A brief introduction to St. Faustina's 'Divine Mercy devotion'

The 'Divine Mercy' devotion to Jesus, is based on the private revelations received by Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) a Polish nun who, in obedience to her spiritual director (Bl. Michael Sopocko), wrote a diary of about 600 pages, now available to read as, 'Divine Mercy in my Soul’. Pope John Paul II proclaimed the 'Feast of Divine Mercy' see below at her canonisation on April 30, 2000. | for more use the links page

"The decisive factor in obtaining God’s Mercy is trust. Trust is the expectation of someone’s help. It does not constitute a separate virtue, but is an essential condition of the virtue of hope, and an integral part of the virtues of fortitude and generosity. Because trust springs from faith, it strengthens hope and love, and is, moreover, linked up, in one way or another, with the moral virtues. It may, therefore, be called the basis on which the theological virtues unite with the moral. The moral virtues, originally natural, become supernatural if we practice them with trust in God’s help." ~ Quote from St. Faustina's spiritual director Bl. Michael Sopocko  

"When a soul approaches Me with trust," ... "I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls" (Sister Faustina’s Diary, 1074)

"God waits and also God forgives, He is the God of mercy: he does not tire of forgiving us. It is we who are tired of asking for forgiveness, but He never gets tired. Seventy times seven; go forward with forgiveness. And from a business standpoint, the balance is negative. He always loses: he loses in the balance of things, but conquers in love.” ~ Pope Francis 28/03/2014 more1 | more2 | GA on Mercy 13/01/2016

"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 26/03/2006 (read on Zenit)

“Never forget this: the Lord never tires of forgiving us. God’s face is that of a merciful father who is always patient. He never tires of forgiving us if we know how to return to him with a contrite heart, ‘Great is the Lord’s mercy’. ~ Pope Francis 17/03/2013 more

"Trust is not easy. It is always a challenge. Trust Him when dark doubts  assail you. Trust Him when your strength is small. Trust Him when to simply  trust Him seems the hardest thing of all." ~ Archbishop Fulton J.  Sheen

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7). "I demand from you deeds of mercy which are to arise out of love for me. You are to show mercy to your neighbours always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse yourself from it" (Diary, 742)

The Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Chaplet: Use Rosary beads, begin with: Our Father…, Hail Mary…, The Apostles Creed; then on the Our Father bead of each decade, say: "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 sins and those of the whole world."

On the ten Hail Mary beads of each decade, say: "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world." Conclude by saying three times: "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.". (if praying alone see footnote)

The Three o’clock Prayer & The Hour of Great Mercy. In His revelations to Sr. Faustina, Jesus asked for special, daily remembrance at three o'clock, the very hour He died for us on the cross:  "At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world." (diary 1320). "In this hour you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking: it was the hour of grace for the whole world - mercy triumphed over justice." (diary 1572)

The Three o’clock Prayer: "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. (Diary, 1319) O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You." (Diary, 84)

"Jesus, I trust in You!" (Polish: "Jezu ufam Tobie") .... download chaplet & novena as pdf or rtf file

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The Divine Mercy Novena: Imprimatur: John A. Marshall, Bishop of Springfield, Mass. ~ The Novena to The Divine Mercy (Diary, 1209-1229)
Although not strictly necessary to the Novena, it is recommended that the novena intentions and prayers be prayed with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (see above) 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 Divine Mercy Sunday service [services in Holy Family Parish]. In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her,  "I desire that Adoration (before The Most Blessed Sacrament) take place (throughout the world), for the intention of imploring Mercy for the world."

She also wrote: "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 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.

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 - Holy Saturday
"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 - Easter Sunday
"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 - Easter Monday
"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 - Tuesday after Easter
"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 - Wednesday after Easter
"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 - Thursday after Easter
"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 - Friday after Easter
"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 - Saturday after Easter
"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 ardour 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

download novena & chaplet as pdf or rtf file

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'Divine Mercy Sunday'

Divine Mercy Sunday is the Second Sunday of the Easter season, named by Pope John Paul II at the canonisation of St. Maria Faustina on April 30, 2000, "From now on, the Second Sunday of Easter will be called Divine Mercy Sunday." Low Sunday was already a solemnity as the Octave Day of Easter. The title “Divine Mercy Sunday” highlights the meaning of the day. (see note below)

note: "And so with provident pastoral sensitivity and in order to impress deeply on the souls of the faithful these precepts and teachings of the Christian faith, the Supreme Pontiff, John Paul II, moved by the consideration of the Father of Mercy, has willed that the Second Sunday of Easter be dedicated to recalling with special devotion these gifts of grace and gave this Sunday the name, "Divine Mercy Sunday" (Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Decree Misericors et miserator, 5 May 2000).

The Gospel of the Second Sunday of Easter narrates the wonderful things Christ the Lord accomplished on the day of the Resurrection during his first public appearance: "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you'. When he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad to see the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you'. And then he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained'" (Jn 20,19-23). " read more Vatican website

The Feast of Divine Mercy: Sr. Faustina stated according to Jesus' wish was to be celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter (Diary, 49, 88, 280, 299, 420, 570, 699, 742). “Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion.  I am giving them a last hope of salvation; that is, the feast of My Mercy”. … “If they will not adore My mercy, they will perish for all eternity”. This is a day of special grace for us all and particularly a day of deliverance for sinners.  “Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy.” (diary 301).  

"… 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 grace 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." (diary 699)

Whoever approaches the Fount of Mercy on this day...... will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment" (diary 300).

“My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especially for poor sinners… It is for them that the Blood and Water flowed from My Heart as from a fount overflowing with mercy. For them I dwell in the tabernacle as King of Mercy” (diary 367).

Saint Faustina wrote: Today the Lord said to me, "Daughter, when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself entirely in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls. The proud remain always in poverty and misery, because My grace turns way from them to humble souls." (diary 1602)

“Tell My priests that hardened sinners will repent on hearing their words when they speak about My unfathomable mercy, about the compassion I have for them in My Heart. To priests who proclaim and extol My mercy, I will give wondrous power; I will anoint their words and touch the hearts of those to whom they will speak.” (Diary, 1521)

"Write down these words, my daughter. Speak to the world about My Mercy; let all mankind recognise My unfathomable mercy. It is a sign for the end times; after it, will come the day of justice. While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fount of My mercy; let them profit from the blood and water which gushed forth from for them." (diary Book II, 229-230)

"How much need the world has to understand and accept Divine Mercy!” ~ Pope John Paul II | John Paul II Encyclical 'Rich in Mercy' 'Dives in Misericordia' - as pdf

for Divine Mercy Sunday service details in the Holy Family Parish, visit News page and Easter Mass times

"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....."

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links: Pope John Paul II & Divine Mercy Sunday - Canonisation of St. John Paul II

other links have moved to: DM links page | download Novena and Chaplet as pdf or rtf file | Plenary indulgence Vatican link

See also Devotion to the 'Sacred Heart of Jesus' link#1 | link#2 | link#3 | link#4 | link#5

footnote: Many when praying the Chaplet alone say 'me or my' instead of 'us or our'. The following interesting comment was found in 2012 on another DM source: "When we pray, "in atonement for OUR sins", we are not just praying for our own personal sins, if it was just that, then the prayer would be, "in atonement for MY sins"... It is our whole family tree we are including, our family lineage, not only our immediate family but our whole family past and present. In the Bible the family tree is the whole lineage, those who have gone before, back to the beginning of time, and those who come after, till the end of time." ... " In Deuteronomy 7:9 Our Lord said, to those who pray and honour my commandments I will give credit to a hundred generations. Jesus also gave us the opportunity to atone for others on the feast of Mercy, for it is not only a great opportunity to cleanse our own souls but we can also do a lot for others souls on that day (Diary 206)"
[see also our 'Healing the Family Tree' prayers page]

<:))))<><

Miscellaneous

"My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Those who say, "I know him," but do not keep his commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him." 1 Jn 2:1-5a

"Repent, then, and turn to God (be converted), so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Acts 3:19 NIV. "Lord, let your mercy (unfailing love) be on us, as we place our trust in you." Ps 33:22

“Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy. Mercy has become living and visible in Jesus of Nazareth, reaching its culmination in him. At times we are called to gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father’s action in our lives.” ~ Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus (M.V.) 1,3 (Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy)

"May each one of you experience the power of the Blood and Water that poured out from the heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy and may each of you find confidence and trust in this ever present mercy of God!" ~ citation needed

"If God were not willing to forgive sin, heaven would be empty." ~ German proverb

The Corporal and Spiritual Acts of Mercy: Mercy as it is contemplated here is said to be a virtue influencing one's will to have compassion for, and if possible, to alleviate another's misfortune. >>

The corporal works of mercy are: To feed the hungry; To give drink to the thirsty; To clothe the naked; To harbour the harbourless; To visit the sick; To ransom the captive; To bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy are: To instruct the ignorant; To counsel the doubtful; To admonish sinners; To bear wrongs patiently; To forgive offences willingly; To comfort the afflicted; To pray for the living and the dead.

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'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.' 1 John 1:9 NIV