Devotion to Divine Mercy
In 1931, our Lord appeared in a vision to St Faustina Kowalska. She saw Jesus clothed in a white garment with His right hand raised in blessing. His left hand was touching His garment in the area of the Heart, from where two large rays came forth, one red and the other pale. She gazed intently at the Lord in silence, her soul filled with awe, but also with great joy. Her apparitions of Jesus inspired Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy.
In 2000, Pope John Paul II established the Feast of Divine Mercy on the first Sunday after Easter. Divine Mercy Sunday is on Sunday, 7 April 2024.
The Divine Mercy Novena of Chaplets
A novena is typically nine days of prayer in preparation for a celebration of a feast day. In the US, at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge MA, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Novena is recited perpetually at the Hour of Great Mercy - the three o'clock hour.
The Chaplet can be said at anytime, but the Lord specifically asked that it be recited as a novena. He promised, "By this Novena (of Chaplets), I will grant every possible grace to souls".
Intentions
For each of the nine days, our Lord gave St Faustina a different intention:
All mankind, especially sinners; the souls of priests and religious; all devout and faithful souls; those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know Jesus; the souls who have separated themselves from the Church; the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children; the souls who especially venerate and glorify His mercy; the souls detained in purgatory; and souls who have become lukewarm.
I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fountain of My mercy, that they may draw therefrom strength and refreshment and whatever grace they have need of in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour of death.
Diary, 1209
What You Can Do
You, too, can make a novena of prayer for these intentions and others, especially by praying the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy or by participating in a current online novena.
Pray the Novena
1. First Day
2. Second Day
3. Third Day
4. Fourth Day
5. Fifth Day
6. Sixth Day
7. Seventh Day
8. Eighth Day
9. Ninth Day
Additional Resources
Learn more about Novenas
The Divine Mercy Novena of Chaplets
www.thedivinemercy.org