Divine Mercy

What is Divine Mercy?

The message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercy, is based on the writings of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who, in obedience to her spiritual director, wrote a diary of about 600 pages recording the private revelations she received about God’s mercy. Even before her death in 1938, the devotion to The Divine Mercy had begun to spread.

Divine Mercy Novena
Imprimatur: John A. Marshall, Bishop of Springfield, Mass. ~ The Novena to The Divine Mercy (Diary, 1209-1229)

It is greatly recommended that the following novena intentions and prayers be prayed together with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (see end), since Our Lord specifically asked for a novena of Chaplets, especially before the Feast of Mercy.

Start the Novena on Good Friday and complete it on the Octave of Easter. If possible, attend a special Divine Mercy Mass on the Sunday after Easter. Jesus told Saint Faustina Kowalska, "I desire that Adoration (before The Most Blessed Sacrament) take place (throughout the world), for the intention of imploring Mercy for the world."

FIRST DAY - Good Friday

"Today bring to Me ALL MANKIND, ESPECIALLY ALL SINNERS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me."

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

SECOND DAY

"Today bring to Me THE SOULS OF PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave Me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind."

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service, that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard -- upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

THIRD DAY

"Today bring to Me ALL DEVOUT AND FAITHFUL SOULS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness."

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

FOURTH DAY

"Today bring to Me THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD AND THOSE WHO DO NOT YET KNOW ME. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy."

Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

FIFTH DAY

"Today bring to Me THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM MY CHURCH, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion."

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son’s Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

SIXTH DAY

"Today bring to Me THE MEEK AND HUMBLE SOULS AND THE SOULS OF LITTLE CHILDREN, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble soul is capable of receiving My grace. I favour humble souls with My confidence."

Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father’s favourites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

SEVENTH DAY

"Today bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ESPECIALLY VENERATE AND GLORIFY MY MERCY, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death."

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God:

Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

EIGHTH DAY

"Today bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ARE DETAINED IN PURGATORY, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice."

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

NINTH DAY

"Today bring to Me SOULS WHO HAVE BECOME LUKEWARM, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: ‘Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.’ For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy."

Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen

top

The Divine Mercy Chaplet

(use Rosary beads and begin with:) Our Father…, Hail Mary…, The Apostles Creed

On the large bead before each decade:) "Eternal Father, I offer to you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our ("my", if praying alone) sins and those of the whole world."

(On the ten smaller beads of each decade:) "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us (me) and on the whole world."

(Conclude at the end with:) "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us (me) and on the whole world." (repeat three times.)

The Three o’clock Prayer ~ The Hour of Great Mercy

"At three o’clock implore My mercy, especially for sinners. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion".

"You expired Jesus but the source of life gushed forth for souls and the ocean of Mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in you."

top

Divine Mercy Sunday

On Sunday April 30th 2000, Pope John Paul II canonised St. Maria Faustina and also decreed that the Second Sunday of Easter be henceforth known as "Divine Mercy Sunday". Five days later by decree from the Sacred Congregation, the Holy See proclaimed the Second Sunday of Easter as "Divine Mercy Sunday".

The Feast of Divine Mercy: The Lord Jesus in his visits to Sr. Faustina also gave reasons why He demands the establishment of this feast… "Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them a last hope of salvation; that is, the feast of My Mercy" and He warned that… "If they will not adore My mercy, they will perish for all eternity"

This should be a day of special grace for us all and particularly a day of deliverance for sinners: Writing in her diary in September 1936, Sr. Faustina heard these words from Jesus....

"I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy" (ref 699).

This desire of Jesus occurs frequently.. Writing in 1934 Sr. Faustina tells of the Lord’s desire.... Whoever approaches the Fount of Mercy on this day...... the Lord Jesus PROMISES… will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment" (ref 300).

top

"O Jesus, who filled St. Faustina with profound veneration for Your boundless Mercy, deign, if it be Your holy will, to grant me, through her intercession, the grace for which I fervently pray........ My sins render me unworthy of Your mercy, but be mindful of St. Faustina's spirit of sacrifice and self-denial, and reward her virtue by granting the petition which, with childlike trust, I present to You through her intercession. Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory....."

Pope John Paul II Died at 84 on the vigil of the Feast of Divine Mercy, Saturday, April 02, 2005

Pope John Paul II - Karol Józef Wojtyla - 1920 - 2005 - R.I.P

Eternal rest grant unto Pope John Paul II O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen

To the surprise of the faithful attending the Mass for John Paul II's eternal rest, a Vatican official read a message the Pope had prepared for Divine Mercy Sunday. Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute of the Vatican Secretariat of State, told the crowd of 130,000 in St. Peter's Square today that he read the text "with much honour and much nostalgia" -- and "by the explicit indication" of the Pope himself.

"To humanity, which at times seems to be lost and dominated by the power of evil, egoism and fear, the risen Lord offers as a gift his love that forgives, reconciles and reopens the spirit to hope,"
affirmed the Pope in his posthumous message.

"It is love that converts hearts and gives peace. How much need the world has to understand and accept Divine Mercy!"
the Holy Father's message stated.

John Paul II proclaimed the feast of Divine Mercy for the universal Church when canonizing Polish nun and mystic Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) on April 30, 2000. In his message for the recitation of the Regina Caeli, the Holy Father wrote:

"Lord, who with your death and resurrection reveal the love of the Father, we believe in you and with confidence repeat to you today: Jesus, I trust in you, have mercy on us and on the whole world."
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 3, 2005 (Zenit.org Code: ZE05040307)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

John Paul II as an Apostle of Mercy - Interview With Bishop Renato Boccardo

VATICAN CITY, April 3, 2005 (Zenit.org Code: ZE05040303 Date: 2005-04-03 ).- John Paul II died at the end of the vigil Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday, the feast that he himself instituted five years earlier for the universal Church.

Bishop Renato Boccardo, recently appointed secretary-general of Vatican City State, led the faithful in prayer in St. Peter's Square after the announcement of the Pope's death. He called John Paul II "the apostle of mercy."

Indeed, the prelate will focus on this topic when he addresses an unprecedented retreat for priests from all over the world. The retreat is scheduled June 20-24 in Krakow, Poland. For more information, see www.missionariesofmercy.org.

In this interview with ZENIT, Bishop Boccardo illustrates the transcendence of the message given by Christ through Sister Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), the Polish nun and mystic linked to the Divine Mercy devotion.

Q: At the international priests' retreat you have been invited to speak about the Pope as an apostle of mercy. In what way was the Pope an apostle of mercy?

Bishop Boccardo: I think that in the almost 27 years of his pontificate, the Pope has been an apostle of mercy at two levels.

First of all, through his teaching given in various documents and in particular done through his encyclical "Dives in Misericordia." But at the same time, the second dimension is through his gestures. It is his gestures which remain in the memory and conscience of the Church beyond his words.

I'm thinking of the pardon given to his would-be assassin and the visit made to him in prison. I'm thinking of the closeness manifested many times with all those who in a particular way need Divine Mercy. That is to say, those sick with AIDS, elderly abandoned people, the sick in general.

I'm thinking of him on Good Friday in St. Peter's Basilica, welcoming pilgrims with the sacrament of confession, the highest instrument of the mercy of God.

It seems to me that Pope John Paul II linked together words and gestures of mercy. A mercy which manifests itself right there through a caress, a listening ear, through the way he looked intensively at those who suffer.

I'm thinking of the example of mercy -- that of offering the chance of forgiveness during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. Therefore, through his person and through his teaching, the Pope has recalled the Church to this fundamental dimension of the Christian life.

Q: John Paul II said: "Mercy, unique hope for the world." Why did he give so much importance to Divine Mercy for the future of the world?

Bishop Boccardo: Our postmodern and modern world seems to have experienced every possible way to try to improve its life through scientific and technical progress and yet continues to experience a huge poverty. Let's go back to the words of the Gospel: What worth is it for man to gain the whole world if he loses his own soul?

And our very modern world, so rich in science and technological discoveries, finds itself in the end incapable of finding meaning in its own existence. It finds itself divided within, driven by hate, war and death and struggles to find the strength and reasons to live and hope.

And we Christians believe that our reason and our hope for existing is to be found only in the heart of God. So our postmodern world, plunged in its own poverty, needs to hear more than ever the proclamation of the grace and mercy which comes from above.

It's in accepting this greater mystery, which comes to us gratuitously through mercy, that the world will find the meaning of its existence.

Q: What impact, if any, has the feast of Divine Mercy had on the life of the Church?

Bishop Boccardo: Above all, I believe that this feast of Divine Mercy is a gift that the Pope John Paul II has made to the Church, establishing it on the first Sunday after Easter -- a gift which probably responds to an expectancy in our world which more than ever experiences the need for mercy and goodness.

And we know that the source, the fountain of mercy and goodness is in the heart of God. It is important that the Church becomes ever more, as the Pope said several times, minister of this mercy and goodness of God.

So now, by declaring a day specifically set aside for the celebration and proclamation of the mercy of God, which through the sacrifice of Christ reaches all mankind, this day becomes a work of evangelization.

Q: Why did the Holy Father place the feast of Divine Mercy so close to Easter?

Bishop Boccardo: Celebrating Divine Mercy on the first Sunday after Easter makes for, I would say, a reaffirmation of the greatness of the Easter mystery. God the Father wanting to save humanity sent his Son. And his Son gave his life for humanity. What is this, then, if not the mercy of God?

But of course, Divine Mercy Sunday cannot remain a private devotion. It's a feast that redresses and encompasses the whole of the life of the Church. It is strictly linked to the Easter mystery. The same Easter mystery reveals the mercy of God and the goodness of God with regard to humanity.

Q: Why have two cardinals and two bishops decided to propose this retreat to priests?

Bishop Boccardo: I just have to say that I was present with the Pope in the celebration of the dedication of the sanctuary in Lagiewniki. And I was really struck by what the Pope said during the celebration: "Who would have thought that the young man with wooden clogs on his feet coming home from work every evening and stopping here in the Chapel of Divine Mercy to pray, would one day be coming back as Pope to consecrate this sanctuary."

That's to say, the mysterious story that Divine Providence writes in the life of men -- intensive moments of great emotion.

Then, we also know that from that place, from that shrine the devotion of Divine Mercy radiates throughout the world. Certainly, a richness of grace and blessing. Therefore, I hope and think that this international retreat will be an effusion of grace, a blessing for those who participate in it and through them for Church.

"How many people also in our time are in search of God, in search of Jesus and of his Church, in search of divine mercy, and are waiting for a "sign" that will touch their minds and their hearts!" Pope Benedict XVI

"How much need the world has to understand and accept Divine Mercy!" Pope John Paul II

All Divine Mercy links have moved to ..... Divine Mercy Links page

top | Home | Links index

This page last updated 1st November, 2007 v 1.09 ~ ê¿ê
This page will eventually move to our domain www.penzancecatholicchurch.org
If you link here, please use the new address www.penzancecatholicchurch.org/divinemercy.htm

The Catholic Church of The Immaculate Conception of Our Lady - website Parish of Penzance with the Isles of Scilly