Divine Mercy decree (2002)
Divine Mercy Sunday when unable to attend
A provision for people legitimately prevented from attending church.
Time required About 2–5 minutes for the listed prayers; no fixed minimum.
- When
- Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)
- Where
- Where the person is prevented
- Who
- People unable to attend for a just cause, including illness, caregiving, displacement, seafaring or indispensable public service
- Application
- Self or the departed
The prescribed work
- Before a devout image of the merciful Jesus, pray the Our Father, Creed and a devout invocation to the merciful Lord Jesus.
- Intend to fulfil the usual conditions as soon as possible.
The work and its conditions
A plenary indulgence also requires complete detachment from every sin, sacramental confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions, subject to the grant’s stated exceptions. The ordinary limit is one plenary indulgence per day.
Conditions common to every indulgence
The person gaining an indulgence must be baptized, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace at least when the prescribed works are completed. There must be at least a general intention to gain indulgences, and the prescribed work must be performed at the time and in the manner required by the grant.
Read the full conditions and norms. The cited grant and its specific provisions govern.
Time required
Read each branch with its own conditions. An editorial estimate is not a prescribed minimum.
Our Father, Creed and invocation
Editorial estimate
About 2–5 minutes (editorial estimate).
No fixed minimum number of minutes is stated. Complete the listed prayers devoutly. This range is an editorial planning estimate, not a legal minimum.
What the time estimate excludes
- Ordinary travel to and from the venue, and waiting outside the prescribed work
- Separate confession, Communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions, except where a branch expressly includes the prescribed celebration
Prayer texts and resources
Follow the prayer count and formula specified in the requirements. The two Creed readers are alternatives.
Source and exact reference
Prayer texts and grants have separate source histories. Consult the grant source for the prescribed work, occasion, and conditions.