Every first Sunday after Easter, the Catholic Church celebrates “Divine Mercy Sunday”, or the Feast of Divine Mercy.
This great feast is based on the devotion to the Divine Mercy, based on Our Lord Jesus’ revelations to St. Faustina Kowalska. The revelations to St. Faustina are recorded in the Diary of St. Faustina.
On the Feast of Divine Mercy, Jesus promises the greatest graces. In particular, you can obtain a plenary indulgence on the Feast of Divine Mercy! When you obtain a plenary indulgence, you obtain the total expiation of all sins and punishment due to those sins. This means that after you receive a plenary indulgence, in case you do not commit further sin, you would go immediately after death to heaven without suffering in purgatory.
To receive a plenary indulgence on the Feast of Divine Mercy, there are three conditions.
First, you need to go to sacramental confession (even if this takes place a few days before the actual feast).
Second, you need to attend Holy Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday. This 2022, the Feast falls on April 24.
Third, you need to receive Holy Communion (not just spiritual communion, but actual communion in Holy Mass) on the day of the Feast.
Jesus explains further the meaning of this Great Feast (as recorded in St. Faustina’s diary entry 699):
“My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. 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.
“Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the First Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.”