Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter Sunday) might be the greatest day of the year due to the immense amount of mercy that Christ pours out upon the earth. Below is the exact wording of the Divine Mercy promise given by Christ to Saint Faustina:

Our Lord Jesus said, “The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet…Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.”

– Saint Faustina, Diary, 699.

Some say that Our Lord’s Divine Mercy Promise is even greater and more generous than a plenary indulgence. Why? With a plenary indulgence the usual conditions are:

1) Receive Holy Communion

2) Make a good Confession within 20 or so days

3) Pray for the Pope

4) Be fully detached from all sins

The last one (4) is the most difficult and most subjective. No one knows if they have attained full detachment from all sins. Hence, plenary indulgences are difficult and uncertain.

The amazing thing about Christ’s promise to us on Divine Mercy Sunday is that the condition for detachment of sin is absent. This means that if you make a good confession and receive Holy Communion devoutly, you will receive full remission of all temporal punishment. If then you went to Confession and died after receiving Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday you would not spend one single moment in purgatory!!!

Saint Faustina’s vision was originally doubted by the Holy Office and her writings were censured because it was assumed that such a merciful and generous promise would be impossible. This doubt was later overcome and the Catholic Church universally embraces this promise of mercy. Christ’s promise essentially offers all the graces of a second baptism! Of course, it should not surprise us that Our Lord is so merciful and loving toward us. Saint Paul wrote that:

“the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles and will sing to thy name.” (Romans 15:9, D-R)

The nations of the earth shall be greater glory to God for His divine mercy. That’s a promise.

If you want to learn more about Divine Mercy Sunday, I highly recommend this Catholic sermon: Sermon for Divine Mercy Sunday.

Glory be to the God of Mercy.

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