This Homily was given by the then-Archbishop of Philadelphia, Cardinal Justin Rigali, on April 2, 2005, in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the day Pope John Paul II died.

We continue to celebrate the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The Church calls this feast the Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday. By his Resurrection, Jesus not only conquers sin and death but he also gives the Church the Easter gift of the forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament of Confession, which is the supreme act of Divine Mercy.   

The gift of Divine Mercy is the greatest gift of God’s love, but it is his love in the face of our needs, our weaknesses, our limitations and especially our sins.