I give you a new
commandment...
As I have loved you, so you
must love one another. John 13:34...
Be merciful even as your Father
is merciful. Luke 6:36
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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.
Here is one message from Our Lord 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 hope 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." 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. |
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The Chaplet of Mercy is recited
Begin the Chaplet with: the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the
Apostles' Creed. |
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The Our Father
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The 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 Apostles 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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty. He will come again in glory 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 |
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Then, on the large bead
before each decade: |
On the ten small beads of
each decade, say: For the sake of His
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Conclude with Holy God,
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The Chaplet of Divine Mercy as a Novena
The Chaplet can be said 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"
"I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fountain of
My mercy, that they may draw there from strength and refreshment and whatever
grace they have need of in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour
of death."
On Good Friday, 1937, Jesus requested that Saint Faustina make a
special novena before the Feast of Mercy --
from Good Friday through the following Saturday.
He, Himself, dictated the intentions for each day.
For each of the nine days, our Lord gave Saint 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.
We, too, can make a novena of prayer for these intentions and others,
especially by praying the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy.
Intentions for Each Day of the Novena
First Day
Today bring to 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 to me THE SOULS OF PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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.
* "Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is
the Feast of Mercy,
but there must also be acts of Mercy...I demand from you deeds of mercy,
which arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy
to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink
from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it."
So, to fittingly observe the Feast of Mercy, we are encouraged to:
1. Celebrate the Feast on the Sunday after Easter;
2. Sincerely repent of all our sins;
3. Place our complete trust in Jesus;
4. Go to Confession, preferably before that Sunday;
5. Receive Holy Communion on the day of the Feast;
6. Venerate the Image of Divine Mercy;
(To venerate a sacred image or statue means to perform
some act or make some gesture of deep religious respect toward it -- because
of the person whom it represents -- in this case,
our Most Merciful Savior.)
7. Be merciful to others, through our actions, words, and prayers
on their behalf.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain
mercy." (Matthew 5:7)
Copyright 2001 Love Offering Inc. All rights reserved