“Octave means literally ‘eight,’ from the Latin, and is intended to celebrate a major feast and the succeeding seven [days] after. Its origins can be traced to the Old Testament custom of prolonging important festivals, such as Passover and Tabernacles. There were a number of octaves in the Church prior to the pontificate of Pope Pius XII (r. 1939-58). For example, there was a long tradition from the seventh century of feast days for some saints having their own octave, such as the feasts of Sts. Peter and Paul, St. Agnes and St. Lawrence,” states EWTN.com.

“In 1955, that pontiff simplified the octaves to circumscribe the duplications in the Divine Office and multiple prayers in the Mass. From 1955 until the Second Vatican Council, three octaves were observed: Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. After the Council, the Pentecost octave was suppressed. That decision reflected, in part, the effort to stress the ‘Great 50 Days’ of Easter.

“In the liturgy, the celebration of an octave includes the use of the Gloria at Mass, the Te Deum in the Office of Readings and the inclusion of the word ‘today’ in some prayers and prefaces. In the Easter octave, a double Alleluia is added to the dismissal and response.”

Divine Mercy Sunday falls on the octave day of Easter, the Second Sunday of Easter.

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