Churches closed and without Mass but you can get the indulgence of Divine Mercy
With churches closed and Communion unavailable, can we still receive the graces and promises of the Sunday of Divine Mercy?
This is the question that most people are asking and asking, since it seems that we cannot meet the two conditions for the promise made by Jesus regarding the particular way of participating in the Sunday of Divine Mercy or the conditions for plenary indulgence. attached to the Sunday of Divine Mercy granted by St. John Paul II in 2002.
Not to worry.
"Even if the churches are closed and you cannot go to Confession and receive Holy Communion, you can receive these special graces this Sunday, April 19, Sunday of Divine Mercy", underlines Father Chris Alar of the Marian Father of the Immaculate Conception at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in printed and video messages.
Which way? We will reply in a moment, but first of all, a quick review of what promises and indulgence entail if life in the world and in the Church was "normal".
Remember, Jesus revealed the promise and its two conditions through Santa Faustina: I want to grant complete forgiveness to the souls who will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the feast of My Mercy (Diary, 1109).
Father Alar underlines what he calls "probably the most important passage in the diary of Santa Faustina, when Jesus tells Santa Faustina":
I wish the Feast of Mercy to be a refuge and a refuge for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the depths of My tender mercy open. To an entire ocean of graces on those souls who approach the Source of My Mercy. The soul who will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion will obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine gates open through which grace flows. Do not let the soul be afraid to approach Me, even if its sins are equally scarlet (699).
"Jesus promises that the soul that has been to Confession and receives Holy Communion will be completely swept away by the two spots that are on our soul," he said.
According to Robert Stackpole, the director of the Institute of Divine Mercy of John Paul II, an apostolate of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, “The most special grace promised by our Lord for Mercy Sunday is nothing but the equivalent of a renewal complete with baptismal grace in the soul: 'complete forgiveness (remission) of sins and punishment' "
Hence, to make this "official", so to speak, John Paul II declared the Sunday of Divine Mercy a universal feast of the Church in 2002 and also attached to it a plenary indulgence that is tied to the promise.
First of all, there are the usual three standard conditions of sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion, prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.
Subsequently, the specific conditions or the "work" required: "The Sunday of Divine Mercy ...
"In any church or chapel, in a spirit completely detached from affection for a sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy
or, 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 (as "merciful Jesus, I trust you!"). "
All still available!
Again, don't worry. Either way, you will get promise and indulgence, forgiveness of sins and remission of all punishment.
Father Alar explains how. "Do these three things on the Sunday of Divine Mercy with the intention of turning away from sin in your life" -
Do an act of contrition.
Some parishes are able to make confession available, while others are not. If you cannot get to Confession, Father Alar stresses the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1451) states: “Contrition occupies the first place among the acts of the penitent. Contrition is "displeasure of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again". "In this way" you will be completely forgiven of all sins, even of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible (Catechism, 1452). "
Make a spiritual communion.
Once again, with the churches not open, you cannot receive Communion. The answer? "Instead, make a spiritual communion," explains Father Alar, "by asking God to enter your heart as if you received it sacramentally: Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity." (See a prayer of spiritual communion below.)
He also made it clear that he was "carrying out this act of trust with the intention of returning to the sacrament of Holy Communion as soon as possible".
Pray this or a similar prayer:
"Lord Jesus Christ, you promised Saint Faustina that the soul who was at Confession [I am not able, but I did an act of contrition] and the soul that receives Holy Communion [I am not able, but I have made a Spirit of Communion] will receive complete forgiveness of all sins and punishments. Please, Lord Jesus Christ, give me this grace ”.
Similar for indulgence
Again, don't worry. Trust in Jesus. The official plenary indulgence of the Holy See with the approval of John Paul II also foresees that people cannot go to church or receive Communion on the Sunday of Divine Mercy.
First of all, keep in mind that these provisions do not remove the three conditions that must be met to receive the plenary indulgence, but we will see how they were elaborated. They are sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff (all "in a spirit that is completely detached from affection for a sin, even a venial sin).
So, as Father Alar observes, he performs that act of contrition and creates spiritual communion. Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.
Here is the official explanation of the Holy See why, even if you are unable to go to church, you can get the plenary indulgence:
"For those who cannot go to church or the seriously ill" as and including "the countless brothers and sisters, that the disasters of war, political events, local violence and other similar causes have been driven out of their homeland; the sick and those who breastfeed them and all those who for just cause cannot leave their homes or who carry out an activity for the community that cannot be postponed, can obtain a plenary indulgence on the Sunday of Divine Mercy, if they totally detest any sin, as has been said previously and with the intention of satisfying the three usual conditions as soon as possible, will recite the Our Father and the Creed before a devout image of Our Merciful Lord Jesus and, moreover, I will pray a devout invocation to the Merciful Lord Jesus (eg Merciful Jesus, I trust in you). "
That's all. It can't be easier. Or does it?
The decree also adds: "If it is impossible for people to do this on the same day, they can obtain the plenary indulgence, if, with a spiritual intention, they are united with those who carry out the prescribed practice to obtain the indulgence, as usual, and offer the merciful Lord a prayer, the sufferings of illness and the difficulties of life, with the resolution to fulfill as soon as possible the three conditions prescribed for obtaining the plenary indulgence. "
"There is no doubt that Pope St. John Paul II was guided by the Holy Spirit when he established this, very, special plenary indulgence, with every possible disposition, so that everyone can obtain the incredible gift of total forgiveness of all sins and punishment, ”writes Robert Allard, director of the Apostles of Divine Mercy in Florida.
Main reminder
Father Alar strongly recalls that "this extraordinary promise of the Sunday of Divine Mercy is for everyone". Tell it to non-Catholics. And while the normal requirement means that punishment due to sin must be remitted, the person must have absolute absolute contrition, for the promise, "unlike a plenary indulgence, it is not necessary to have a perfect detachment from sin. In other words, as long as we have the desire for this grace and intention to modify our life, we can be completely purified with grace similar to our original baptism. It is a way to really start over in our spiritual life! ... Jesus said to Saint Faustina, Divine Mercy is humanity's last hope for salvation (Diary, 998). Please don't let this grace pass. "
Please remember something of what Jesus said to Faustina:
Let the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right, before the others, to trust in the abyss of My Mercy. My daughter, write of My mercy towards tormented souls. The souls who appeal to My Mercy delight me. To these souls I grant even more thanks than those who ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he appeals to My compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in My unfathomable and inscrutable mercy. Write: before I come as the right judge, I open the door of my mercy. Whoever refuses to cross the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice ... (1146)
Before the Day of Justice I send the Day of Mercy. (1588)
L and all humanity My unfathomable Mercy. It is a sign for the end times; later the day of justice will come. While there is still time, make them have recourse to the source of My Mercy; to make them benefit from the Blood and Water that flowed for them. (848)
My heart rejoices in this title of Mercy. (300)
Act of spiritual communion
My Jesus, I believe you are present in the Blessed Sacrament.
I love you above all and desire you in my soul.
Since I can't receive you sacramentally now,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
As if you were already there,
I embrace you and join you;
don't let me be separated from you.
Amen.