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What is the Divine Mercy Novena?
Because of a young Polish Nun, this devotion began
spreading throughout the world in the 1930's. The
message is nothing new. It is a simple reminder of
what our Church has always taught, through Scripture and
Tradition. God is merciful and forgiving. God
calls us to show mercy and forgiveness as well.
The Divine Mercy Novena gives us nine days to reflect on
the fact that God's love has no limit and is available
to everyone, especially sinners. Join us in this
very special Novena!
"Be
still and know that I am God. ~Psalm 46:10
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Divine Mercy Novena
begins on Good Friday
Pledge to Pray, Starting this Good Friday
Video Message for the Divine Mercy Novena!
If you'd like to view a video message from Father Pat,
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Divine
Mercy Image
Click the graphic above!
Click Here to pledge to pray the Rosary on
Good Friday
and the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Novena that begins on Good Friday!
 rayer
is the most powerful force in the world. Many of us are
confused and discouraged by attitudes
and happenings that seem beyond our control. As we strive
to have more and more possessions we see
family values breaking down. In many of us, faith is tepid.
We hear so many saying, "I'm Christian, but ...
I don't think it's necessary for me to go to Church
every Sunday."
I don't think it's necessary to go to Church on Holy
Days."
If my kids go to Mass at Catholic school, that's
enough for our family."
If my kids go to religion class that's enough, we
shouldn't have to go to Mass too."
Artificial contraception is OK."
As a politician I can set my personal beliefs aside
and support abortion.
I can leave my faith behind me as I cast my vote."
I don't think I should have to go to Confession"
I don't commit any sins."
I need to be a little dishonest in order to keep up
with others."
A few white lies are alright."
When we become lukewarm in our faith, we can easily become
"supermarket" Christians, taking the
things we like from our faith and leaving the more difficult
demands of faith behind. We can allow all kinds
of evil to thrive. It can become overwhelming.
Prayer is the most powerful force in the world. What would
happen if thousands of us prayed at the same
time? Many of us have seen the "Passion of the Christ" this
Lent. We can't help but be moved by Jesus who
died on the cross for our forgiveness and salvation. We can
be inspired by Jesus who even forgave those
who put him to death. He was a true man. His faith was
anything but "lukewarm."
We are called to be like Jesus. So, what can we do? We can
PRAY. What would happen if thousands of us
would pray for and end to abortion? For an end to
terrorism? For an end to lukewarm faith?
Let's do it! I'm asking you to make a pledge. It has two
parts. The first is to pray the Rosary on Good Friday ...
for an end to abortion, an end to terrorism, an end to
domestic and any kind of violence, an end to lukewarm
faith.
The second is to begin the Divine Mercy Novena, nine days of
special prayers for God's mercy upon those who
need it the most.
When Jesus gave Saint Faustina the intentions to pray for he
said about the lukewarm and indifferent,
"These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it
was from such souls that My soul felt
the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their
account that I said: 'My Father, if it is
possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of
salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy."
In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:
"On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a
different group of souls and you will
immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you
will beg My Father, on the strength
of My passion, for the graces for these souls."
to pledge to pray the Rosary on Good Friday and the Divine
Mercy Chaplet and
Novena that begins on Good Friday!
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Chaplet of Divine Mercy
 Saint
Faustina was born Helena Kowalska in the village of Glogowiec west of Lodz,
Poland, on August 25, 1905. She was the third of ten children. When she was
almost twenty, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of
Mercy, whose members devote themselves to the care and education of troubled
young women.
The following year she received her religious habit and was given the
name Sister Maria Faustina, to which she added "of the Most Blessed
Sacrament," as was permitted by her Congregation's custom.
In the 1930s, Sister Faustina received from the Lord a message of mercy
that she was told to spread throughout the world. She was asked to become
the apostle and secretary of God's mercy, a model of how to be merciful to
others, and an instrument for reemphasizing God's plan of mercy for the
world.
The message of mercy that Sister Faustina received is now being spread
throughout the world; she has been recognized by the Church as a "Saint";
and her diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul, has become the handbook for devotion
to The Divine Mercy. She would not have been surprised, for she had been
told that the message of God's mercy would spread through her writings for
the great benefit of souls.
Through Saint Faustina, Jesus also revealed special ways to live out the
response to His mercy--one of which is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, as both
a novena and a prayer for the three o'clock hour -- the hour of His death.
How to Recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
The Chaplet of Mercy is recited using ordinary rosary beads of five decades.
At the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts the
Chaplet is preceded by two opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Faustina
and followed by a closing prayer.
Optional Opening Prayers
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
fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!
Begin with the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Apostle's Creed:
Our Father
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of
God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
The Apostle's Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in
Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; died,
and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He arose again from
the dead; He ascended into Heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life
everlasting. Amen.
Then, on the large bead before each decade:
Eternal Father,
I offer you the Body and Blood,
Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son,
Our Lord, Jesus Christ,
in atonement for our sins
and those of the whole world.
On the ten small beads of each decade, say:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Conclude with (Say 3 Times):
Holy God,
Holy Mighty One,
Holy Immortal One,
have mercy on us
and on the whole world.
Optional Closing Prayer
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion
-- inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us,
that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent,
but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is
Love and Mercy itself.
Our Lord said to Saint Faustina:
Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you ... Whoever
will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death ... When they
say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between my
Father and the dying person, not as the Just Judge but as the Merciful
Savior ... Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last home of
salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite
this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from my infinite mercy. I
desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy ...
Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is
compatible with My will.
to pledge to pray the Rosary on Good Friday and the Divine Mercy Chaplet and
Novena that begins on Good Friday!
Divine Mercy Novena
Jesus
asked that this Feast of the Divine Mercy (Sunday after Easter) be preceded
by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. He gave
St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for
the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and
indifferent of whom He said:
"These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was
from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It
was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup
pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy."
In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:
"On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a
different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ...
On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the
graces for these souls."
The different souls prayed for on each day of the novena are:
DAY 1 (Good Friday) - All mankind,
especially sinners
DAY 2 (Holy Saturday)
- The souls of
priests and religious
DAY 3 (Easter Sunday) - All devout and
faithful souls
DAY 4 (Easter Monday) - Those who do not
believe in Jesus and those who do not yet know Him
DAY 5 (Easter Tuesday)
- The souls of
separated brethren
DAY 6 (Easter Wednesday)
- The meek and
humble souls and the souls of children
DAY 7 (Easter Thursday)
- The souls who
especially venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy
DAY 8 (Easter Friday)
- The souls who are
detained in purgatory.
DAY 9 (Easter Saturday) - The souls who
have become lukewarm.
The
Chaplet of Divine Mercy is also offered each day for the day's intention.
First Day
Today bring Me all mankind, especially all sinners.
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 Me the Souls of Priests and Religious.
Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase
Your grace in us, that we may perform worthy works of mercy, and that all who
see us may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven. Eternal Father, turn
Your merciful gaze upon the company [of chosen souls] 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 Me All Devout and Faithful Souls.
Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart
Your graces in the 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 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 Me Those Who Do Not Believe In Me and Those Who Do Not Know Me
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
as yet do not believe in You or 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 Your Son, 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 the Separated Brethren
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 our separated brethren. 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 our separated brethren, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your
graces 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 the Most
Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your
great mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Sixth Day
Today Bring Me The Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children
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
favorites. 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 and humble
souls, and upon the souls of little children, who are enfolded in the abode of
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 Me The Souls Who Especially Venerate and Glorify My Mercy
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 in Your Mercy. These souls are united to Jesus and 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 spirit, overflowing with joy, sings 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, "I Myself will defend as My own glory,
during their lifetime, and especially at the hour of their death, those souls
who will venerate My fathomless mercy."
Eighth Day
Today Bring Me The Souls Who Are In the Prison Of Purgatory
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 purifying fire, that in that place, too, the power
of Your mercy may be praised. Eternal Father, turn Your most 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 than 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 Me The Souls Who Have Become Lukewarm
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
to pledge to pray the Rosary on Good Friday and the Divine Mercy Chaplet and
Novena that begins on Good Friday!
The Divine Mercy Image
Jesus
said to Saint Faustina, "Paint an image according to the pattern you see with
the signature: Jesus, I trust in You ... I promise that the soul that will
venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies
already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it
as My own glory" (47, 48) ........."I am offering people a vessel with which
they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this
image with the signature: 'Jesus, I trust in You' " (327)
At the request of her spiritual
director, Saint Faustina asked the Lord about the meaning of the rays in the
image. She heard these words in reply:
"The two rays denote Blood and
Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red
ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth
from the depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance
on the Cross ... Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just
hand of God shall not lay hold of him" (299)
Many different versions of this
image have been painted, but Our Lord made it clear that the painting itself is
not what is important.
When Saint Faustina first saw
the original image that was being painted under her direction, she wept in
disappointment and complained to Jesus: "Who will paint You as beautiful as You
are?" (313)
In answer she heard these
words:
"Not in the beauty of the
color, nor of the brush lies the greatness of this image, but in My grace (313).
My gaze from this image is like my gaze from the cross." (326)
So, no matter which version of
the image we prefer, we can be assured that it is a vehicle of God's grace if it
is revered with trust in His mercy.
to pledge to pray the Rosary on Good Friday and the Divine Mercy Chaplet and
Novena that begins on Good Friday!
Click the graphic above!
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