As part of Divine Mercy Sunday, which is celebrated in the Catholic Church, on the Second Sunday of Easter, a special Novena for those participating, should be started on Good Friday. Click here for information about the Novena.
Divine Mercy Sunday also includes the opportunity for the faithful to receive a Plenary Indulgence, a remission of the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The “usual” conditions for seeking a Plenary Indulgence are Sacramental Confession, Reception of the Holy Communion and Prayer for the Pope’s intentions. Additionally related to Divine Mercy Sunday is that one must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation within 20 days before or after Divine Mercy Sunday, receive Holy Communion on or near the day, and pray the Divine Mercy chaplet or other suitable Divine Mercy prayers as specified by the Church.
You may find services by contacting parishes directly. Please use our online Parish Directory to assist you in finding a parish closest to you.
About Divine Mercy Sunday
Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated in the Catholic Church on the Second Sunday of Easter which this year is April16. Divine Mercy Sunday is based on the private revelations of St. Faustina Kowalska, a polish nun which the faithful believe that in the 1930s Jesus appeared to her and commanded her to write down the message of His mercy. She wrote about the experiences with the Lord in a 600-page diary, now sold around the world. In 2000, St. John Paul II designated that Divine Mercy Sunday to be celebrated each year on the Sunday after Easter.
Part of the observance of Divine Mercy Sunday includes the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, a set of prayers used as part of the Divine Mercy devotion. Additionally, the observance includes the opportunity for the faithful to receive a Plenary Indulgence, a remission of the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The “usual” conditions for seeking a plenary indulgence are Sacramental Confession, Reception of the Holy Communion and Prayer for the Pope’s intentions. Additionally related to Divine Mercy Sunday is that one must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation within 20 days before or after Divine Mercy Sunday, receive Holy Communion on or near the day, and pray the Divine Mercy chaplet or other suitable Divine Mercy prayer as specified by the Church. For more information, please visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website at http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/prayers/divine-mercy-sunday.cfm
From the diocese Office of Liturgy:
Three Conditions for the Plenary Indulgence
St. John Paul II, motivated by an ardent desire to foster in Christians this devotion to Divine Mercy as much as possible in the hope of offering great spiritual fruit to the faithful. On June 13, 2002, the Pontiff granted the following Indulgences:
a plenary indulgence, granted under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of Supreme Pontiff) to the faithful who, on the Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday, 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, granted to the faithful who, at least with a contrite heart, pray to the merciful Lord Jesus a legitimately approved invocation.
For those who cannot go to church or the seriously ill
In addition, sailors working on the vast expanse of the sea; the countless brothers and sisters, whom the disasters of war, political events, local violence and other such causes have been driven out of their homeland; the sick and those who nurse them, and all who for a just cause cannot leave their homes or who carry out an activity for the community which cannot be postponed, may obtain a plenary indulgence on Divine Mercy Sunday, if totally detesting any sin, as has been said before, and with the intention of fulfilling as soon as possible the three usual conditions, will recite the Our Father and the Creed before a devout image of Our Merciful Lord Jesus and, in addition, pray a devout invocation to the Merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. Merciful Jesus, I trust in you).
[The above excerpt is from the decree from the Apostolic Penitentiary]
