestrated the Crucifixion. He proclaims a hard but saving truth: the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved except the name of Jesus Christ.

This theme of transformation continues in the Gospel (John 21:1-14). After a night of fruitless labor on the Sea of Tiberias, the disciples encounter Jesus on the shore. At His word, their empty nets are filled to the point of breaking. It is a powerful reminder that without Christ, our efforts are hollow; with Him, there is an abundance that defies human logic. The “charcoal fire” on the beach is a place of reconciliation and nourishment, where the Risen Lord invites His friends to “Come and have breakfast.”

Sacrifice, Victory, and Mercy

The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 118) and the ancient Sequence (Victimae Paschali Laudes) bridge the gap between the suffering of the Cross and the glory of the Resurrection. The Sequence describes a “combat strangely ended” where Life’s own Champion, though slain, lives to reign. It concludes with a poignant plea: “Victorious king, thy mercy show!”

Day Eight: The Souls in Purgatory

This cry for mercy is the heartbeat of the Diary of St. Faustina. Today, we enter the Eighth Day of the Novena, where Jesus makes a specific and solemn request:

“Today bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ARE DETAINED IN PURGATORY, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames.”

Just as Peter proclaimed that Jesus is the only name for salvation, and just as Jesus provided an abundance for the disciples, He provides the “torrents of His Blood” to cool the flames for the suffering souls. The Gospel’s “one hundred and fifty-three big fish” represent a Church that is universal; today, that universality extends beyond the veil.

We are invited to pray: “Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory… Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son.”

Join us for Divine Mercy Sunday

We are standing on the threshold of the Feast of Mercy. The Octave of Easter culminates in a day where the floodgates of Heaven are opened wide. As the Lord told St. Faustina, He desires to pour out a “whole ocean of graces” upon those who approach the Fount of His Mercy.

We encourage as many people as possible to attend Divine Mercy Sunday. This is a day of extraordinary grace, a time to wash away the debts of the past and start anew in the light of the Resurrection. Do not miss this opportunity to experience the height and depth of God’s love.

• When: Divine Mercy Sunday (April 12, 2026)

• Where: Divine Mercy Shrine

• Event Details: https://divinemercyshrine.com.au/events/

Jesus, I trust in You!