Start Date: Friday, April 15, 2022

End Date: Saturday, April 23, 2022

Feast Day: Sunday, April 24, 2022

Through Saint Faustina, Jesus has requested for us to precede the Feast of Divine Mercy, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday, with a Novena.

Saint Laurence a Catholic elementary in Upper Darby invites you to pray this Novena as a family this year.

Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the second Sunday of Easter which concludes the Easter Octave. Therefore, nine days prior to the Feast and the start of the Divine Mercy Novena always begins on Good Friday. 

"I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fountain of My mercy, that they may draw therefrom strength and refreshment and whatever grace they have need of in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour of death" (Diary, 1209). –Jesus’s message to Saint Faustina
 

What is a Novena?

The word “novena” is derived from the Latin word for nine, or “novem.” Typically, a novena refers to praying the same petition or devotion for nine consecutive days. During these nine days of prayer it is common to ask God for a specific intention, often through a Saint’s intercession. 

In the case of the Novena to The Divine Mercy, the prayer to be said is the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy each day at 3pm for a specific intention. 

You can learn more about Novenas at NovenaPrayer.com.

How to recite the Chaplet of Mercy

The Chaplet of Mercy is recited at 3pm in the afternoon using ordinary Rosary beads of five decades. The Chaplet is preceded by two opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska and followed by a closing prayer.

Here  are step by step directions of how to pray the Chaplet.

What is the importance of 3pm?

The time of 3:00 p.m. corresponds to the hour at which Jesus died on the cross. This hour is called the "hour of Divine Mercy" or the "hour of great mercy".

“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. I will allow you to enter into My mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion…” –Jesus’s message to Saint Faustina
 

Intentions for Divine Mercy Novena

For each of the nine days, our Lord gave Saint Faustina a different intention:

1. All mankind, especially sinners;
2. The souls of priests and religious;
3. All devout and faithful souls;
4. Those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know Jesus;
5. The souls who have separated themselves from the Church;
6. The meek and humble souls and the souls of little children;
7. The souls who especially venerate and glorify His mercy;
8. The souls detained in purgatory;
9. And souls who have become lukewarm.