Divine Mercy (2nd SUNDAY of EASTER) - April 7, 2024 - HOMILY

Fr. Alan B. Maria Wharton's homily from Our Lady's Chapel, New Bedford, MA, for the Second Sunday of Easter, Sunday of Divine Mercy.
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>>>DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY - Indulgences, promises<<<

PLENARY INDULGENCE - An indulgence that can remove all the temporal punishment due to forgiven sin (see the full definition from Fr. John Hardon’s Modern Catholic Dictionary - https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary)

A PLENARY INDULGENCE is granted under the USUAL CONDITIONS* to the faithful who on the Second Sunday of Easter, a.k.a. 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!").

* The USUAL CONDITIONS for a plenary indulgence are:
• sacramental confession (within 20 days of the indulgenced act)
• Eucharistic communion (on the day of the indulgenced act)
• and prayer for the intentions of the Pope (on the day of the indulgenced act)

A PARTIAL INDULGENCE is also 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
• 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”).

If it is impossible that people do even this, on the same day they may obtain the Plenary Indulgence if:
• with a spiritual intention they are united with those carrying out the prescribed practice for obtaining the Indulgence in the usual way
• and offer to the Merciful Lord a prayer and the sufferings of their illness and the difficulties of their lives,
• with the resolution to accomplish as soon as possible the three conditions prescribed to obtain the plenary indulgence.

IN ADDITION TO THE PLENARY INDULGENCE granted by the Church, the PROMISE of MERCY and special graces are attributed to Our Lord Jesus in the Diary of St. Faustina:

• “The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain the complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary 699)

• “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.” (Diary 1109)

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Today's Mass readings:
- https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040724.cfm
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For more on this day in the liturgical calendar:
- https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?
date=2024-04-07
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