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The Divine Mercy Novena |
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Background Indulgence |
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Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy 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 may also be offered each day for the day's intention, but is not strictly necessary to the Novena.
First Day 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. Second Day 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. * In the original text, Saint Faustina uses the pronoun "us" since she was offering this prayer as a consecrated religious sister. The wording adapted here is intended to make the prayer suitable for universal use. Third Day and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were a 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. Fourth Day 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. *Our Lord's original words here were "the pagans." Since the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Church has seen fit to replace this term with clearer and more appropriate terminology. Fifth Day 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. *Our Lord's original words here were "heretics and schismatics," since He spoke to Saint Faustina within the context of her times. As of the Second Vatican Council, Church authorities have seen fit not to use those designations in accordance with the explanation given in the Council's Decree on Ecumenism (n.3). Every pope since the Council has reaffirmed that usage. Saint Faustina herself, her heart always in harmony with the mind of the Church, most certainly would have agreed. When at one time, because of the decisions of her superiors and father confessor, she was not able to execute Our Lord's inspirations and orders, she declared: "I will follow Your will insofar as You will permit me to do so through Your representative. O my Jesus " I give priority to the voice of the Church over the voice with which You speak to me" (497). The Lord confirmed her action and praised her for it. Sixth Day 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. I favor 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 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. Seventh Day 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. *The text leads one to conclude that in the first prayer directed to Jesus, Who is the Redeemer, it is "victim" souls and contemplatives that are being prayed for; those persons, that is, that voluntarily offered themselves to God for the salvation of their neighbor (see Col 1:24; 2 Cor 4:12). This explains their close union with the Savior and the extraordinary efficacy that their invisible activity has for others. In the second prayer, directed to the Father from whom comes "every worthwhile gift and every genuine benefit,"we recommend the "active" souls, who promote devotion to The Divine Mercy and exercise with it all the other works that lend themselves to the spiritual and material uplifting of their brethren. Eighth Day 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. Ninth
Day 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. |
