Did you know the Church offers a plenary indulgence for Divine Mercy Sunday?
In a June 2002 decree, Pope John Paul II declared a special plenary indulgence available to the faithful on Divine Mercy Sunday.
Here is what you have to do to receive the indulgence:
- receive communion,
- go to confession (within 20 days),
- pray for the intentions of the Pope,
- and take part in the prayers or devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy.
- these practices could consist of devotions such as the divine mercy chaplet, eucharistic adoration, and the sacrament of confession. You can learn how to pray the Divine Mercy Chapelet HERE.
Aren’t sure what a plenary indulgence is? Here is a short explanation:
An indulgence is “the remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven as far as their guilt is concerned.” This means that when we sin, there is a need to have God forgive those sins (to remit the eternal punishment for them) and there is also a need to remit the temporal punishment–that is, the effects of the sin need to be cleaned up before getting to Heaven.
You hurt your brother–and he forgives you…but he still has to suffer the effects of what you did to him (the pain, the bruise, or–God forbid!–the blood).
Or you make a mess of your room because you are mad at your mom–and she forgives you…but you still need to clean up your room (yep!).
Those in Purgatory are still getting the effects of sin in their souls cleaned up (they are still healing, the room still needs to be cleaned), before they can go to Heaven. But, since those sins were already forgiven by God (they went to Confession!), they will be going to Heaven once the healing and clean up is completed!
So–for your friends and relatives who have died, or even those unknown to you (perhaps someone whose gravestone you come across): you can get them a “plenary indulgence” so that ALL the “clean up” needed in Purgatory for their sins on earth is completed, finished, over. That’s a “plenary indulgence.” Think of it as being cleaned up sparkling clean like you were just baptized–if you would have died then, it would have been straight to heaven for you!
BUT DON’T DESPAIR: If your disposition is less than perfect or if some of the above conditions are not fulfilled, the indulgence becomes “partial.” That is, not all of the cleaning up is completed…but you have helped with some of it!
One last thing we wanted to share–here is what Jesus told St. Faustina about special graces available to the faithful on Divine Mercy Sunday:
I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy (1109).
Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment (300).
What an incredible promise!
If you are able, Divine Mercy Sunday is a wonderful day to receive the sacrament of Confession!
