Is it true that if we make a good confession and receive the sacrament of Eucharist on the following Sunday of Easter all our sins will be forgiven?
score:3
Did Jesus Christ promise to St. Faustina that if people make a good confession and receive Holy Communion at mass on the second Sunday of Easter they will have a fresh start all over again?
The short answer is yes.
There are two things to be considered in this question. What are the promises made by Our Lord to St. Faustina in regards to Divine Mercy Sunday and what are the indulgences that the Church has granted for the Sunday following Easter.
Plenary Indulgence
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.
Three conditions for the plenary indulgence
And so the Supreme Pontiff, motivated by an ardent desire to foster in Christians this devotion to Divine Mercy as much as possible in the hope of offering great spiritual fruit to the faithful, in the Audience granted on 13 June 2002, to those Responsible for the Apostolic Penitentiary, granted the following Indulgences:
A plenary indulgence, granted under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of Supreme Pontiff) to the faithful who, on the Second Sunday of Easter or 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 honour 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!");
A partial indulgence, granted to the faithful who, at least with a contrite heart, pray to the merciful Lord Jesus a legitimately approved invocation. - Indulgences attached to devotions in honour of Divine Mercy
Here are the other main differences between the "special graces" promised by Jesus for Divine Mercy Sunday, and the plenary indulgence offered by the Church for special devotions to The Divine Mercy on Mercy Sunday:
The special graces that our Lord promised for Mercy Sunday come solely through the reception of Holy Communion on that day, in a state of grace, with trust in The Divine Mercy. Any plenary indulgence granted by the Church, on the other hand, involves the fulfilment of a number of conditions, including prayer for the pope's intentions, confession and Holy Eucharist, and the carrying out of the special indulgenced work (in this case: participating in public devotions to The Divine Mercy on Mercy Sunday itself).
The special graces promised by our Lord for Mercy Sunday can be received by a soul in a state of grace, but with imperfect love for God, and imperfect contrition for sin—as long as the soul merely trusts in the Mercy of God, and clings to Him because of His promised benefits. A plenary indulgence, however, can only be obtained through the performance of an indulgenced work as an expression of pure love for God. If the intentions of one's indulgenced work are not pure (say, the work is done in part out of fear of hell or purgatory, and loathing for oneself — or the desire to impress one's friends and relatives! — rather than purely out of love for God) then the indulgence obtained will be only partial, not plenary.
The special graces that our Lord promised for Mercy Sunday can only be received for oneself, through the devout reception of Holy Communion on Mercy Sunday (as stated in #1 above). A plenary indulgence, however, can be offered for oneself, or for souls suffering in purgatory.
The most special grace promised by our Lord for Mercy Sunday is nothing less than the equivalent of a complete renewal of baptismal grace in the soul: "complete forgiveness (remission) of sins and punishment." Such a measure of grace can only be received otherwise through baptism itself, or through making a sacramental confession as an act of perfect contrition for sin, out of pure love for God.
As you can see, this is no easy topic. However, you can find a more in-depth treatment of this same subject in the John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy section of this same website, in the document entitled "Understanding Divine Mercy Sunday." - Mercy Sunday's Special Graces, Plenary Indulgence: Are They the Same?
According to St. Faustina, Our Lord promises to those who go to confession and communion on this day, the remission of the guilt and the punishment of sins.
On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. (Diary of Sr. Faustina, 699) - Mercy Sunday or Feast of Mercy
Upvote:2
This Question is concerning the indulgence granted on "Divine Mercy Sunday". Indulgences are not about the forgiveness of sins, but about the removal of Punishment for sins committed after entering into the Body of Christ in Baptism, where sins and the punishments of sins are both completely forgiven.
Indulgences, which are very biblical, and one of the most powerful gifts given to he Church, can be used not only for yourself but for those who have passed on to relieve them of the punishments for sins which were not addressed in this life.
When a Catholic makes a Good Confession the Guilt of Sin is removed from their souls and they are right with God. The Priest also assigns to the repentant sinner a Penance, usually in the form of Prayer, almsgiving or fasting. The penance if done as assigned takes care of the Punishments that the act of sin makes necessary. When the Penance for sins is not completed in this life, they are completed in the next, this we call Purgatory where saved Christians experience some kind of punishments before entering into the presence of God.
It is important to note, that once the guilt of sin is forgiven through the sacrament of Penance which is one of the 7 Graces given by Christ to the Church, which is Christs Body, Guilt is forgiven and that person at that time is destined for heaven. Punishment remains, which is why we have Penance. This relationship, between guilt and punishment, is what many fail to understand or refuse to acknowledge.
The Plenary Indulgence granted by the Church on Divine Mercy Sunday is for the complete removal of Punishment from venial, not mortal sin. Confession and the Sacrament of the Eucharist are needed before the indulgence is granted. I believe also one must pray the divine mercy chaplet and pray for the intentions of the Pope.
Plenary indulgences can be applied to others who have passed on as well as to yourself. They are powerful tools that can be used to remove the punishment from those who are suffering in purgatory. The idea, that guiltless believers would suffer goes against the grain of many who believe in Jesus Christ. Failure to acknowledge that the Christian is called to suffering in Christ Jesus is part of the poor catechesis of our time.
I hope that helps.
More post
- 📝 According to Protestantism, what is the significance of Jesus and the Mount of Transfiguration?
- 📝 Biblical significance of the gifts given to Jesus
- 📝 Life is a Divine Test
- 📝 When was Blessed Virgin Mary first chosen as Jesus' Mother?
- 📝 Copies of Thomas
- 📝 How can a catholic argue against the accusation of Papolatry?
- 📝 Why does Christianity have Satan as well as God?
- 📝 Is there any tradition that informs us of how old Mary was when she gave birth to Jesus?
- 📝 Could the invisible incomprehensible nature of God be the reason why Satan started a war in heaven?
- 📝 How should Christians discipline their children today?
- 📝 According to universalist Christians, is ill-will directed towards the devil virtuous?
- 📝 What is the origin of Angel of God prayer?
- 📝 Did Athanasius and the Nicene Fathers draw the conclusion that Arius worshipped the Entity called ‘the Devil’?
- 📝 Mark and Romans: are these the same Rufus?
- 📝 Online resources for the Churches of Christ (USA)
- 📝 Why did the Blessed Virgin Mary marry?
- 📝 Can a Catholic visiting Protestant Parents attend the Parents Church?
- 📝 Who is the king described in 2 Kings 8:1–6?
- 📝 What Pagan elements were adopted in christianity?
- 📝 Where is the jug of oil that never ran dry?
- 📝 What is the Catholic perspective on why are Angels and Archangels at the bottom of the "Angelic Hierarchy"?
- 📝 In what way was Isaac's blessing on Jacob manifested?
- 📝 What are the arguments in favour of the 'beginning' at John 1:1 being the new beginning?
- 📝 Pascal's wager vs 1 Corinthians 15:17-19
- 📝 Is a priest's sermon an explanation of bible?
- 📝 Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis and the Prophecy of the Popes?
- 📝 Were there any saints who criticized the church?
- 📝 Ignorance of Adam and Eve
- 📝 What is the biblical evidence for God's omnipotence and omniscience?
- 📝 Does the Bible tell us who should be interpreting its message?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Is it true that if we make a good confession and receive the sacrament of Eucharist on the following Sunday of Easter all our sins will be forgiven?
- 📝 According to Jehovah's Witnesses, does Jesus make the same claim as God, that he is the "first and the last,"?
- 📝 Should we 'let our light shine' and tell people the good works that we do?
- 📝 Do saints and church fathers generally make the claim that most people go to a hell of everlasting torment?
- 📝 Why did Eve say that "touching" the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil would kill you?
- 📝 Do any Early Church Fathers ever argue that the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen. 2:9) is the Law or Torah?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for “the Sinner’s Prayer” and do Protestants believe that saying the prayer make one a Christian?
- 📝 How do one know that the Bible is absolutely true and is not a "make believe" fiction?
- 📝 When scripture says, God "knows all things", does that include every action and decision every human will choose to make in the future?
- 📝 Is it true that the Southern Baptist denomination marks no distinction between member and non-member?
- 📝 Are there any Christian groups or denominations that make a distinction between the gift of healing and just praying for the sick to get healed?
- 📝 What denominations practice "laying on of hands" so that new converts may receive the Holy Ghost, and what manifestations are usually expected?
- 📝 Is it true that people in the Genesis and Exodus are only given promises for future blessings?
- 📝 According to those holding that Lazarus was literally raised from the dead, why did Matthew, Mark, and Luke not mention it?
- 📝 What is the argument and Biblical basis that it is possible to know God from nature?
- 📝 What is the difference between icons and idols in churches that permit icons?
- 📝 What is the origin of the idea that Matthew, Mark, and Luke didn't mention Lazarus in order to protect him?
- 📝 Where did the notion that Adam and Eve ate an APPLE come from?
- 📝 Are there any secular historical references to the natural phenomena that occurred at the crucifixion and resurrection?
- 📝 What is the basis for the claim that the entire New Testament can be reconstructed apart from original and copied manuscripts?
- 📝 What is the basis that many mainstream Christian groups justify labeling groups like the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses as Non-Christians?
- 📝 Is the English translation of "Book of Mormon" ever revised or updated, and if so, on what basis given that the golden plates have disappeared?
- 📝 Do Catholics believe that they are actually eating the body of Christ? Does this make them cannibals?
- 📝 Why did God need to plant the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden in the first place?
- 📝 Jonah and the Whale - Is there any scientific proof that it is possible to survive in the belly of whale?
- 📝 From where do Jehovah's Witnesses derive the doctrine that Jesus was and now is Michael the Archangel?
- 📝 How do the proponents of the idea that salvation once received cannot be lost explain Hebrews 6:4-6 and 10:26-29?
- 📝 Is a confession valid if I only voice the sins I'm comfortable sharing and confess the rest in my heart to God?
- 📝 Does the Bible make a distinction between Christian and secular love?
- 📝 What is the nature of the theory for Pope Joan and the evidence that substantiates it?