Divine Mercy Novena
9 DAYS
First Day
"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.
* 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
"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 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.
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 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.
*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
"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.
*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
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. 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.
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.
*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
"Today
bring to Me the Souls who are in the prison of 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 the 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
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.
God sows the seeds in the 20th Century, and the days of Noah began,,