Divine Mercy Sunday, April 19, During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Today is the wonderful feast of Divine Mercy.

It is the day when God's unfathomable Mercy and Goodness enter our hearts if we TRUST in Him. The more we trust, the more graces we receive.

This year's feast is unlike any other before it for the faithful who are suffering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Many in the United States and around the world are unable to participate in Divine Mercy Sunday in the traditional way, namely, to attend confession and receive Holy Communion at Mass due to closed churches and canceled services.

If you can attend Mass safely, please do it. If you are unable, then pray from home. Don't give up grace because you aren't celebrating in a church or with others.

On Sunday, April 19:

• If the Sacrament of Reconciliation with a priest is unavailable, say an Act of Contrition, with the desire never to sin again. Be contrite and humble as you pray. If you can attend church for a traditional confession, then do so seven days before or after the feast. When you do, you leave those sins in the past.
  
  
• Go to Mass. If you are unable to attend Mass in person, watch the Vatican's video stream of the Mass or via EWTN.
  
  
• Make a Spiritual Communion with this prayer. Pray for God's Mercy on you, your family and for the world.
  
  
• Venerate the image of Divine Mercy.
  
  
• Practice works of selfless love and mercy by helping others in trouble and offering prayers to save souls during the pandemic.

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Watch live the events at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Cracow-Lagiewniki, where the image of The Divine Mercy and Saint Faustina's tomb reside.

After the feast, spread the message of Mercy and pray daily the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy.

From Saint Faustina's Diary:

November 5, 1934. One morning, when it was my duty to open the gate to let out our people who deliver baked goods, I entered the little chapel to visit Jesus for a minute and to renew the intentions of the day. Today, Jesus, I offer You all my sufferings, mortifications and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, so that he may approve the Feast of mercy. But, Jesus, I have one more word to say to You; I am very surprised that You bid me to talk about this Feast of mercy, for they tell me that there is already such a feast and so why should I talk about it? And Jesus said to me, And who knows anything about this feast? No one! Even those who should be proclaiming My mercy and teaching people about it often do not know about it themselves. That is why I want the image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it.

Make a novena for the Holy Father's intention. It should consist of thirty-three acts; that is, repetition that many times of the short prayer  -- which I have taught you -- to The Divine Mercy. (Diary entry 341)