April 16, 2020 
On the Second Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy. This feast brings with at a timely and simple message, according to thedivinemercy.org, “The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us – all of us. And, He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.”
There are three simple steps to remembering the message of Divine Mercy: Ask for His mercy, be merciful to others, and completely trust in Jesus. As a devotion, the Divine Mercy chaplet is often said as a rosary-based prayer with the same set of rosary beads used for reciting the Rosary.
With Divine Mercy Sunday taking place in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent shelter-in-place order, concerns have been expressed about the loss of the special graces of that day since this year it is not possible to go to Confession or receive Holy Communion.
The National Shrine of the Divine Mercy the following guidance, which allows the faithful to receive the graces of confession and reconciliation spiritually. To do so, here are the three steps you need:
- Make an Act of Contrition: This should be made with the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental Confession as soon as possible.
- Make a Spiritual Communion. Here’s an example of a prayer for this purpose:
“My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You were already there, I embrace You and unite myself to You; permit not that I should ever be separated from You. Amen.”
A spiritual communion should be made with the intent to return to the sacrament of Holy Communion as soon as possible.
3. Say a prayer similar to the following:
“Lord Jesus Christ, You promised St. Faustina that the soul that has been to Confession [I’m unable, but I made an Act of Contrition] and the soul that receives Holy Communion [I’m unable, but I made a Spiritual Communion] will receive the complete forgiveness of all sins and punishment. Please, Lord Jesus Christ, give me this grace.”
