Octave of Easter

Octave of Easter is the first Sunday after Easter ( octave of Easter). On that day the Easter week (the Easter octave ) closed. This day is also known as Mercy Sunday (or Sunday of Divine Mercy).

Beloken is the past participle ies beluiken, the opposite of budding. It means so close ".

The Latin name of Octave of Easter is Dominica in Albis (Sunday in white clothes), a reference to the white baptismal clothes catechumens . The Pope then carries special white choir dress, white satin Mozzettatrimmed with fur. In Germany, Octave of Easter therefore called "White Sunday". This Sunday is also Quasimodo Sunday named after the opening words of the Introit sung on that Sunday: "Quasi modo geniti infantes ..." ( 1 Peter 2: 2).

In the Orthodox Church, this day Thomas Sunday called.

Octave of Easter should not be confused with Easter Monday (= Easter Monday).

Mercy Sunday
In the Jubilee Year 2000 called Pope John Paul II on April 30 this day to Sunday of Divine Mercy. The Polish pope, in 2005, died on the eve of this Sunday, had a great esteem for the Polish seer Faustina Kowalska, who said that Christ was from February 1931 to her appeared and made ​​Himself known as Divine Mercy. In response to a request that Jesus would have done to Sister Faustina Kowalska in appearance to her, Pope John Paul II Mercy Sunday set as holiday. On that date she was canonized. Prior to this Sunday (from Good Friday), can the Novena to the Divine Mercy will be prayed. According to the statement of Sister Faustina Jesus prescribes, to receive Holy Communion on that day and in connection therewith to confession a few days before or after that Sunday (according to the current rules of the Church in this case, to obtain a plenary indulgence ).

On Mercy Sunday is celebrated God every sinner who repents will have forgiven, as was passed during the appearances of Jesus to Sister Faustina.