I wanted to share…. I went to confession today… the line wrapped around the church to the point the pastor left to get more priests to hear confession while standing on line the man behind me said “ do you think all these people are here because of Divine Mercy Novena that started last night? I said I’m not sure… he said something is different this Easter pray pray!” just wanted to share… started the Novena last night! “Jesus I trust in you!”
I was in the hospital for 26 hours following a health scare between Holy Thursday and Good Friday and only remembered about the Divine Mercy novena a couple minutes before midnight going into Saturday.... and since I was already praying the Rosary at that time, I couldn't do both at once. I did the first two days of the novena today, one chaplet and prayer after the other. I hope God will understand. I also went to confession on Wednesday, but my mind went blank in the confessional and I completely forgot by accident some of the things I needed to confess, so I will have to go again next Saturday.
God is not unreasonable. It's not about box ticking but about love. If you have a good intention and because of a weakness in health or your mind goes blank I think God understands our weakness. The next time you go to confession write down some little reference to to remind yourself of things you want to bring up.
I was worrying and worrying I would not make it to Divine Mercy Sunday. I looked and looked and could not find a Church or Cathedral doing it. Back home it is heavily advertised with loads of posters and pamphlets. But here zero. However I discovered after a lot of prayer for help that we can do it solo, so this is what I will do. Thank God. It would be lovely to do it in community but alone is fine.
Divine Mercy in My Soul (St. Faustina’s diary), entry #699: On one occasion, I heard these words: My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. 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 grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy. [Note: This grace applies to anyone who goes to confession on any day of the octave of Easter (from Easter Sunday to Divine Mercy Sunday) and receives Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday.] entry #742: My daughter, if I demand through you that people revere My mercy, you should be the first to distinguish yourself by this confidence in My mercy. I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it. I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first – by deed, the second – by word, the third – by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy. Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be acts of mercy, and I demand the worship of My mercy through the solemn celebration of the Feast and through the veneration of the image which is painted. By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works. O my Jesus, You yourself must help me in everything, because You see how very little I am, and so I depend solely on Your goodness, O God.
The essential elements are confession as soon as you can and receive Holy Communion on the day. Venerate the Divine Mercy image trusting in God's promise of Divine Mercy. Your Easter confession will cover. Jesus resurrected today and He resurrects us next Sunday. He restored our baptismal grace.
I’ve always wondered this too. My church doesn’t have confession on Holy Saturday so the Saturday before Palm Sunday is always jam packed, so I try to do my Lenten confession the Saturday before the Saturday before, IYKWIM. But then, because of no confession on Holy Saturday, the Saturday before Divine Mercy is also overflowing. And then, having just been a couple weeks ago, I always worry that I’m taking a place away from someone who needs it more, because they stop confessions when the vigil mass starts and there are always people who don’t make it through the line in time -_-‘
I think you can do confession within 8 days of the Feast. I booked my train to Santiago tomorrow to get confession in the Cathedral around mid day Mass. I read a nice article from a priest regarding the requirements for Divine Mercy. He said that we should not get into too much of a twist regarding the requirements as the whole point of it all is to show us mercy. That seemed so wise. I think anyway maybe I would throw in a prayer for the Pope and a prayer for the Holy Souls as an act of charity.
https://www.catholic.com/qa/there-is-leeway-in-fulfilling-the-divine-mercy-indulgence 20 days before or 20 days after
Yes God is not a box ticker. We must do a good confession as part of the requirements and be in a state of grace recieving Holy Communion. These days it's difficult sometimes to get confession. The confession queues in our church were long this year.
I think it would be better still to get to confession before rather than after. Confession is a great door opener to graces. Sin serves as a Dam to the flow of grace. Off to Santiago today for confession! A day out! Such a joy.
There is an upsurge in confessions around here as well. Yes something is different. Grace is flowing.
Multiple members of my family who generally need prodding and a ride to go have gotten themselves to confession this Lent of their own accord.
I urge everyone to watch. We have great opportunity to gain forgiveness and the complete remission of the temporal punishment of our sins on Divine Mercy Sunday. As Fr Chris says, it is the most important day of our lives! With all going on in this world, this is the time to act. I am inviting family and friend and pray they will take advantage. He said, even non-Catholics can obtain the promises of Divine Mercy! And I also learned the normal conditions of obtaining a plenary indulgence does not apply on this day. Meaning the requirement to be detached even from venial sins is not a requirement for this day. Definitly worth the listen and sharing with your family, friends and others. Peace! https://www.youtube.com/live/LxA5eZ8U-XY?si=NjpjjacyTA9yRhkB
REQUIREMENTS printed out: To receive any plenary indulgence, the faithful must receive sacramental confession, receive Eucharistic Communion, and pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff in addition to the spiritual work for the indulgence. According to the decree of indulgences attached to devotions in honor of Divine Mercy the following conditions must be met on Divine Mercy Sunday to receive this particular plenary indulgence: Be in a state of grace Be detached from every affection for sin, including venial sin Take part in prayers and devotions in honor of Divine Mercy in the presence of the Eucharist (exposed or in the tabernacle) Recite the Our Father and the Creed Add a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus The general requirements for a plenary indulgence (confession, communion, prayers for the pope’s intentions) can be fulfilled ahead of time or over time. Of course, to ensure that one is in a state of grace to fulfill the particular indulgence of Divine Mercy Sunday, it is most prudent to confess either that weekend or shortly before. However, as the Holy See’s Apostolic Penitentiary has decreed, and provided the communicant is in a state of grace for Communion, sacramental confession can be received within twenty days either before or after Divine Mercy Sunday.
