The feast of the Divine Mercy is the first Sunday following Easter Sunday. This year, it falls on April 12, 2026.
On Divine Mercy Sunday, Catholics have the opportunity to receive probably the most powerful grace you can receive all year.
According to Father Chris Alar, MIC, of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, Divine Mercy Sunday is the “most important day of the year” for Catholics.
“The eighth day, symbolic of our last day on earth, entering into eternity to clean us up and that we're spotless,” Father Chris Alar explains. “On this one day, Jesus promises the floodgates of his mercy are open.”
“Jesus says on this one day, you can be forgiven not only of all sin, but also of all punishment,” he continues. “It is wiped clean, and your soul will never be cleaner than it is on your original baptism.
In Saint Faustina’s diary, Jesus explains how to obtain the unique graces on Divine Mercy Sunday:
“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 graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though his sins be as scarlet….Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the fount of My Mercy.” (Diary, 699)
What makes the Divine Mercy Sunday grace so unique?
To obtain a plenary indulgence throughout the year, the individual must be detached from all sin, which is very difficult.
However, Jesus does not require complete detachment from sin with the special graces he offers on Divine Mercy Sunday. This is the only time complete detachment from sin is not required.
How to obtain complete remission of all sin on Divine Mercy Sunday, as Jesus revealed to Saint Faustina
1) Go to Confession before or on Divine Mercy weekend
2) Receive Holy Communion on Divine Mercy weekend
Catholics may also receive a plenary indulgence by participating in the Divine Mercy devotion. These graces are separate from the special graces Jesus describes to Saint Faustina in her private revelation.
Pope Saint John Paul II’s Vatican Decree for Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgences
The Vatican Apostolic Penitentiary Decree entitled, “Indulgences attached to devotions in honor of Divine Mercy,” also grants an indulgence to those who fulfill the specific requirements 20 days before or after Divine Mercy Sunday.
Here’s how to obtain a plenary indulgence on Divine Mercy Sunday:
1) Go to Confession (20 days before, on, or after Divine Mercy Sunday)
2) Receive Holy Communion (20 days before, on, or after Divine Mercy Sunday)
3) Pray for the Pope's intentions
4) In any church or chapel, recite an Our Father, Creed, and a prayer to the Merciful Jesus (i.e., “Merciful Jesus, I trust in You!”) in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, or, participate in services honoring the Divine Mercy devotion.
One must approach the indulgence with a spirit “completely detached from the affection for a sin,” both mortal and venial.
The Church also allows the ill or those who cannot attend church to obtain this indulgence.
One may fulfill the three usual conditions as described above as soon as possible, along with reciting an Our Father, Creed, and a prayer to the Merciful Jesus.
“If it is impossible that people do even this,” the decree continues, “on the same day they may obtain the Plenary Indulgence if with a spiritual intention they are united with those carrying out the prescribed practice for obtaining the Indulgence in the usual way and offer to the Merciful Lord a prayer and the sufferings of their illness and the difficulties of their lives, with the resolution to accomplish as soon as possible the three conditions prescribed to obtain the plenary indulgence.”
Click here for more information about Divine Mercy indulgences.