The colors used during the Easter season are white or gold, which are symbolic of Jesus' transfigured body when he showed his glory, Father Nigli said.
"We also understand that at the time of the resurrection, he had a glorified body that came through and so symbolic of that, we use white or gold to reflect the glory that God attached to the human body," he said.
Divine Mercy
In 2000, at the canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska, Pope John Paul II designated the Sunday after Easter - this year April 19 - as Divine Mercy Sunday. It is dedicated to the devotion of the Divine Mercy promoted by St. Faustina, and based on the saint's entries in her diary of conversations with Jesus.
The church teaches that Jesus promised to give a special gift to those who go to confession with contrition and receive Holy Communion that day. Jesus said all of their sins and the punishment for those sins would be wiped away.
"It's like a second baptism," Father Nigli said. "The graces offered in this promise by Christ to St. Faustina give us a brand new awakening of the soul. It's like being reborn again."
In preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday, Catholics must practice showing mercy to others. They also can pray the Divine Mercy Novena.
On Divine Mercy Sunday, Catholics are encouraged to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and also venerate the image of the Divine Mercy.
Printed with permission from the Catholic Voice, newspaper for the Archdiocese of Omaha.
Lisa Maxson is a writer at the Catholic Voice from the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska.