Divine Mercy for Alcoholics Page is up!

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I published a new page for Sober Catholic, featuring resources for Divine Mercy for Alcoholics.

It is not meant to be an exhaustive resource; I write enough material to convince the typical Catholic ex-drunk (or wanna-be Catholic ex-drunk) that the Devotion to Divine Mercy is that thing they really need. It’s mostly links to resources including some of my favorite Sober Catholic posts on the devotion.

See: Divine Mercy for Alcoholics.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Summary of the Divine Mercy Sunday requirements to receive the Special Graces

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In this post, Divine Mercy Sunday is better than a plenary indulgence!, I go on about how, well, Divine Mercy Sunday is better than a plenary indulgence. (It was easy to come up with the title.) All of this is based on the teachings of Fr. Chris Alar of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. He has videos all over their YouTube Channel, many on Divine Mercy and on Divine Mercy Sunday. 

In his videos he describes how Divine Mercy Sunday is better than a plenary indulgence (I’m being repetitive to impress upon you that point.) To summarize what he says (and this is all derived from what Jesus told St. Faustina, nothing at all is his innovation):

1) Go to Confession before Divine Mercy Sunday (could be a few days or so, as long as you remain in a state of grace, i.e. no mortal sins.)
2) Go to Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday (Saturday Vigil Mass counts, as that covers Sunday.)
3) Recieve Holy Communion
4) He added this prayer (this is his own composition, not found in the Diary or St. Faustina’s writings, but there’s nothing wrong with it):

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a poor sinner: Jesus, you promised St. Faustina that the soul who has been to confession [l have] and the soul that receives Holy Communion [I just did], will receive the complete forgiveness of all sin and punishment.
Please give me this grace.”

Here it is as a JPEG, you can right-click and save it to your device to use to pray after Communion.

Jesus told St. Faustina, which she recorded in her diary:

300 +Ask of my faithful servant [Father Sopocko] that, on this day, he tell the whole world of My great mercy; that whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment.

+Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.

+Oh, how much I am hurt by a soul’s distrust! Such a soul professes that I am Holy and Just, but does not believe that I am Mercy and does not trust in My Goodness. Even the devils glorify My Justice but do not believe in My Goodness. My Heart rejoices in this title of Mercy.

Furthermore:

699 On one occasion, I heard these words: 

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
 graces 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.

And:

1109 …

Immediately upon my awakening, God‟s presence enveloped me, and I felt I was a child of God. Divine love was poured into my soul, and God gave me to see how everything depended on His will. He spoke these words to me: I want to grant a complete pardon
to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy. Then he said to me, My daughter, fear nothing. I am always with you, even if it seems to you that I am not. Your humility draws Me down from My lofty throne, and I unite Myself closely with you.

Source for the excerpts from the Diary: Divine Mercy in my Soul: Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska (Link is to a purchase page; I do not get any revenue from purchases; if you want other editions of the book, like a compact edition, a nice deluxe leather edition, or Spanish versions, go here: Divine Mercy Diary.)

For your benefit, this is the Plenary Indulgence requirements, if you prefer that route (but why would you? Divine Mercy Sunday is better than a plenary indulgence!):

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.

From:

Indulgences attached to Divine Mercy Devotion.

More on the Plenary Indulgences – General Conditions. It is good to note No. 7:

Indulgences can always be applied either to oneself or to the souls of the deceased, but they cannot be applied to other persons living on earth.

That may be a good reason to try and satisfy the “formal” method for obtaining the plenary indulgence; you can apply it to a holy Soul in Purgatory. As to a question of whether you can receive the Special Graces promised by Jesus for yourself, but transfer the graces of the plenary indulgence to a Holy Soul in Purgatory? I honestly do not know. I just emailed the Divine Mercy people and asked it and UPDATE!!!!—> I received a reply today, April 10th, the very next day! 

This is what I asked: 

Can someone receive the special graces of Divine Mercy Sunday as promised by Jesus to St. Faustina for oneself, BUT also satisfy the requirements for the plenary indulgence and apply that to a Holy Soul in Purgatory?

And their reply:

Yes, someone can receive the graces of Divine Mercy Sunday for oneself if they intend to receive the Extraordinary Promise of Divine Mercy Sunday.

If they wish to apply the plenary indulgence (a different grace on this day) to a soul in purgatory, they can also do that as well as long as they know there are more requirements for an indulgence (prayer for the Pope’s intentions, doing an indulgent act like venerating the image or participating in Divine Mercy devotions, complete and total detachment for sin, and confession).

For more information, please see these articles:

https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/mercy-sundays-special-graces-plenary-indulgence-are-they-same

So, we can reserve the Special Graces for ourselves, but if we also satisfy the Church’s requirements for the plenary indulgence, apply those to a holy soul in purgatory! Wow. God is good.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Divine Mercy Sunday is better than a plenary indulgence!

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Today is Easter, which means the Easter Octave begins today. Octaves are feasts that last for 8 days. Nowadays there are only two: Christmas and Easter. Long ago when we took things far more seriously than we do today there were more. The Octave of Easter ends next Sunday, which is: Divine Mercy Sunday!!! You should start preparing because as Father Chris Alar says repeatedly in the videos I link to below, “Divine Mercy Sunday is better than a plenary indulgence!” (May not be an exact quote, but the point is the same.)

Why is Divine Mercy Sunday is better than a plenary indulgence? That’s because a plenary indulgence includes a requirement that you must have no attachment to sin in order to get the full remission of sins as well as the complete remission of temporal punishment due to sin. This is hard. If we have any attachment to sin, we only recieve a partial indulgence (complete remission of sins, but only a partial remission of the temporal punishment.) Divine Mercy Sunday is better, because you get the whole plenary remission of sins and temporal punishment WITHOUT ANY CONDITIONS! This is based on the promises Jesus made to St. Faustina as recorded in her Diary and made official when Divine Mercy Sunday and the promises were “canonized” by the Church when it was instituted and added to the liturgical calendar by Pope St. John Paul II in 2000. 

I’m repeating the following resources I posted last week:

The following are resources you can dive into so that you can learn about (or refresh your memory) Divine Mercy Sunday. I strongly recommend that you watch the YouTube videos; like, really, really set aside the time and watch them! (I think Fr. Chris Alar is the “Apostle of Divine Mercy Sunday!”)

I will quite likely remind you all again before the day. (See? I told you!)

Videos:

Divine Mercy Sunday is BETTER Than an Indulgence (Fr. Chris Alar)

Divine Mercy Sunday: Easiest Way to Get to Heaven

Divine Mercy Sunday Explained: How to Receive the Graces – Ask a Marian

Divine Mercy Sunday: Explained – Explaining the Faith

The Top 10 Questions about Divine Mercy Sunday Answered by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC

Websites:

Divine Mercy Sunday FAQs

Divine Mercy Sunday basics

Divine Mercy Sunday (hasn’t been updated in several years, but still a good resource.)

Some of my past posts on Divine Mercy Sunday:

Divine Mercy Sunday

Divine Mercy Sunday: A great day for those who’ve really messed things up

Divine Mercy Sunday and Me

Divine Mercy Sunday 2025 (which is a compilation of prior posts on the Feast and will likely resemble my “Divine Mercy Sunday 2026” post!)

Divine Mercy Sunday in a Time of Pandemic (although we are not in a pandemic, this has links to sites with info on how to get the plenary indulgence for Divine Mercy Sunday if you cannot get to a Church for Mass.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The Presentation again of the Last Supper

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Whenever I think of the Last Supper since my reversion to the Church a quarter century ago, I recall the EWTN Daily Mass homilies which taught me so much back then I hadn’t known from my 9 years of Catholic school education and 4 more years of CCD. Chiefly: that the Mass is the “Re-presentation (or ‘presentation again,’ if you think that ‘re-presentation’ might be construed as ‘representation,’) of the Last Supper and the continuation of the sacrifice on Calvary in an unbloodied manner.” When you are at Mass, it is af if you are at the Last Supper when it was first celebrated, and it is as if you are on Calvary with Jesus and Mary (and St. John the Evangelist and the other Marys.)

I think that if this truth was beaten into the heads of seminarians studying for the priesthood, as well as the laity by proper catechesis, the Mass would be different. You would see priests holding true to the rubrics of the Mass (proper form and function matters and insisting on that does not make you a Catholic Pharisee) and the laity acting with reverence. It would be obvious that everyone present is aware of the real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist: that the Eucharist is not a symbol, but really, truly is Jesus’ Boby, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the form of bread and wine (this was the other thing that EWTN Daily Mass homilies taught me that I hadn’t known from Catholic schooling; or, to be fair, if it was taught, not really emphasized.)

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) - The Last Supper (1495-1498)-2.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Be kind to one another, compassionate, and mutually forgiving

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The Reading for the Evening Prayer for the Liturgy of the Hours for Wednesday of Holy Week is from Ephesians 4:32—5:2.

“Be kind to one another, compassionate, and mutually forgiving, just as God has forgiven you in Christ. Be imitators of God as his dear children. Follow the way of love, even as Christ loved you. He gave himself for us as an offering to God, a gift of pleasing fragrance.”

Source: DivineOffice.org

One of the many theories as to why we are alcoholics and addicts is that during our upbringing and through early adulthood we had not formed adequate interpersonal bonds with other people. We had “poor social skills” and were often “isolated.” Because of this, it was only through drinking and drugging that we were able to artificially “restore” some degree of “normal behaviour.” I say “artificially” as it was a fraud, a falsehood.

I picked this passage from today’s readings because if we had a culture like that, I firmly believe that alcoholism and addiction would fade into rarity. (This is a theme I expound on in my book, Building a Civilization of Live: A Call to Creative Catholics.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Do not fret because of the wicked

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The excerpt for today is from the Office of the Readings from the Liturgy of the Hours for Tuesday of Holy Week and is Psalm 37:1-4:

Do not fret because of the wicked;
do not envy those who do evil:
for they wither quickly like grass
and fade like the green of the fields.

If you trust in the Lord and do good,
then you will live in the land and be secure.
If you find your delight in the Lord,
he will grant your heart’s desire.

Source: Divine Office.org

This, then, is envy and resentment. You stopped drinking and using and have received some of the promises and benefits from sobriety, but you haven’t gotten the hang of it entirely. And your ol’ drinkin’ buddies are still havin’ a grand time out there, celebrating and carousing, and maybe teasing you for being a quitter.  

Or, you’ve been clean and sober for a nice long time, and once in a while you just watch people enjoying the gentle conviviality of a few glasses of wine during a dinner or a beer while watching a game on TV. Or, have a crisis, binge all weekend, emerge all right and not touch the stuff for a year because they didn’t have to and don’t “need” it. 

While not implying that your ol’ drinkin’ buddies are wicked (it could be used as a metaphor) the idea that someone, somewhere, out there, is having a good time doing something that could kill you if you returned to doing it does burn. I mean, even I, at times, just wish that I could, you know, have just one little…

But no.

Those who continue drinking and using go on to their own reward, which could be nothing harmful at all if they employ moderation; or they could wind up in the rooms of AA next to you. I can see it now: you’re in some church basement awaiting the start of your Thursday Night 8PM Home Group and someone sits down right next to you; but you’re so engrossed in reading a post from SoberCatholic.com that you don’t notice it’s Norm/Norma with whom you used to go around town barhoppin’. They nudge you in the shoulder and you turn and see them pointing to my post on your phone and they say “Hey, Ron/Rhonda! I read that earlier today! Funny meeting you here!” A pause and then they say “Hey,” again pointing to the SoberCatholic.com page on your screen, “Do you have this? That guy wrote it.” And they pull out and well-worn copy of “The Sober Catholic Way.” You reply, “Yeah, I got that! It changed my life! I bought a boxful off of Amazon and put them in my parish’s reading room and Adoration Chapel!” And so you renew acquaintances.

Or, your reading on that same phone the obituaries and a familiar name shows up on your doomscrolling. “Died suddenly.” You know what that means. 

On the other hand, if you trust in the Lord and do good,
then you will live a decent life and be secure.
If you find your delight in the Lord,
he will grant your heart’s desire (continued sobriety.)

Please by my book! Link in the image (or click on this):
00000 TSCWBookCover.jpg.

Thank you!

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The Divine Mercy Novena REMINDER!!

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Although it doesn’t start until Good Friday, I want to make sure that you all are aware that the Divine Mercy Novena is coming up!

Here is a link to the Novena, straight to the Shrine in Massachusetts: The Divine Mercy Novena of Chaplets

Source:| The Divine Mercy

To make it easy, here are links to each day’s prayers:

First Day

Second Day

Third Day

Fourth Day

Fifth Day

Sixth Day

Seventh Day

Eighth Day

Ninth Day

If you don’t have it, I strongly urge you to buy the Devotional Booklet. It has all the basics plus the prayers. Here is the Large Print version. 

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The Lord is my light and my salvation

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The Responsorial Psalm for the Mass of the Monday of Holy Week is from Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

whom should I fear?

The LORD is my life’s refuge;
 of whom should I be afraid?

When evildoers come at me
 to devour my flesh,

My foes and my enemies

themselves stumble and fall.



Though an army encamp against me,

my heart will not fear;


Though war be waged upon me,

even then will I trust. 



I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD

in the land of the living.


Wait for the LORD with courage;

be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.


Source:  USCCB

It may take a prolonged period of “spiritual progress” to reach the level of serenity and sustained courage the psalm reflects. But it is possible. In these times of global warfare, rising prices at home as well as growing political corruption (and indifference to it by the deluded,) we need to focus on the promises offered by this psalm. Read and reread it; perhaps mark it in your Catholic Bible and refer to it often “in these troubling times.”

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Divine Mercy Sunday is coming up in two weeks!

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Divine Mercy Sunday is coming up in two weeks (April 12th). I am giving you advance notice so that you can prepare. The following are resources you can dive into so that you can learn about (or refresh your memory) Divine Mercy Sunday. I strongly recommend that you watch the YouTube videos; like, really, really set aside the time and watch them! (I think Fr. Chris Alar is the “Apostle of Divine Mercy Sunday!”)

I will quite likely remind you all again before the day. 

Videos:

Divine Mercy Sunday is BETTER Than an Indulgence (Fr. Chris Alar)

Divine Mercy Sunday: Easiest Way to Get to Heaven

Divine Mercy Sunday Explained: How to Receive the Graces – Ask a Marian

Divine Mercy Sunday: Explained – Explaining the Faith

The Top 10 Questions about Divine Mercy Sunday Answered by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC

Websites:

Divine Mercy Sunday FAQs

Divine Mercy Sunday basics

Divine Mercy Sunday (hasn’t been updated in several years, but still a good resource.)

Some of my past posts on Divine Mercy Sunday:

Divine Mercy Sunday

Divine Mercy Sunday: A great day for those who’ve really messed things up

Divine Mercy Sunday and Me

Divine Mercy Sunday 2025 (which is a compilation of prior posts on the Feast and will likely resemble my “Divine Mercy Sunday 2026” post!)

Divine Mercy Sunday in a Time of Pandemic (although we are not in a pandemic, this has links to sites with info on how to get the plenary indulgence for Divine Mercy Sunday if you cannot get to a Church for Mass.)

AND ALSO DON’T FORGET THAT THE DIVINE MERCY NOVENA BEGINS THIS UPCOMING FRIDAY, APRIL 3rd (Good Friday.) 

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Countering Adam and Eve’s pride

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The excerpt from Second Reading of the Mass of Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion is from Phillippians 2: 6-8.

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

something to be grasped.

Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,

coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,

he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross.

Courtesy USCCB

I’ll take my inspiration for this post from my pastor’s homily (we attend the Vigil Mass.) He pointed out the Christ’s humility as mentioned in this passage, undid the pride of Adam and Eve. Whereas Jesus did not regard His divinity as “something to be grasped,” unlike Adam and Eve, who grasped the apple in an attempt to grasp something more: the false promises of Satan to become like God. 

Jesus’ humilty rendered His godhood as unimportant to His mission of redemption (althoiugh it was key) in dorect opposition to Adam and Eve’s belief that they’ll become like God.

Something to ponder as we think about our own pride.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)