Octave of Easter

The term Octave of Easter may refer either to the eight-day period (Octave) in Eastertide that starts onEaster Sunday and runs until the Sunday following Easter, inclusive; or it may refer only to that Sunday after Easter, the Octave Day of Easter (often known as Low Sunday, particularly in the Anglican Communion). That Sunday is also known historically as St. Thomas Sunday (especially among Eastern Christians), Quasimodo Sunday and Quasimodogeniti. Since 1970 Low Sunday has been officially known as the Second Sunday of Easter (referring to the Easter season) in the Roman Catholic Church. On 30 April 2000, it was also designated as Divine Mercy Sunday by Pope John Paul II.

Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octave_of_Easter

CLOSEST TO GOD

We heard it before and we often hear it repeatedly from different
people - "I was closest to God when I had this . . . problem". Why? If
you were in the shoes of that person, you would most probably agree
that you are already in a situation where - either you have come to a
point of that you seem to be alone in your struggle or simply you are
encountering difficulties and the fear of being unable to cope with
your woes have prompted you to cling on to God.

But come to think of it, why is it not the same when a person is at
the peak of his wealth and success? Oh yes, that person may still be
religious but is he as closely connected with God during his trying
times, now that he is blessed with what he desired for.

Think of those moments when you merely thank God for the blessings.
Having done so, there is that feeling of "compliance" in your relation
with God. Such being the case, you went on to attend to your temporal
cares and for the meanwhile, your spiritual nourishment was shelved
until you find a need for it again.

Do not anticipate God's mercy by doing what is wrong and neglecting
Him in your life even for a single moment.

Do what is right and pleasing to Him. Follow God's will and love Him
more than ever. Be confident in declaring, even to yourself, that you
are closest to God every moment in your life.

Lent

Lent is such a refreshing episode in the life of every faithful. It is
an assurance that we are all children of God and as such, we have a
Father who would always look after us. He gives protection, guidance,
graces and blessings. What more can we ask for when He gave Jesus to
us in order that we may be redeemed from the quagmire of sins? What
more can we seek for when the Holy Spirit is upon us in order that we
may receive the Divine Gifts? Why do we have to knock when He never
closed the doors of Heaven for those who have chosen to be close to
Him?

Yet a loving and merciful God as He will forever be, still Jesus told
us "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock,
and it will be opened to you." Why?

Human as we are, we are not perfect. It is once more an assurance that
God is with us. It is a way of saying "come and get it" whatever God
has prepared for each one of us. All we need is faith – a firm belief
that God will always be present in our midst and that He will lead us
through in this life.

Divine Mercy & Indulgence

A plenary indulgence (the forgiveness of all temporal punishment resulting from sins that have already been confessed) is granted on the Feast of Divine Mercy if to all the faithful who go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, and "in any church or chapel, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. 'Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!')."

A partial indulgence (the remission of some temporal punishment from sin) is granted to the faithful "who, at least with a contrite heart, pray to the merciful Lord Jesus a legitimately approved invocation."