My family has observed the Divine Mercy feast --novena, confession, communion-- for the past 3 years. I've never heard anyone explain how this differs from a regular plenary indulgence, or IF it does. Since we can obtain plenary indulgences (or at least try) at any time if the requirements are met, what makes the Divine Mercy so special?

-- Patrick (Patrick@Patrick.com), April 22, 2004

Answers

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-- Bumper (Bumper@Bumpity.com), April 22, 2004.

Hi Patrick, To my limited knowledge I think on this Divine Mercy Feast day we receive a sort of a second baptism when completing the required conditions. Anyway if you read the Diary of St Faustina you will understand it better. God Bless, Ramanie.

-- Ramanie Weerasinghe (lilanw@yahoo.com), April 23, 2004.

Ramanie, I think once baptized, you’re always baptized. I don’t think the Church would promote a “second” (even if it were spiritual in nature) baptism for fear of giving the impression that those who received it might be “more baptised” than those who did not.

Patrick, the Holy Father saw fit to designate the Second Sunday of Easter as a special day designed to assist us in our faith journey. As an added incentive he assigned a plenary indulgence to those who would faithfully carry out this devotion. The reason for this is given in the decree our Holy Father issued and reads as follows:

“To ensure that the faithful would observe this day with intense devotion, the Supreme Pontiff himself established that this Sunday be enriched by a plenary indulgence, as will be explained below, so that the faithful might receive in great abundance the gift of the consolation of the Holy Spirit. In this way, they can foster a growing love for God and for their neighbour, and after they have obtained God's pardon, they in turn might be persuaded to show a prompt pardon to their brothers and sisters.”

I don’t think the plenary indulgence attached to this devotion is more special or more powerful than any other plenary indulgence. After all, by definition a plenary indulgence, if carried out properly and with a contrite heart, removes ALL temporal punishment due for past sins, so it doesn’t get any better than that anyway. I believe this particular indulgence was bestowed for the same reasons all plenary indulgences are, merely as an added tool for the faithful to assist them in getting closer to God in their walk of faith.

You can read the decree describing the indulgences attached to the devotion in its entirety here at:

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/tribunals/apost_penit/documents/rc_ trib_appen_doc_20020629_decree-ii_en.html

-- Ed (catholic4444@ya;hoo.ca), April 23, 2004.