devotion to divine mercy

COMPILED BY
FR.S. MICHALENKO, M.I.C.
DON CARLO VIVALDELLI
AND SR SOPHIA MICHALENKO, C.M.G.T.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
A WORD ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION
THE SECRETARY AND APOSTLE OF THE DIVINE MERCY.
THE ESSENCE OF THE DEVOTION TO THE DIVINE MERCY - TRUST
DEEDS OF MERCY
PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS OF THE DEVOTION
THE SACRED IMAGE- “JESUS I TRUST IN YOU”
THE FEAST OF MERCY: THE NOVENA TO THE DIVINE MERCY
THE CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY
THE HOUR OF GREAT MERCY
THE TRIBUNAL OF MERCY
PROCLAMATION OF THE DIVINE MERCY
THE SPIRIT OF BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA KOWALSKA
SELECTED PRAYERS FROM THE DIARY OF BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA KOWALSKA
HOW TO RECITE THE CHAPLET OF THE DIVINE MERCY
THE CHAPLET OF THE DIVINE MERCY AS A NOVENA
BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA’S NOVENA TO THE DIVINE MERCY
APPROPRIATE PRAYERS FOR THREE O’CLOCK
BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA’S PRAISES OF THE DIVINE MERCY
TO THE DIVINE MERCY
AT THE FEET OF CHRIST IN THE EUCHARIST
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
TO OBTAIN LOVE FOR GOD
TO OBTAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF GOD
FOR FIDELITY TO THE WILL OF GOD
TO THE MOTHER OF GOD
FOR HOLY CHURCH AND FOR PRIESTS
FOR ONE’S COUNTRY
PRAYER FOR THE GRACE TO BE MERCIFUL TOWARDS OTHERS
FOR SINNERS
IN TIME OF SUFFERING
FOR A GOOD DEATH
DESIRES OF A SOUL
SAINT JOSEPH AND THE DEVOTION TO THE DIVINE MERCY
A PURPOSE FOR DEVOTION TO THE DIVINE MERCY
A PRAYER FOR DIVINE MERCY

“IN A SPECIAL WAY, GOD ALSO REVEALS HIS MERCY WHEN HE INVITES MAN TO HAVE ‘MERCY’ ON HIS ONLY SON, THE CRUCIFIED ONE......IN THE WHOLE OF THIS MESSIANIC PROGRAM OF CHRIST, IN THE WHOLE REVELATION OF MERCY THROUGH THE CROSS, COULD MAN’S DIGNITY BE MORE HIGHLY RESPECTED AND ENNOBLED, FOR IN OBTAINING MERCY, HE IS IN A SENSE THE ONE WHO AT THE SAME TIME “SHOWS MERCY”!? H.H. JOHN PAUL II.
“TO RENDER HONOUR TO DIVINE MERCY MEANS TO SEEK IN IT THE GRACE OF THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS!”. THE REV. PROF. IGNACY ROZYCKI.

DEVOTION TO THE DIVINE MERCY, COMES FORTH AS THE REVISED EDITION OF IT’S PREDECESSOR ENITLED: NOVENA TO THE DIVINE MERCY. THE REASON WE HAVE CHANGED THE TITLE IS SIMPLY THIS: THE FORMER ONE WAS AN INNACURATE DESIGNATION OF THE PUBLICATION’S CONTENTS.
ALTHOUGH A MOST COMMON CRY AMONG CATHOLICS TODAY MIGHT BE:”THE LAST THING THE CHURCH NEEDS IS NEW DEVOTION”, THE CHOICE OF THE CHANGED WORD IN OUR TITLE, WE BELIEVE, IS MOST FITTING.
“DEVOTION” IN IT’S UNDEFORMED MEANING, STANDS FOR “GIVING ONESELF ENTIRELY TO” SOMEONE OR SOMETHING - EVEN UNTO DEATH, AS ST THOMAS AQUINUS EXPLAINS, SPEAKING OF “DEVOTION” AS ONE OF THE ACTS OF THE VIRTUE OF RELIGION.
IN THE CONTEXT OF THE TRUE RELIGION, THEN, DEVOTION IS A CALM AND STRONG ATTITUDE OF THE WILL, THE FRUIT OF A REFLECTIVE DECISION, BY WHICH ONE PUTS HIMSELF OR HERSELF INTO A DISPOSITION OF BEING BASICALLY ALWAYS READY FOR THE SERVICE OF GOD. IT IS A TOTAL VOWING OF ONESELF TO GOD ON THE STRENGTH OF WHICH ONE IS ALWAYS READY TO ENGAGE ONESELF IN WHATEVER CONCERN’S GOD’S HONOUR. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT BAPTISM INTO CHRIST IMPLIES FOR CHRISTIANS.
DEVOTION, THEN, IS, AS IT WERE, THE FIRST BASIC HABIT OF THE SPIRIT AND THE MIND WHICH IS THE FRUIT OF THE VIRTUE OF RELIGION AND PERMEATES ONE’S LIFE, GIVING DIRECTION AND FORM TO SUBSEQUENT ACTS IN WHICH THE SERVICE OF GOD IS MADE ACTUAL. AMONG THOSE ACTS, MOST CERTAINLY, ARE TO BE FOUND WHAT WE CALL “DEVOTIONS” - RELIGIOUS ATTITUDES, PRAYERS AND PRACTICES THAT ACCENT PARTICULAR CONSIDERATIONS OR ASPECTS OF RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE(TEACHING), OR INDICATE A LEANING TOWARDS RENDERING SERVICE OR HONOUR TO PARTICULAR HOLY PERSONAGES OR DIVINE MYSTERIES.
“DEVOTIONS” CAN BE OF REAL VALUE WHEN THEY ARE MEANS OF NURTURING AND EXPRESSING DEVOTION! - THE IMMEDIATE SOIL IN WHICH WORSHIP BUDS AND FLOWERS; FOR, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, “DEVOTIONS” MUST BE DIRECTED TO GOD TO WHOM, BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS, THE WORSHIP OF ADORATION IS DUE! OUR MOST LOVING CREATOR, REDEEMER AND SANCTIFIER, THE TRIUNE GODHEAD, IS CERTAINLY WORTHY OF THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE’S WHOLEHEARTED “ADDICTION” AND “LOYALTY”. AS WELL AS OF IT’S MORE CONSCIOUS, WILLING AND PROMPT DEDICATION TO WHATEVER CONCERNS HIM, THAT DEVOTION IMPLIES.
IF THERE EXISTS IN THE CHURCH A GREAT VARIETY OF “DEVOTIONAL” FORMS AND PRACTICES IT IS BECAUSE THE SPIRIT, WHO”BLOWS WHERE HE WILLS”(jN 3:8), GUIDES SOULS IN QUITE DIFFERENT WAYS, FOLLOWING, HOWEVER, AN ULTIMATE DESIGN OF UNITY, WHICH OBTAINS FROM THIS VARIETY ALL IT’S BEAUTY.
BECAUSE OF THIS, AND SINCE THE CHURCH PERMITS “NEW” DEVOTIONS AND THEN MAKES THEM HER OWN, IT IS OUR DUTY TO TAKE INTEREST IN THEM, PARTICULARLY WHEN SHE HAS EXAMINED AND TESTED THEIR SOURCE, FOUND THEM TO BE TRUSTWORTHY, OF DIVINE ORIGIN, AND IN PERFECT HARMONY WITH PUBLIC REVELATION AS HANDED DOWN TO HER IN HOLY SCRIPTURE AND SACRED TRADITION. TO DO OTHERWISE WOULD BE TO BE LACKING IN DOCILITY TO THE HOLY GHOST, WHO MOVES THE CHURCHBY MEANS OF A MARVELLOUS VARIETY OF FORMS TOWARDS A SINGLE DIVINE WORSHIP IN WHICH ALONE LIES TRUE HUMAN FULFILLMENT!
THE CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY OF VATICAN COUNCIL II TEACHES THAT POPULAR DEVOTIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE ARE WARMLY COMMENDED, PROVIDED THEY ACCORD WITH THE LAWS AND NORMS OF THE CHURCH. WHAT IS REQUIRED IS THAT ALL DEVOTIONS SHOULD BE SO DRAWN UP THAT THEY HARMONIZE WITH THE LITURGICAL SEASONS, ACCORD WITH THE SACRED LITURGY, ARE IN SOME FASHION DERIVED FROM IT, AND LEAD THE PEOPLE TO IT, SINCE THE LITURGY- THE CHURCH’S OFFICIAL WORSHIP OF GOD- BY IT’S VERY NATURE, FAR SURPASSES ANY OF THEM!
WHAT BECOMES VERY EVIDENT TO ANYONE WHO LOOKS INTO THE MATTER, IS THIS: THE DEVOTION TO THE DIVINE MERCY, ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT, THE FORMS, AND THE PRACTICES SET FORTH IN PART IN THIS BOOKLET, NOT ONLY ENTIRELY CORRESPONDS TO THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED IN THE AFOREMENTIONED COUNCIL DOCUMENT ON THE LITURGY, BUT, BESIDES THAT, IS SOLIDLY ROOTED IN THE VERY STUFF OF THE GOSPEL THAT ACTUATES THE IDEALS, THE STTITUDES, BEHAVIOUR AND PRACTICES FUNDAMENTAL TO GENUINE CHRISTIANITY AND TRUE CHRISTIAN WORSHIP.
THIS DEVOTION, THEREFORE, AS PROPOSED IN BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA KOWALSKA’S WRITINGS (IN WHICH - AS STATED IN A RELEVANT DECREE OF THE SACRED CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS - NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT WOULD NOT PERMIT THE CAUSE FOR HER BEATIFICATION TO PROCEED FURTHER); NOT ONLY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED AS BEING ON THE “OUTER RIM” OF AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN LIFE, BUT IS, IN FACT, A MOST SUITABLE HELP AT IT’S VERY HEART, INSPIRING, NURTURING AND EXCERCISING THAT FAITH, TRUST AND LOVE THAT ARE OF IT’S VERY ESSENCE.
THE FACT, FURTHERMORE, THAT A PROHIBITION OF TWENTY YEARS’ DURATION CONCERNING THIS DEVOTION WAS LIFTED RECENTLY BY THE SACRED CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTINE OF THE FAITH, DEMONSTRATES VERY CLEARLY THAT THE HOLY GHOST CONTINUES TO USE “PRIVATE REVELATIONS” (THROUGH WHICH NEW FORMS OF DEVOTION ARE MOST OFTEN PRESENTED TO THE CHURCH) TO INDICATE TO GOD’S PEOPLE WHAT IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD IS MOST URGENTLY TO BE ATTENDED TO, HERE AND NOW, OUT OF EVERYTHING FOUND IN PUBLIC REVELATION THAT IS TRUE AND GOOD, BUT WHICH CANNOT-IN THE ACTUAL EXERCISE OF OUR FAITH-BE PUT INTO ACTION OR USE AT THE SAME TIME, THE THE SAME DEGREE AND WITH THE SAME INTENSITY. SINCE PUBLIC REVELATION IS PROPOSED FOR THE ‘OBEDIENCE OF FAITH’, ON THE AUTHORITY OF GOD, ONE MUST BELIEVE IT - IF ONE KNOWS ABOUT IT - TO BE PLEASING TO GOD AND TO ASSURE ONE’S ETERNAL SALVATION. PRIVATE REVELATIONS, HOWEVER, ARE TO BE ACCEPTED “WITH AN ASSENT OF HUMAN BELIEF ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF PRUDENCE, WHEN THESE RULES PRESENT THEM AS PROBABLE AND DEVOUTLY BELIEVABLE” (POPE BENEDICT XIV). YET THEY ARE OFFERED AS A SPECIAL GRACE FOR THE GOOD OF PEOPLE IN GENERAL. WE WHOLEHEARTLY AGREE WITH FR. WALTER KEN’S CONCLUSION ON THESE MATTERS WHEN HE STATES THAT WE CAN SAVE OUR SOULS WITHOUT EVERY SPECIAL GRACE FROM GOD; BUT THE FACT THAT GOD OFFERED IT, BECAUSE IT WAS USEFUL, MUST WEIGH HEAVILY IN ONE’S JUDGEMENT OF IT. (SEE UPDATED DEVVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART, PP. 74, 75)
THE FACT, FINALLY, THAT THE SACRED CONGREGATION FOR THE SACRAMENTS AND DIVINE WORSHIP HAS ALREADY APPROVED IN 1980 FOR USE IN POLAND A VOTIVE MASS OF THE MERCY OF GOD, INDICATES THAT THE CHURCH IS BEGINNING TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE MESSAGE OF MERCY PROCLAIMED TO HER BY A FAIRLY LONG LINE OF COURAGEOUSLY DEVOTED MESSENGERS OF GOD (OF WHICH BLESSED SISTER MARY FAUSTINA IS PROBABLY NOT THE LAST). IT ALSO STRENGTHENS THE HOPE OF MILLIONS WHO HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THIS DIVINE MESSAGE TO HEART THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE WE WILL WITNESS THE SOLEMN CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF MERCY ON THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER THAT OUR LORD INDICATED TO THE SECRETARY AND APOSTLE OF HIS MERCY AS HIS GREAT DESIRE; FOR THAT FEAST IS TO BE THE MEANS BY WHICH DIVINE MERCY WILL BE DULY WORSHIPPED AND SINNERS, DEARLY BELOVED BY GOD, WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO GIVE UP THEIR SIN AND ACCEPT HIS WAITING EMBRACE.

SISTER FAUSTINA WAS BORN HELENA KOWALSKA IN THE VILLAGE OF GLOGOWIEC NEAR LODZ, POLAND, THE THIRD OF TEN CHILDREN. AT THE AGE OF TWENTY, SHE ENTERED THE CONGREGATION OF THE SISTERS OF OUR LADY OF MERCY, WHOSE MEMBERS DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO THE REHABILITATION OF WAYWARD WOMEN AND GIRLS AND TO THE CARE OF GIRLS EXPOSED TO SITUATIONS DANGEROUS TO THEIR MORALS.
IN 1934, OBEYING THE WISH OF HER SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR, BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA BEGAN KEEPING A PERSONAL DIARY WHICH SHE ENTITLED “DIVINE MERCY IN MY SOUL”. IT CONTAINS A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF PROFOUND REVELATIONS AND EXTRAORDINARY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. IT DISCLOSES HOW OUR LORD CHOSE TO ENTRUST HER WITH A VERY SPECIAL MISSION, NAMELY, TO ANNOUNCE ANEW TO MANKIND THE GOSPEL MESSAGE OF HIS MERCY, AND TO SET FORTH NEW FORMS OF DEVOTION TO GOD AS MERCY FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST.
IN BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA’S DIARY WE FIND MANY INDICATIONS OF THAT MISSION.
ON JUNE 4TH, 1937, SHE RECORDED: “TODAY IS THE FEAST OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS. DURING HOLY MASS I WAS GIVEN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HEART OF JESUS AND OF THE NATURE OF THE FIRE OF LOVE WITH WHICH HE BURNS FOR US AND HOW HE IS AN OCEAN OF MERCY. THEN I HEARD A VOICE:
“APOSTLE OF MY MERCY, PROCLAIM TO THE WHOLE WORLD MY UNFATHOMABLE MERCY. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED BY THE DIFFICULTIES YOU ENCOUNTER IN PROCLAIMING MY MERCY. THESE DIFFICULTIES THAT AFFECT YOU SO PAINFULLY ARE NEEDED FOR YOUR SANCTIFICATION AND AS EVIDENCE THAT THIS WORK IS MINE! MY, DAUGHTER, BE DILIGENT IN WRITING DOWN EVERY SENTENCE I TELL YOU CONCERNING MY MERCY, BECAUSE THIS IS MEANT FOR A GREAT NUMBER OF SOULS WHO WILL PROFIT FROM IT.”(III, 38)
JESUS IS REPORTED TO HAVE SAID TO HER ON ANOTHER OCCASION, “MY DAUGHTER, SECRETARY OF MY MERCY, NOT ONLY IS IT REQUIRED OF YOU TO WRITE ABOUT AND PROCLAIM MY MERCY, BUT DRAW DOWN FOR THEM BY YOUR EARNEST SUPPLICATIONS THE GRACE THAT THEY TOO MAY GLORIFY MY MERCY.”(III, 44). AT STILL ANOTHER TIME HE ORDERED HER, “WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING THAT COMES TO MIND REGARDING MY GOODNESS.”
BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA REACTED TO THESE WORDS OF THE SAVIOUR EXCLAIMING, ‘HOW SO, LORD; WHAT IF I WRITE TOO MUCH?’ JESUS ASSURED HER, “MY DAUGHTER, WERE YOU TO SPEAK WITH ALL THE TONGUES OF MEN AND ANGELS ALL AT ONCE YOU WOULD STILL NOT SAY TOO MUCH; INDEED, YOU WOULD ONLY BE EXTOLLING MY GOODNESS IN AN EXCEEDINGLY SMALL DEGREE!”. SHE THEN BEGGED,’O MY JESUS, PUT WORDS INTO MY MOUTH YOURSELF SO THAT I MIGHT PRAISE YOU WORTHILY!’”. JESUS ANSWERED: “MY DAUGHTER, BE AT PEACE; DO AS I TELL YOU. YOUR THOUGHTS ARE UNITED TO MY THOUGHTS, SO WRITE WHATEVER COMES TO YOUR MIND. YOU ARE THE SECRETARY OF MY MERCY. I HAVE CHOSEN YOU FOR THAT OFFICE IN THIS AND THE NEXT LIFE. THAT IS HOW I WANT IT TO BE IN SPITE OF ALL THE OPPOSITION THEY WILL GIVE YOU. KNOW THAT MY CHOICE WILL NOT CHANGE!”.(VI,9).
BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA DIED OF MULTIBLE TUBERCULOSIS ON OCTOBER 5TH, 1938, AT THE AGE OF 33, ON THE EVE OF WORLD WAR II, WHOSE COMING SHE HAD FORETOLD AND WHOSE UNIVERSAL SCOPE AND HORRORS SHE HAD INTIMATED TO HER SISTERS IN RELIGION. THROUGH THE MESSAGE OF MERCY FOR WHICH SHE LIVED, SUFFERED AND DIED SHE WAS CHRIST’S PROVIDENT INSTRUMENT OF COMFORT, ENCOURAGEMENT AND HOPE TO MANKIND OVERWHELMED BY THAT GREAT CALAMITY WHICH IT BROUGHT UPON ITSELF.
THE GREAT EFFICACY OF THE SIMPLE DEVOTION TO THE DIVINE MERCY MADE KNOWN BY HER WAS THE REASON FOR IT’S RAPID SPREAD THROUGHOUT HER NATIVE POLAND, FOR IT’S PENETRATION INTO THE HORRENDOUS PRISON CAMPS SCATTERED AROUND THE COUNTRY AND BEYOND IT IN ALL DIRECTIONS, AND FINALLY FOR IT’S DISSEMINATION BY REFUGEES TO ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD.
THOUGH PROHIBITED BY CHURCH AUTHORITIES FOR A WHILE - AGAIN, AS BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA HAD FORETOLD TO HER SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR - THE FORMS OF THE DEVOTION REVEALED TO HER WERE ONCE MORE PERMITTED TO BE SPREAD ON APRIL 15TH 1978. SIX MONTHS LATER THE CHAMPION OF HER CAUSE WAS ELEVATED TO THE CHAIR OF PETER AS POPE JOHN PAUL II; AND AFTER HIS RECOVERY FROM AN ATTEMPTED ASSASINATION, AT THE SHRINE OF MERCIFUL LOVE ON THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING, 1981, HE WAS ABLE PUBLICLY TO DECLARE:
“A YEAR AGO I PUBLISHED THE ENCYCLICAL ‘DIVES IN MISERICORDIA’. THIS CIRCUMSTANCE MADE ME COME TO THE SANCTUARY OF MERCIFUL LOVE TODAY. BY MY PRESENCE I WISH TO RECONFIRM, IN A WAY, THE MESSAGE OF THAT ENCYCLICAL. I WISH TO READ IT AGAIN AND DELIVER IT AGAIN.
RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY MINISTRY IN ST PETER’S SEE IN ROME, I CONSIDERED THIS MESSAGE MY SPECIAL TASK. PROVIDENCE HAS ASSIGNED IT TO ME IN THE PRESENT SITUATION OF MAN, THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD. IT COULD ALSO BE SAID THAT PRECISELY THIS SITUATION ASSIGNED THAT MESSAGE TO ME AS MY TASK BEFORE GOD.....”
IN THAT PROPHETIC PASSAGE WRITTEN TO HER CONFESSOR ON THE APPARENT DESTRUCTION AND THE RETURN IN SPLENDOR OF THE WORK OF MERCY THE SECRETARY OF THE DIVINE MERCY WROTE:
“.....GOD DOES NOT CHANGE THAT WHICH HE HAS ONCE DECIDED UPON.”
HOW TRULY INSCRUTABLE ARE GOD’S WAYS!

THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST FUNDAMENTAL INGREDIENT OF THIS DEVOTION THAT MUST BE THE BASIS FOR ALL THE DEVOTION’S ELEMENTS, IS COMPLETE CONFIDENCE, OR TRUST IN JESUS. THE LORD INSISTS ON THIS IN VERY CLEAR TERMS, AS BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA NOTED IN HER DIARY:
“NO SOUL WILL BE JUSTIFIED UNLESS IT TURNS WITH CONFIDENCE TO MY MERCY!(II, 39, 40). [LET] THE GREATEST SINNERS PLACE THEIR TRUST IN MY MERCY. THEY HAVE THE RIGHT BEFORE OTHERS TO CONFIDENCE IN THE ABYSS OF MY MERCY (III, 39). GRACES ARE DRAWN FROM [THE FOUNT OF] MY MERCY WITH ONE VESSEL ONLY, AND THAT IS - TRUST! THE MORE A SOUL TRUSTS, THE MORE IT WILL RECEIVE (V, 148). I MAKE MYSELF DEPENDANT UPON YOUR TRUST; IF YOUR TRUST WILL BE GREAT, THEN MY GENEROSITY WILL KNOW NO LIMITS (II, 19) SINS OF DISTRUST WOUND ME MOST PAINFULLY. “(III. 21.)
ALL THE FORMS OF DEVOTION TO THE DIVINE MERCY REVEALED TO BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA, THEN, WHETHER IT BE THE VENERATION OF THE IMAGE OF DIVINE MERCY, OR THE RECITATION OF THE CHAPLET, OR RECEIVING THE SACRAMENTS ON THE FEAST OF MERCY, ARE OF VALUE ONLY TO THE DEGREE THAT THEY ARE EXPRESSIONS OF TRUST IN JESUS - THE DIVINE MERCY INCARNATE!

THE DEVOTION REVEALED TO BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA, DIFFERS FROM ALL OTHERS ALSO BY THIS, THAT IT INCLUDES THE NEED OF PRACTICING MERCY TOWARDS ONE’S NEIGHBOURS DAILY: “......BY DEED, WORD, OR PRAYER (II, 162) AS A SECOND FOUNDATION STONE.......IF A SOUL DOES NOT EXCERCISE MERCY IN SOME WAY OR OTHER IT WILL NOT OBTAIN MY MERCY ON JUDGEMENT DAY. OH, IF ONLY SOULS KNEW HOW TO GATHER ETERNAL TREASURE FOR THEMSELVES THEY WOULD NOT BE JUDGED, [FOR THEY WOULD] FORESTALL MY JUDGEMENT WITH [THEIR] MERCY!” (IV, 57)
ONE OF THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH OUR LORD ORDERED BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA TO PAINT A SPECIAL IMAGE OF HIMSELF AS THE DIVINE MERCY IS.......”TO BE A REMINDER OF THE DEMANDS OF MY MERCY, BECAUSE EVEN THE STRONGEST FAITH IS OF NO AVAIL WITHOUT WORKS [OF MERCY]!”. (II, 163)
THANKS TO THE ROLE WHICH TRUST IN JESUS AND MERCY TOWARD NEIGHBOUR PLAY AS CONSTITUTING THE VERY SOUL OF THIS DEVOTION, THE LATTER INSERTS ITSELF INTO THE LONG TRADITION OF GENUINE CHRISTIAN PIETY AND IS A CONTINUATION OF IT!.
THE FIRST IMAGE OF THE DIVINE MERCY NOT AT ALL PLEASED BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA AND SHE COMPLAINED WITH TEARS TO OUR BLESSED LORD:’WHO WILL PAINT YOU AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU ARE?’ IN ANSWER SHE HEARD THESE WORDS: “NOT IN THE BEAUTY OF THE COLOUR NOR OF THE BRUSH LIES THE SUBLIMITY OF THIS IMAGE, BUT IN MY GRACE!”.
THE VERY FIRST IMAGE PAINTED UNDER BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA’S PERSONAL DIRECTION IS BELIEVED TO BE KEPT NOW IN A LITTLE CHURCH IN RUSSIA.

BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA’S MISSION HAD ALREADY BEGUN IN 1931 WHEN OUR LORD APPEARED TO HER IN A VISION. SHE SAW JESUS CLOTHED IN A WHITE GARMENT. HIS RIGHT HAND WAS RAISED IN BLESSING WHILE THE LEFT WAS TOUCHING HIS GARMENT AT THE BREAST, WHERE TWO LARGE RAYS CAME FORTH, ONE RED, THE OTHER PALE. SISTER GAZED INTENTLY AT THE LORD IN SILENCE, HER SOUL FILLED WITH FEAR, BUT ALSO WITH GREAT JOY. JESUS SAID TO HER: “PAINT AN IMAGE ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN YOU SEE WITH THE INSCRIPTION: JESUS I TRUST IN YOU.........I PROMISE THAT THE SOUL THAT WILL VENERATE THIS IMAGE WILL NOT PERISH. I ALSO PROMISE VICTORY OVER [IT’S] ENEMIES ALREADY HERE ON EARTH, ESPECIALLY AT THE HOUR OF DEATH. I MYSELF WILL DEFEND IT AS MY OWN GLORY!.....I AM OFFERING PEOPLE A VESSEL WITH WHICH THEY ARE TO KEEP COMING FOR GRACES TO THE FOUNTAIN OF MERCY! THAT VESSEL IS THIS IMAGE WITH THE INSCRIPTION: JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU!.......I DESIRE THAT THIS IMAGE BE VENERATED FIRST IN YOUR CHAPEL AND [THEN] THROUGHOUT THE WORLD!” (I. 18. 138)
AT THE RQUEST OF HER SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR, BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA ASKED OUR LORD ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE RAYS ON THE IMAGE. SHE HEARD THESE WORDS IN REPLY:”THE TWO RAYS DENOTE BLOOD AND WATER - THE PALE RAY STANDS FOR THE WATER WHICH MAKES SOULS RIGHTEOUS; THE RED RAY STANDS FOR THE BLOOD WHICH IS THE LIFE OF SOULS. THESE TWO RAYS ISSUED FORTH FROM THE DEPTHS OF MY MOST TENDER MERCY WHEN MY AGONIZED HEART WAS OPENED BY A LANCE ON THE CROSS......HAPPY IS THE ONE WHO WILL DWELL IN THEIR SHELTER, FOR THE JUST HAND OF GOD SHALL NOT LAY HOLD OF HIM!” (I, 130)
AT ANOTHER TIME JESUS DECLARED: “BY MEANS OF THIS IMAGE I SHALL GRANT MANY GRACES TO SOULS; IT IS TO BE A REMINDER OF THE DEMANDS OF MY MERCY, BECAUSE EVEN THE STRONGEST FAITH IS OF NO AVAIL WITHOUT WORKS!”.(II, 162, 163).

BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA’S DIARY CONTAINS AT LEAST FOURTEEN PASSAGES IN WHICH OUR LORD IS QUOTED AS REQUESTING THAT A “FEAST OF MERCY” BE OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHED IN THE CHURCH. HE DECLARED: “THIS FEAST EMERGED FROM MY MOST TENDER PITY AND IT IS CONFIRMED IN THE DEPTHS OF MY MERCY......I DESIRE THAT IT BE CELEBRATED WITH GREAT SOLEMNITY ON THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER........I DESIRE THAT THE FEAST OF MERCY BE A REFUGE AND SHELTER FOR ALL SOULS, AND ESPECIALLY FOR POOR SINNERS. THE VERY DEPTHS OF MY TENDER MERCY ARE OPEN ON THAT DAY. I POUR OUT A WHOLE OCEAN OF GRACES UPON SOULS WHO WILL APPROACH THE FOUNT OF MY MERCY!” (I, 175; II, 138).
IN EXPLANATION JESUS STATED FURTHER:”THE SOUL THAT WILL GO TO CONFESSION, AND RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION SHALL OBTAIN COMPLETE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND PUNISHMENT..........LET NO SOUL FEAR TO DRAW NEAR TO ME, EVEN THOUGH IT’S SINS BE AS SCARLET!”. (II, 138).
EVERY WORTHY COMMUNION MAY EFFECT IN THE RECIPIENT THE RESTORATION OF BAPTISMAL INNOCENCE, SINCE THE EUCHARISTIC MYSTERY IS “THE SOURCE OF ALL GRACES.”(CATECHISM OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT) OUR LORD TOLD BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA THAT ON THE “FEAT OF MERCY”......”ARE OPENED ALL THE DIVINE FLOODGATES THROUGH WHICH GRACES FLOW!” (II, 138). THESE PROMISES ARE A STRONG INCENTIVE FOR US TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE ANNUAL EASTER EUCHARIST AND THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY, MERCY SUNDAY.(LOW SUNDAY) THEY ARE LIKEWISE AN INVITATION TO EXPRESS CORDIAL TENDERNESS AND SENSITIVITY BY GREATER AND MORE EAGER REACHING OUT TO ONE ANOTHER THROUGH DEEDS AND WORDS OF MERCY WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AND CERTAINLY THROUGH STEADFAST INTERCESSION.. THIS MERCIFUL BEHAVIOUR OF WHICH CHRIST GIVES US THE SUPREME EXAMPLE IS HIS PASCHAL MYSTERY FORMS PART OF THE VERY ESSENCE OF THE MESSIANIC MESSAGE, AND CONSTITUTES THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL’S DISTINCTIVE SPIRIT THAT IS THE SIGN OF ALL WHO ARE TRULY INCORPORATED INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST!
BY ACTING UPON THESE PROMISES WE TRULY “CELEBRATE THE FEAST” AND GIVE DUE HONOUR AND ADORATION TO THE DIVINE MERCY.(SEEII, 162).

ON THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER (LOW SUNDAY OR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER) OUR BLESSED LORD PRESCRIBES:
1. THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION ON THAT SUNDAY. (I, 130; II, 138);
2. THE AVAILING ONESELF OF THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION(SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION, ABSOLUTION) IN CONNECTION WITH THAT HOLY COMMUNION SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE OR AFTER THAT SUNDAY, OR ON THE DAY ITSELF.(ACCORDING TO THE CHURCH’S PRESENT PRACTICE IN THE MATTER OF GAINING A PLENARY INDULGENCE[REMISSION OF ALL TEMPORAL PUNISHMENT] ).
AND OUR BLESSED LORD RECOMMENDS:
1. ON MY FEAST - ON THE FEAST OF MERCY.......RUN THROUGH THE WHOLE WORLD AND LEAD SOULS THAT FAINTED AWAY TO THE SOURCE OF MY MERCY. I WILL HEAL AND STRENGTHEN THEM (I, 99);
2. I DESIRE THAT ADORATION [A PERIOD OF PRAYER BEFORE THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT] TAKE PLACE HERE [IN THE CHAPEL. THEREFORE IN ANY CHURCH WHERE THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT IS RESERVED] FOR THE INTENTION OF IMPLORING MERCY FOR THE WORLD. (III, 19).

JESUS REQUESTED THAT BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA PREPARE HERSELF FOR THE FEAST OF MERCY BY MAKING A NOVENA WHICH WAS TO BEGIN ON GOOD FRIDAY, SAYING:” I DESIRE THAT DURING THESE NINE DAYS YOU BRING SOULS TO THE FOUNT OF MY MERCY, THAT THEY MAY DRAW THEREFROM STRENGTH AND REFRESHMENT AND WHATEVER GRACE THEY NEED IN THE HARDSHIPS OF LIFE, AND ESPECIALLY AT THE HOUR OF DEATH. ON EACH DAY YOU WILL BRING TO MY HEART A DIFFERENT GROUP OF SOULS AND YOU WILL EMMERSE THEM IN THE OCEAN OF MY MERCY, AND I WILL BRING ALL THESE SOULS INTO THE HOUSE OF MY FATHER. YOU WILL DO THIS IN THIS LIFE AND IN THE NEXT. I WILL DENY NOTHING TO ANY SOUL WHOM YOU WILL BRING TO THE FOUNT OF MY MERCY. ON EACH DAY YOU WILL BEG MY FATHER ON THE STRENGTH OF MY BITTER PASSION FOR GRACES FOR THESE SOULS. (III, 57).

BEGINNING WITH GOOD FRIDAY AS A PREPARATION FOR THE FEAST OF MERCY ACCORDING TO OUR LORD’S EXPRESS WISH, IT IS GREATLY RECOMMENDED TO GIVE HONOUR TO THE DIVINE MERCY, IN ANSWER TO JESUS’ CLAIM AND APPEAL, BY OFFERING THE NOVENA FOR BOTH HIS GENERAL AND PARTICULAR DAILY INTENTIONS.
THE GENERAL INTENTIONS ARE:
1. THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE WORLD; AND
2. THAT THE DIVINE MERCY BECOME KNOWN SO THAT EVERYONE WILL EXTOL CHRIST’S GOODNESS.
THE PARTICULAR INTENTIONS, WHICH CLOSELY FOLLOW ON THE PATTERN OF THE SOLEMN INTERCESSIONS OF THE GOOD FRIDAY LITURGY, ARE INDICATED WITH THE MODEL OF BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA’S PRAYERS FOR EACH DAY OF THE NOVENA(SEE BELOW).
THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT ONE IS OBLIGED TO USE THE PRAYERS WHICH BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA COMPOSED. EVERYONE IS FREE TO FOLLOW - IN ONE’S OWN WORDS, AS ONE’S OWN HEART LEADS - OUR BLESSED LORD’S SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE NOVENA AS A PREPARATION FOR THE FEAST OF MERCY:
1. ON EACH DAY YOU WILL BRING TO MY HEART A DIFFERENT GROUP OF SOULS:
2. YOU WILL IMMERSE THEM IN THIS OCEAN OF MY MERCY;
3. ON EACH DAY YOU WILL BEG MY FATHER, ON THE STRENGTH OF MY BITTER PASSION, FOR GRACES FOR THESE SOULS.

ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1935, SISTER WROTE:’I SAW AN ANGEL WHO WAS THE EXECUTOR OF GOD’S WRATH.......’ HER OWN PRAYERS WERE WITHOUT POWER TO HOLD BACK A TERRIBLE PUNISHMENT, UNTIL THE HOLY TRINITY WAS SUDDENLY MANIFESTED TO HER. ‘I BEGAN TO PRAY EARNESTLY TO GOD FOR THE WHOLE WORLD WITH WORDS HEARD INTERNALLY’:

“ETERNAL FATHER, I OFFER 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........FOR THE SAKE OF HIS SORROWFUL PASSION HAVE MERCY ON US AND ON THE WHOLE WORLD.” (I, 196-197).
AS THE BLESSED SISTER KEPT REPEATING THE INSPIRED PRAYER THE ANGEL BECAME POWERLESS TO CARRY OUT THE ORDAINED PUNISHMENT.
THE NEXT DAY, AS SHE WAS ENTERING THE CHAPEL, BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE VOICE WITHIN HER REGARDING THE MANNER IN WHICH SHE WAS TO RECITE THE PRAYER SHE HEARD. THE MANNER OF RECITING THE CHAPLET OF MERCY IS INDICATED BELOW.
SHE ALSO RECEIVED THESE REVELATIONS CONCERNING THE PRAYER SHE WAS TOLD TO RECITE ON ORDINARY ROSARY BEADS:”UNCEASINGLY RECITE THIS CHAPLET THAT I HAVE TAUGHT YOU. WHOEVER WILL RECITE IT WILL RECEIVE GREAT MERCY AT THE HOUR OF DEATH.....PRIESTS WILL RECOMMEND IT TO SINNERS AS A LAST HOPE OF SALVATION. EVEN THE MOST HARDENED SINNER, IF HE RECITES THIS CHAPLET EVEN ONCE, WILL RECEIVE GRACE FROM MY INFINITE MERCY(II, 129).....O, WHAT GREAT GRACES I WILL GRANT TO SOULS WHO WILL RECITE THIS CHAPLET (II, 229)......BY MEANS OF IT YOU CAN ASK AND OBTAIN ANYTHING, IF WHAT YOU ASK FOR WILL BE COMPATIBLE WITH MY WILL (VI, 93).....I WANT THE WHOLE WORLD TO KNOW MY INFINITE MERCY. I WANT TO GIVE UNIMAGINABLE GRACES TO THOSE WHO TRUST IN MY MERCY.” (II, 129)

THE HOUR OF GREAT MERCY
(THREE O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON) BY A VISION BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA RECEIVED, SHE CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOD BLESSED THE EARTH FOR THE SAKE OF JESUS. SHE WROTE: ‘I SAW A GREAT LIGHT WITH GOD THE FATHER IN THE MIDST OF IT. BETWEEN THIS LIGHT AND THE EARTH I SAW JESUS NAILED TO THE CROSS AND IN SUCH A WAY THAT GOD, WANTING TO LOOK AT THE EARTH, HAD TO LOOK THROUGH OUR LORD’S WOUNDS’.(I, 24).
A DEVOTION MOST DEAR TO OUR BLESSED LORD IS THE VENERATION OF HIS PASSION AT THE VERY HOUR THAT RECALLS HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS. THROUGH THE PASSION AND DEATH OF OUR LORD JESUS, THE VERY KINGDOM OF GOD HAS BEEN OPENED TO US! WHAT LOVE SHOULD FILL OUR HEARTS, AND HOW WILLINGLY WE SHOULD RESPOND TO THE REQUEST OF OUR LORD WHO SAID TO BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA: ”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.....IN THIS HOUR I WILL REFUSE NOTHING TO THE SOUL THAT MAKES A REQUEST OF ME IN VIRTUE OF MY PASSION.” (IV, 59)
LATER, JESUS SAID TO HER: “I REMIND YOU, MY DAUGHTER, THAT AS OFTEN AS YOU HEAR THE CLOCK STRIKE THE THIRD HOUR, IMMERSE YOURSELF COMPLETELY IN MY MERCY, ADORING AND GLORIFYING IT; INVOKE IT’S OMNIPOTENCE FOR THE WHOLE WORLD, AND PARTICULARLY FOR POOR SINNERS; FOR AT THAT MOMENT MERCY WAS OPENED WIDE FOR EVERY SOUL! 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! MY DAUGHTER, TRY YOUR BEST TO MAKE THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS IN THIS HOUR, PROVIDED THAT YOUR DUTIES PERMIT IT; AND IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS, THEN AT LEAST STEP INTO THE CHAPEL FOR A MOMENT AND ADORE, IN THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT, MY HEART, WHICH IS FULL OF MERCY; AND SHOULD YOU BE UNABLE TO STEP INTO CHAPEL, IMMERSE YOURSELF IN PRAYER THERE, WHERE YOU HAPPEN TO BE, IF ONLY FOR A BRIEF INSTANT........” (V, 144-145).

ACCORDING TO THE EVIDENCE IN BLESSED SISITER FAUSTINA’SDIARY, OUR LORD CONSIDERS SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION TO BE ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL MEANS OF GIVING DUE HONOUR TO HIS DIVINE MERCY - HONOUR THAT HE CLAIMS AS HIS DUE FROM ALL HIS CREATURES.
THE FRUIT OF CHRIST’S DEATH ON OUR BEHALF IS NOWHERE MORE IN EVIDENCE THAN IN THE RESURRECTION AND LIFE IMPARTED TO SOULS IN THE SACRAMENTS OF BAPTISM, RECONCILIATION AND EUCHARIST. WHEN WE PROFIT FROM THESE WE DO NOT ALLOW JESUS’ UNSPEAKABLE SUFFERINGS OUT OF LOVE FOR US TO BE WASTED OR MADE USELESS, BUT GIVE GOD GREAT GLORY BY NOT REFUSING HIS GIFTS.
JESUS URGED BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA TO: “WRITE, SPEAK OF MY MERCY, TELL SOULS WHERE THEY ARE TO LOOK FOR SOLACE, THAT IS, IN THE TRIBUNAL OF MERCY. THERE THE GREATEST MIRACLES TAKE PLACE [AND] ARE INCESSANTLY REPEATED........ IT SUFFICES TO COME WITH FAITH TO THE FEET OF MY REPRESENTATIVE AND TO REVEAL TO HIM ONE’S MISERY, AND THE MIRACLE OF DIVINE MERCY WILL BE FULLY DEMONSTRATED. WERE A SOUL LIKE A DECAYING CORPSE SO THAT, FROM A HUMAN STANDPOINT, THERE WOULD BE NO [HOPEOF] RESTORATION AND EVERYTHING WOULD ALREADY BE LOST, IT IS NOT SO WITH GOD. THE MIRACLE OF DIVINE MERCY RESTORES THAT SOUL IN FULL! (V. 60)
WHEN YOU GO TO CONFESSION, KNOW THIS, THAT I MYSELF AM WAITING FOR YOU IN THE CONFESSIONAL! I AM ONLY ‘HIDDEN’ BY THE PRIEST, BUT I MYSELF ACT IN THE 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!”. (VI, 6-7).
THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION IS ONE OF THE CONDITIONS FOR OBTAINING THE GREAT PROMISE OF COMPLETE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND PUNISHMENT DUE TO SIN THROUGH THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION ON THE FEAST OF MERCY. IT IS NO WONDER THAT JESUS CALLS BOTH SACRAMENTAL CONFESSION AND EUCHARISTIC COMMUNION THE FOUNT OF MERCY! IT IS LIKEWISE SIGNIFICANT THAT THE INSTITUTION OF THIS SACRAMENT IS PROCLAIMED IN THE GOSPEL PASSAGE “......HE BREATHED ON THEM. “RECEIVE YE THE HOLY GHOST: WHOSE SINS YOU SHALL FORGIVE, THEY ARE FORGIVEN THEM.....” PRESCRIBED FOR LOW SUNDAY OR THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER - THE DAY OUR LORD DESIRES TO BE KNOWN AS THE FEAST OF MERCY AND BE CELEBRATED WITH GREAT SOLEMNITY!

JESUS PROMISED THAT: “SOULS WHO SPREAD THE HONOUR OF MY MERCY I SHEILD THROUGH THEIR ENTIRE LIFE AS A TENDER MOTHER HER INFANT, AND AT THE HOUR OF DEATH I WILL NOT BE A JUDGE FOR THEM, BUT THE MERCIFUL SAVIOUR! (III, 20-21). TELL MY PPRIESTS THAT HARDENED SINNERS WILL CRUMBLE BENEATH THEIR WORDS WHEN THEY WILL SPEAK ABOUT MY UNFATHOMABLE MERCY, ABOUT THE COMPASSION I HAVE FOR THEM IN MY HEART! TO PRIESTS WHO WILL PROCLAIM AND EXTOL MY MERCY I WILL GIVE WONDERFUL POWER, AND I WILL ANNOINT THEIR WORDS AND I WILL TOUCH THE HEARTS TO WHICH THEY WILL SPEAK!” (V, 115).
ALTHOUGH THIS INVITATION IS TO ALL OF US, JESUS IS ESPECIALLY ASKING ASKING PRIESTS TO SPEAK OF HIS MERCY IN PREPARATION FOR THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION AND ON THE DAY OF THE FEAST OF MERCY ITSELF!

‘O JESUS, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR MERCY IS BEYOND ALL IMAGINING. I ASK YOU, THEREFORE, TO MAKE MY HEART SO BIG THAT THERE WILL BE ROOM IN IT FOR THE NEEDS OF ALL THE SOULS LIVING ON THIS WHOLE EARTHLY GLOBE!
O JESUS, MY LOVE REACHES BEYOND THE WORLD TO THE SOULS SUFFERING IN PURGATORY, AND I WANT TO EXCERCISE MERCY TOWARDS THEM BY MEANS OF INDULGENCED PRAYERS!
GOD’S MERCY IS UNFATHOMABLE AND INEXHAUSTABLE, JUST AS GOD HIMSELF IS UNFATHOMABLE! WERE I TO USE THE STRONGEST WORDS FOR EXPRESSING THIS MERCY OF GOD, THEY ARE NOTHING IN COMPARISON WITH WHAT IT IS IN REALITY.
O JESUS, MAKE MY HEART SENSITIVE TO ALL THE SUFFERINGS OF MY NEIGHBOUR WHETHER THEY BE OF BODY OR OF SOUL. O MY JESUS, I KNOW THAT YOU ACT TOWARD US AS WE ACT TOWARD OUR NEIGHBOUR!
MY JESUS, MAKE MY HEART LIKE UNTO YOUR MERCIFUL HEART! JESUS, HELP ME TO GO THROUGH LIFE DOING GOOD TO EVERYONE!’ (DIARY II, 132)

INTRODUCTION.IN THE ENCYCLICAL RICH IN MERCY H.H. JOHN PAUL II INVITES THE CHURCH TO PRAY TO THE DIVINE MERCY:
EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE SAID IN THE PRESENT DOCUMENT ON MERCY SHOULD THEREFORE BE CONTINUALLY TRANSFORMED INTO AN ARDENT PRAYER: INTO A CRY THAT IMPLORES MERCY ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF MAN IN THE MODERN WORLD. MAY THIS CRY BE FULL OF THAT TRUTH ABOUT MERCY WHICH HAS FOUND SUCH RICH EXPRESSION IN SACRED SCRIPTURE AND IN TRADITION, AS ALSO IN THE AUTHENTIC LIFE OF FAITH OF COUNTLESS GENERATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD! (PART VIII, N. 15, PAR. 3).
NO DOUBT AMONG THE COUNTLESS THE “COUNTLESS GENERATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD” THE HOLY FATHER ALSO HAD IN MIND THE BLESSED SISIETR FAUSTINA! HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PARTICULAR DIRECTION OF HER SPIRITUALITY, FOR IT EAS HE, AS, AS THE ORDINARY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE WHERE SHE DIED IN THE ODOR OF SANCTITY, WHO WAS FOREMOSTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VINDICATION OF HER PERSON AND HER WRITINGS WHICH PAVED THE WAY TO OFFICIAL STEPS IN THE CHURCH TOWARD HER BEATIFICATION!
INDEED, THE PRAYERS TAKEN FROM HER DIARY AND FOUND IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE “FULL OF THAT TRUTH ABOUT MERCY” OF WHICH THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD NEED ESPECIALLY TO BE REMINDED TODAY!
LET US JOIN BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA IN THESE ELEVATIONS OF HER SOUL TO THE “GOD OF ALL MERCY AND CONSOLATION!” AND IMITATE HER IN THE PRACTICE OF THAT SUPREME ATTRIBUTE OF GOD ON WHICH JESUS URGES US TO MODEL OURSELVES (LK 6, 36), MINDFUL ALSO OF THE TEACHING IN THE EPISTLE TO THJE HEBREWS (13, 15-16):”THROUGH JESUS, THEREFORE, LET US CONTINUALLY OFFER TO GOD A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE - THE FRUIT OF LIPS THAT ACKNOWLEGE HIS NAME. AND DO NOT FORGET TO DO GOOD AND TO SHARE WITH OTHERS, FOR WITH SUCH SACRIFICES GOD IS PLEASED!”.
JESUS SAID TO BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA:”I MAKE MYSELF DEPENDANT UPON YOUR TRUST; IF YOUR TRUST WILL BE GREAT, MY GENEROSITY WILL KNOW NO LIMITS” (II, 19). THE GOSPEL ASSURES US OF THAT ALREADY: “I TELL YOU THIS; IF YOU TRUST AND DO NOT DOUBT......WHAT YOU SAY WILL BE DONE. AND WHATEVER YOU PRAY FOR IN FAITH YOU WILL RECEIVE!”.(MATHEW 21.21, 22). JOHN THE APOSTLE, TOO, WHO SEES IN MERCY THE VERY NATURE OF GOD IN RELATION TO HUMANKIND, DEDUCES FROM IT A CONFIDENT ASSURANCE: “...........IF WE MAKE A REQUESTS [OF GOD] WHICH ACCORD WITH HIS WILL HE LISTENS TO US; AND IF WE KNOW THAT OUR REQUESTS ARE HEARD, WE KNOW ALSO THAT THE THINGS WE ASK FOR ARE OURS!”. (I JOHN 5:14, 15).
WHEN WE DARE PRAY, WE DISCOVER THAT ALL IS GRACE-FREE GIFT, BECAUSE IN JESUS EVERYTHING IS MERCY! BUT THEN WE CANNOT DENY TO THOSE AROUND US THAT GENEROSITY THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED FOR OURSELVES!.

OUR LORD SAID TO BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA:
“YOU WILL RECITE THIS CHAPLET ON THE BEADS OF THE ROSARY IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER: FIRST OF ALL YOU WILL SAY ONE “OUR FATHER”. ONE “HAIL MARY”. AND THE "I BELIEVE IN GOD"

THE "OUR FATHER"
“OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME; THY KINGDOM COME; THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US THIS DAY, OUR DAILY BREAD; AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US; AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. AMEN”.

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 GHOST, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY, SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED AND WAS BURIED. HE DESCENDED INTO HELL, THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD, HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, WHERE HE IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER, FROM THENCE HE SHALL COME TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST. THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH. THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS. THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY AND LIFE EVERLASTING!AMEN”.

“HOLY MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL, DEFEND US IN THE DAY OF BATTLE! BE OUR SAFEGUARD AGAINST THE WICKEDNESS AND SNARES OF THE devil . MAY GOD REBUKE him WE HUMBLY PRAY AND DO THOU PRINCE OF THE HEAVENLY HOST BY THE POWER OF GOD THRUST DOWN INTO HELL, satan AND ALL evil spirits WHO WANDER THROUGH THE WORLD SEEKING THE RUIN OF SOULS AMEN!”.

“ETERNAL FATHER, I OFFER THEE THE BODY AND BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY OF THY DEARLY BELOVED SON, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, IN ATONEMENT FOR OUR SINS AND THOSE OF THE WHOLE WORLD”

“FOR THE SAKE OF HIS SORROWFUL PASSION, HAVE MERCY ON US AND ON THE WHOLE WORLD!”.

“HOLY GOD, HOLY ALMIGHTY ONE, HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US AND ON THE WHOLE WORLD!”.

BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA WROTE IN HER DIARY:”THE LORD TOLD ME TO RECITE THIS CHAPLET FOR THE NINE DAYS BEFORE THE FEAST OF MERCY. IT IS TO BEGIN ON GOOD FRIDAY.” THEN HE TOLD ME:”BY THIS NOVENA I WILL GRANT EVERY POSSIBLE GRACE TO SOULS!”. (II, 197).
FROM THIS AND OTHER PASSAGES IN THE DIARY IT APPEARS THAT THE LORD WANTS US TO MAKE NOVENAS OF THE CHAPLET FOR WHATEVER NEED!
FOR MOST PEOPLE DEVOTED TO THE DIVINE MERCY THE NOVENA PRAYERS FOUND BELOW HAVE TAKEN PRECEDENCE OVER THE NOVENA OF CHAPLETS TO WHICH OUR LORD ATTACHED SUCH A SWEEPING PROMISE FOR ANYONE WHO PRAYS IT!
PERHAPS THEY DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY REALIZE THE FACT THAT THE PROMISE, ATTACHED TO THE NOVENA FOR WHICH OUR LORD DICTATED THE INTENTIONS, APPLIED TO SISTER FAUSTINA ALONE.
ANYONE MAKING A NOVENA TO THE DIVINE MERCY, THEREFORE, SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER INCLUDING THE CHAPLET OF MERCY AS PART OF IT!

“A NOVENA TO THE DIVINE MERCY WHICH JESUS INSTRUCTED ME TO WRITE DOWN AND TO MAKE BEFORE THE FEAST OF MERCY. IT BEGINS ON GOOD FRIDAY.”
OUR LORD’S WORDS RECORDED BY SISTER FAUSTINA: “I DESIRE THAT DURING THESE NINE DAYS YOU BRING SOULS TO THE FOUNT OF MY MERCY, THAT THEY MAY DRAW THEREFROM STRENGTH AND REFRESHMENT AND WHATEVER GRACES THEY HAVE NEED OF IN THE HARDSHIPS OF LIFE, AND ESPECIALLY AT THE HOUR OF DEATH.
ON EACH DAY YOUWILL BRING TO MY HEART A DIFFERENT GROUP OF SOULS AND YOU WILL IMMERSE THEM IN THIS OCEAN OF MY MERCY, AND I WILL BRING ALL THESE SOULS INTO THE HOUSE OF MY FATHER......
ON EACH DAY YOU WILL BEG MY FATHER, ON THE STRENGTH OF MY BITTER PASSION, FOR GRACES FOR THESE SOULS”.

BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA CONTINUES: “I ANSWERED, ‘JESUS, I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO MAKE THIS NOVENA AND WHICH SOULS TO BRING FIRST INTO YOUR MOST COMPASSIONATE HEART.’ JESUS REPLIED THAT HE WOULD TELL ME WHICH SOULS TO BRING EACH DAY INTO HIS HEART.” (DIARY, III, PP. 57-65)

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 GHOST.
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 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
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 ANDSURROUND 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 HOST 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 ME 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 INTHE 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 AS YET DO NOT BELIEVE IN YOU OR 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 YOUR SON, 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 SEPERATED BRETHEREN
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 OUR SEPERATED BRETHEREN. 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 THAY THEY T, TOO, COME TO GLORIFY THE GENEROSITY OF YOUR MERCY!
ETERNAL FATHER, TURN YOUR MERCIFUL GAZE UPON THE SOULS OF OUR SEPERATED BRETHEREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE 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
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 PERMAMNENT 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 HEART, OVERFLOWING WITH JOY, SINGS 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
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. O, 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 LOVING 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, TURN YOUR MERCIFUL GAZE UPON THE SOULS SUFFERING IN PUGATORY, 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 FIRMY 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 GARDEN OF OLIVES BECAUSE OF LUKEWARM SOULS. THEY WERE THE REASON I CRIED OUT:”FATHER TAKE THIS CHALICE 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 COPASSIONATE JESUS, EXCERCISE THE OMNIPOTENCE OF YOUR MERCY AND DRAW THEM INTO THE VERY ARDOR OF YOUR LOVE, AND BESTOW UPON THEM THE GIFT OF DIVINE 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 OF 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.’

“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!” (IV. 59)

“O BLOOD AND WATER, WHICH GUSHED FORTH FROM THE HEART OF JESUS AS A FOUNT OF MERCIFUL LOVE FOR US, I TRUST IN YOU.”(I, 35).

DIVINE MERCY, GUSHING FORTH FROM THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, GREATEST ATTRIBUTE OF GOD, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, INCOMPREHENSIBLE MYSTERY, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, FOUNT GUSHING FORTH FROM THE MYSTERY OF THE MOST BLESSED TRINITY, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY UNFATHOMED BY ANY INTELLECT, HUMAN OR ANGELIC, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY FROM WHICH WELLS FORTH ALL LIFE AND HAPPINESS, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, BETTER THAN THE HEAVENS, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, SOURCE OF MIRACLES AND WONDERS, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, ENCOMPASSING THE WHOLE UNIVERSE, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, DESCENDING TO EARTH IN THE PERSON OF THE INCARNATE WORD, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, WHICH FLOWED OUT FROM THE OPEN WOUND OF THE HEART OF JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, ENCLOSED IN THE HEART OF JESUS FOR US, AND ESPECIALLY FOR SINNERS, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, UNFATHOMED IN THE INSTITUTION OF THE SACRED HOST, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, IN THE FOUNDING OF HOLY CHURCH, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, IN THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, IN OUR JUSTIFICATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, ACCOMPANYING US THROUGH OUTR WHOLE LIFE, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, EMBRACING US ESPECIALLY AT THE HOUR OF DEATH, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, ENDOWING US WITH IMMORTAL LIFE, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, ACCOMPANYING US EVERY MOMENT OF OUR LIFE, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, SHEILDING US FROM THE FIRE OF HELL, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, IN THE CONVERSION OF HARDENED SINNERS, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, ASTONISHMENT FOR ANGELS, INCOMPREHENISBLE TO SAINTS, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, UNFATHOMED IN ALL THE MYSTERIES OF GOD, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, SOURCE OF OUR HAPPINESS AND JOY, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, IN CALLING US FORTH FROM NOTHINGNESS TO EXISTENCE, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, EMBRACING ALL THE WORKS OF HIS HANDS, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, CROWN OF ALL GOD’S HANDIWORK, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, IN WHICH WE ARE ALL IMMERSED, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY,SWEET RELIEF FOR ANGUSHED HEARTS, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, ONLY HOPE OF DESPAIRING SOULS, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, REPOSE OF HESRTS, PEACE AMIDST FEAR, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, DELIGHT AND ECSTASY OF HOLY SOULS, I TRUST IN YOU.
DIVINE MERCY, INSPIRING HOPE AGAINST ALL HOPE, I TRUST IN YOU.

ETERNAL GOD, IN WHOM MERCY IS ENDLESS AND THE TREASURY OF COMPASSION - INEXAUSTABLE, LOOK KINDLY UPON US AND INCREASE YOUR MERCY IN US, THAT IN DIFFICULT MOMENTS WE MIGHT NOT DESPAIR NOR BECOME DESPONDENT, BUT WITH GREAT CONFIDENCE SUBMIT OURSELVES TO YOUR HOLY WILL, WHICH IS LOVE AND MERCY ITSELF.

O INCOMPREHENSIBLE AND LIMITLESS MERCY DIVINE,
TO EXTOL AND ADORE YOU WORTHILY, WHO CAN?
SUPREME ATTRIBUTE OF ALMIGHTY GOD,
YOU ARE THE SWEET HOPE FOR SINFUL MAN.
INTO ONE HYMN YOURSELVES UNITE, STARS, EARTH AND SEA, AND THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE DIVINE MERCY IN CONCERT PRAISE, CHARMINGLY!” (II, 295-297)

I FLY TO YOUR MERCY, COMPASSIONATE GOD, WHO ALONE ARE GOOD. ALTHOUGH MY MISERY IS GREAT AND MY OFFENSES ARE MANY, I TRUST IN YOUR MERCY BECAUSE YOU ARE THE GOD OF MERCY AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN HEARD OF IN ALL AGES, NOR DO HEAVEN OR EARTH REMEMBER, THAT A SOUL TRUSTING IN YOUR MERCY HAS BEEN DISAPPOINTED.
O GOD OF COMPASSION, YOU ALONE CAN JUSTIFY ME AND YOU WILL NEVER REJECT ME WHEN I, CONTRITE, APPROACH YOUR MERCIFUL HEART, WHERE NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN REFUSED, EVEN IF HE WERE THE GREATEST SINNER. FOR YOUR SON ASSURED ME:”SOONER WOULD HEAVEN AND EARTH TURN INTO NOTHINGNESS THAN MY MERCY FAIL TO EMBRACE A TRUSTING SOU!.”AMEN (VI, 92129).
“JESUS, FRIEND OF A LONELY HEART, YOU ARE MY HAVEN, YOU ARE MY PEACE! YOU ARE MY SALVATION! YOU ARE MY SERENITY IN MOMENTS OF STRUGGLE AND AMIDST AN OCEAN OF DOUBTS! YOU ARE THE BRIGHT RAY THAT LIGHTS UP THE PATH OF MY LIFE! YOU ARE EVERYTHING TO A LONELY SOUL! YOU UNDERSTAND THE SOUL EVEN THOUGH IT REMAINS SILENT! YOU KNOW OUR WEAKNESSES AND, LIKE A GOOD PHYSICIAN, YOU COMFORT AND HEAL, SPARING US SUFFERINGS - EXPERT THAT YOU ARE! AMEN”. (I, 114).

“O JESUS, DIVINE PRISONER OF LOVE, WHEN I CONSIDER YOUR LOVE AND HOW YOU EMPTIED YOURSELF FOR ME, MY SENSES DEADEN! YOU HIDE YOUR INCONCEIVABLE MAJESTY AND LOWER YOURSELF TO MISERABLE ME! O KING OF GLORY, THOUGH YOU HIDE YOUR BEAUTY, YET THE EYE OF MY SOUL RENDS THE VEIL. I SEE THE ANGELIC CHOIRS GIVING YOU HONOUR WITHOUT CEASE, AND ALL THE HEAVENLY POWERS PRAISING YOU WITHOUT CEASE, AND WITHOUT CEASE THEY ARE SAYING: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY!
O, WHO WILL COMPREHEND YOUR LOVE AND YOUR UNFATHOMABLE MERCY TOWARD US! O PRISONER OF LOVE, I LOCK UP MY POOR HEART IN ALL THE TABERNACLES OF THE WORLD THAT IT MAY ADORE YOU WITHOUT CEASE NIGHT AND DAY! I KNOW OF NO OBSTACLE IN THIS ADORATION: AND EVEN THOUGH I BE PHYSICALLY DISTANT, MY HEART IS ALWAYS WITH YOU! NOTHING CAN PUT A STOP TO MY LOVE FOR YOU! NO OBSTACLES EXIST FOR ME........
O HOLY TOINITY, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE GOD, MAY YOU BE BLESSED FOR THIS GREAT GIFT AND TESTAMENT OF MERCY! AMEN! (I, 34)
I ADORE YOU, LORD AND CREATOR, HIDDEN IN THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT. I ADORE YOU FOR ALL THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS, THAT REVEAL TO ME SO MUCH WISDOM, GOODNESS AND MERCY! O LORD, YOU HAVE SPREAD SO MUCH BEAUTY OVER THE EARTH AND IT TELLS ME ABOUT YOUR BEAUTY, EVEN THOUGH THESE BEAUTIFUL THINGS ARE BUT A FAINT REFLECTION OF YOU! INCOMPREHENSIBLE BEAUTY! AND ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE HIDDEN YOURSELF AND CONCEALED YOUR BEAUTY, MY EYE, ENLIGHTENED BY FAITH, REACHES YOU AND MY SOUL RECOGNIZES IT’S CREATOR! IT’S HIGHEST GOOD! AND MY HEART IS COMPLETELY IMMERSED IN PRAYER OF ADORATION!
MY LORD AND CREATOR, YOUR GOODNESS ENCOURAGES ME TO CONVERSE WITH YOU! YOUR MERCY ABOLISHES THE CHASM WHICH SEPERATES THE CREATOR FROM THE CREATURE! TO CONVERSE WITH YOU, O LORD, IS THE DELIGHT OF MY HEART AND SOUL! IN YOU I FIND EVERYTHING THAT MY HEART AND SOUL COULD DESIRE! HERE YOUR LIGHT ILLUMINES MY MIND, ENABLING IT TO KNOW YOU MORE AND MORE DEEPLY! HERE STREAMS OF GRACE FLOW DOWN UPON MY HEART! HERE MY SOUL DRAWS ETERNAL LIFE! O MY LORD AND CREATOR, YOU ALONE, BEYOND ALL THESE GIFTS GIVE YOUR OWN SELF TO ME! AND UNITE YOURSELF INTIMATELY WITH YOUR MISERABLE CREATURE!
O CHRIST, LET MY GREATEST DELIGHT BE TO SEE YOU LOVED AND YOUR PRAISE AND GLORY PROCLAIMED, ESPECIALLY THE HONOUR OF YOUR MERCY! O CHRIST, LET ME GLORIFY YOUR GOODNESS AND MERCY TO THE LAST MOMENT OF MY LIFE, WITH EVERY DROP OF MY BLOOD AND EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART! WOULD THAT I BE TRANSFORMED INTO A HYMN OF ADORATION OF YOU! WHEN I FIND MYSELF ON MY DEATHBED, MAY THE LAST BEAT OF MY HEART BE A LOVING HYMN GLORIFYING YOUR UNFATHOMABLE MERCY! AMEN”.

“O JESUS, ETERNAL GOD, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR COUNTLESS GRACES AND BLESSINGS! LET EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART BE A NEW HYMN OF THANKSGIVING TO YOU, O GOD. LET EVERY DROP OF MY BLOOD CIRCULATE FOR YOU, LORD! MY SOUL IS ONE HYMN IN ADORATION OF YOUR MERCY! I LOVE YOU, HOLY GOD, FOR YOURSELF ALONE! AMEN.”

“MOST SWEET JESUS, SET ON FIRE MY LOVE FOR YOU AND TRANSFORM ME INTO YOURSELF! DIVINIZE ME THAT MY DEEDS MAY BE PLEASING TO YOU! MAY THIS BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY COMMUNION WHICH I RECEIVE DAILY! O, HOW GREATLY I DESIRE TO BE WHOLLY TRANSFORMED INTO YOU, O LORD ! AMEN!”.

“JESUS, GIVE ME AN INTELLECT, A GREAT INTELLECT, FOR THIS ONLY, THAT I MAY UNDERSTAND YOU BETTER; BECAUSE THE BETTER I GET TO KNOW YOU, THE MORE ARDENTLY WILL I LOVE YOU! JESUS, I ASK YOU FOR A POWERFUL INTELLECT, THAT I MAY UNDERSTAND DIVINE AND LOFTY MATTERS. JESUS, GIVE ME A KEEN INTELLECT WITH WHICH I WILL GET TO KNOW YOUR DIVINE ESSENCE AND YOUR INNER, TRIUNE LIFE! AMEN”. (V, 73)

O JESUS, EXTENDED UPON THE CROSS, I IMPLORE YOU, GIVE ME THE GRACE OF DOING FAITHFULLY THE MOST HOLY WILL OF YOUR FATHER, IN ALL THINGS, ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE! AND WHEN THIS WILL OF GOD WILL SEEM TO ME VERY HARSH AND DIFFICULT TO FULFILL, IT IS THEN I BEG YOU, JESUS, MAY POWER AND STRENGTH FLOW UPON ME FROM YOUR WOUNDS AND MAY MY LIPS KEEP REPEATING, “YOUR WILL BE DONE, O LORD!”. O SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD, LOVER OF MAN’S SALVATION, WHO IN SUCH TERRIBLE TORMENT AND PAIN FORGOT YOURSELF TO THINK ONLY OF THE SALVATION OF SOULS! O MOST COMPASSIONATE JESUS, GRANT ME THE GRACE TO FORGET MYSELF THAT I MAY LIVE TOTALLY FOR SOULS, HELPING YOU IN THE WORK OF SALVATION, ACCORDING TO THE MOST HOLY WILL OF YOUR FATHER! AMEN!”.

“O MARY, MY MOTHER AND MY LADY, I OFFER YOU MY SOUL, MY BODY, MY LIFE AND MY DEATH AND ALL THAT WILL FOLLOW IT. I PLACE EVERYTHING IN YOUR HANDS! O MY MOTHER, COVER MY SOUL WITH YOUR VIRGINAL MANTLE AND GRANT ME THE GRACE OF PURITY OF HEART, SOUL AND BODY! DEFEND ME WITH YOUR POWER AGAINST ALL enemies , AND ESPECIALLY AGAINST THOSE WHO HIDE THEIR MALICE BEHIND THE MASK OF VIRTUE.....FORTIFY MY SOUL, LET PAIN NOT BREAK IT! MOTHER OF GRACE, TEACH ME TO LIVE BY GOD’S POWER! AMEN.
O MARY, A TERRIBLE SWORDS HAS PERCED YOUR HOLY SOUL. EXCEPT FOR GOD, NO ONE KNOWS OF YOUR SUFFERING. YOUR SOUL DOES NOT BREAK; IT IS BRAVE, BECAUSE IT IS WITH JESUS. SWEET MOTHER, UNITE MY SOUL TO JESUS, BECAUSE IT IS ONLY THEN THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO ENDURE ALL TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, AND ONLY IN UNION WITH JESUS WILL MY LITTLE SACRIFICES BE PLEASING TO GOD! SWEETEST MOTHER, CONTINUE TO TEACH ME ABOUT THE INTERIOR LIFE! MAY THE SWORD OF SUFFERING NEVER BREAK ME. O PURE VIRGIN, POUR COURAGE INTO MY HEART AND SOUL AND GUARD IT! AMEN”.

IT WAS AT HER SHRINE ABOVE THE “EASTERN GATE” TO THE CITY OF VILNIUS (NOW WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF LITHUANIA) THAT THE IMAGE OF THE DIVINE MERCY, PAINTED UNDER THE PERSONAL DIRECTION OF BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA, WAS FIRST SEEN IN PUBLIC DURING THE TRIDUUM OF CELEBRATIONS THAT, WITH THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER - 1935, MARKED THE CLOSING OF THE FIRST HOLY YEAR OF THE REDEMPTION THAT WAS EXTENDED TO ALL PLACES OUTSIDE THE CITY OF ROME WHERE IT WAS CELEBRATED FROM 1933-34.

“O MY JESUS, I BEG YOU ON BEHALF OF THE WHOLE CHURCH: GRANT IT LOVE AND THE LIGHT OF YOUR SPIRIT AND GIVE POWER TO THE WORDS OF YOUR PRIESTS SO THAT HARDENED HEARTS MIGHT BE BROUGHT TO REPENTANCE AND RETURN TO YOU, O LORD!
LORD, GIVE US HOLY PRIESTS; YOU YOURSELF MAINTAIN THEM IN HOLINESS! O DIVINE AND GREAT HIGH PRIEST, MAY THE POWER OF YOUR MERCY ACCOMPANY THEM EVERYWHERE AND PROTECT THEM FROM THE devil’s TRAPS AND SNARES WHICH ARE CONTINUALLY BEING SET FOR THE SOULS OF PRIESTS. MAY THE POWER OF YOUR MERCY, O LORD, SHATTER AND BRING TO NAUGHT ALL THAT MIGHT TARNISH THE SANCTITY OF PRIESTS, FOR YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS. I ASK YOU, JESUS, FOR A SPECIAL BLESSING AND FOR LIGHT FOR THE PRIESTS BEFORE WHOM I WILL MAKE MY CONFESSIONS THROUGHOUT MY LIFETIME! AMEN”.(III, 13; I,110).

“MOST MERCIFUL JESUS, I BESEECH YOU THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF YOIUR SAINTS, AND ESPECIALLY THE INTERCESSION OF YOUR DEAREST MOTHER WHO NURTURED YOU FROM CHILDHOOD: BLESS MY NATIVE LAND, I BEG YOU, JESUS! DO NOT REGARD OUR SINS BUT LOOK UPON THE TEARS OF LITTLE CHILDREN, ON THE HUNGER AND COLD THEY SUFFER. JESUS, FOR THE SAKE OF THESE INNOCENT ONES, GRANT ME THE GRACE I ASK OF YOU FOR MY COUNTRY! AMEN”. (I, 126)

[THE MOMENT BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA MADE THIS PRAYER, SHE WAS GRANTED TO BEHOLD JESUS. HIS EYES FILLED WITH TEARS, HE SAID TO HER: “YOU SEE, MY DAUGHTER, WHAT GREAT COMPASSION I HAVE FOR THEM. KNOW THIS: THEY UPHOLD THE WORLD!”. (IBID.).]

“O MOST HOLY TRINITY! AS MANY TIMES AS I BREATHE, AS MANY TIMES AS MY HEART BEATS, AS MANY TIMES AS MY BLOOD THROBS THROUGH MY BODY, SO MANY THOUSAND OF TIMES DO I WANT TO GLORIFY YOUR MERCY!
I WANT TO BE COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED INTO YOUR MERCY AND TO BE YOUR LIVING REFLECTION, O LORD! MAY THE GREATEST OF ALL DIVINE ATTRIBUTES, THAT OF YOUR UNFATHOMABLE MERCY, PASS THROUGH MY HEART AND SOUL TO MY NEIGHBOUR! HELP ME, O LORD, THAT MY EYES MAY BE MERCIFUL, SO THAT I MAY NEVER SUSPECT OR JUDGE FROM APPEARANCES, BUT LOOK FOR WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL IN MY NEIGHBOURS’ SOULS AND COME TO THEIR RESCUE.
HELP ME, O LORD, THAT MY EARS MAY BE MERCIFUL, SO THAT SO THAT I MAY GIVE HEED TO MY NEIGHBOURS’ NEEDS AND NOT BE INDIFFENT TO THEIR PAINS AND MOANINGS.
HELP ME, O LORD, THAT MY TONGUE MAY BE MERCIFUL, SO THAT I SHOULD NEVER SPEAK NEGATIVELY OF MY NEIGHBOUR, BUT HAVE A WORD OF COMFORT AND FORGIVENESS FOR ALL.
HELP ME, O LORD, THAT MY HANDS MAY BE MERCIFUL AND FILLED WITH GOOD DEEDS, SO THAT I MAY DO ONLY GOOD TO MY NEIGHBOURS AND TAKE UPON MYSELF THE MORE DIFFICULT AND TOILSOME TASKS.
HELP ME, THAT MY FEETMAY BE MERCIFUL, SO THAT I MAY HURRY TO ASSIST MY NEIGHBOUR, OVERCOMING MY OWN FATIGUE AND WEARINESS. MY TRUE REST IS IN THE SERVICE OF MY NEIGHBOUR.
HELP ME, O LORD, THAT MY HEART MAY BE MERCIFUL SO THAT I MYSELF MAY FEEL ALL THE SUFFERINGS OF MY NEIGHBOUR. I WILL REFUSE MY HEART TO NO ONE. I WILL BE SINCERE EVEN WITH THOSE WHO, I KNOW, WILL ABUSE MY KINDNESS. AND I WILL LOCK MYSELF UP IN THE MOST MERCIFUL HEART OF JESUS. I WILL BEAR MY OWN SUFFERING IN SILENCE. MAY YOUR MERCY, O LORD, REST UPON ME.
YOU YOURSELF COMMAND ME TO EXCERCISE THE THREE DEGREES OF MERCY. THE FIRST: THE ACT OF MERCY, OF WHATEVER KIND. THE SECOND: THE WORD OF MERCY - IF I CANNOT CARRY OUT A WORK OF MERCY, I WILL ASSIT BY MY WORDS. THE THIRD: PRAYER - IF I CANNOT SHOW MERCY BY DEEDS OR WORDS, I CAN ALWAYS DO SO BY PRAYER. MY PRAYER REACHES OUT EVEN THERE WHERE I CANNOT REACH OUT PHYSICALLY.
O MY JESUS, TRANSFORM ME INTO YOURSELF, FOR YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS!” (I, 78)

[THIS PRAYER GIVES US A TRUE MEASURE OF OUR MERCY, A MIRROR IN WHICH WE CAN OBSERVE OURSELVES AS OTHER MERCIFUL CHRISTS. WE CAN WELL MAKE IT OUR MORNING INVOCATION AS WELL AS OUR EVENING EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE.]

FOR SINNERSJESUS SAID TO BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA:
“YOU ALWAYS CONSOLE ME WHEN YOU PRAY FOR SINNERS. THE PRAYER MOST PLEASING TO ME IS THE PRAYER FOR THEIR CONVERSION. KNOW, MY DAUGHTER, THAT THIS PRAYER IS ALWAYS HEARD AND ANSWERED!”. (V, 35-36)

“O JESUS, ETERNAL TRUTH, OUR LIFE, I CALL UPON YOU AND I BEG YOUR MERCY FOR POOR SINNERS. O SWEETEST HEART OF MY LORD, FULL OF PITY AND UNFATHOMABLE MERCY, I PLEAD WITH YOU FOR POOR SINNERS. O MOST SACRED HEART, FOUNT OF MERCY FROM WHICH GUSH FORTH RAYS OF INCONCEIVABLE GRACES UPON THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE, I BEG OF YOU LIGHT FOR POOR SINNERS. O JESUS, BE MINDFUL OF YOUR OWN BITTER PASSION AND DO NOT PERMIT THE LOSS OF SOULS REDEEMED AT SO DEAR A PRICE OF YOUR MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD. O JESUS, WHEN I CONSIDER THE GREAT PRICE OF YOUR BLOOD, I REJOICE AT IT’S IMMENSITY, FOIR ONE DROP ALONE WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH FOR THE SALVATION OF ALL SINNERS! ALTHOUGH SIN IS AN ABYSS OF WICKEDNESS AND INGRATITUDE, THE PRICE PAID FOR US CAN NEVER BE EQUALLED. THEREFORE, LET EVERY SOUL TRUST IN THE PASSION OF THE LORD, AND PLACE IT’S HOPE IN HIS MERCY! GOD WILL NOT DENY HIS MERCY TO ANYONE! HEAVEN AND EARTH MAY CHANGE, BUT GOD’S MERCY WILL NEVER BE EXHAUSTED. O, WHAT IMMENSE JOY BURNS IN MY HEART WHEN I CONTEMPLATE YOUR INCOMPREHENSIBLE GOODNESS, O JESUS! I DESIRE TO BRING ALL SINNERS TO YOUR FEET THAT THEY MAY GLORIFY YOUR MERCY THROUGHOUT ENDLESS AGES! AMEN!”. (I, 30)

‘O, IF ONLY THE SUFFERING SOUL KNEW HOW MUCH GOD LOVES IT, IT WOULD DIE OF JOY AND OF AN EXCESS OF HAPPINESS! ONE DAY, WE SHALL KNOW THE VALUE OF SUFFERING, BUT THEN WE WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SUFFER. THE PRESENT MOMENT IS OURS!’ (II, 304)

“JESUS, DO NOT LEAVE ME ALONE IN SUFFERING. YOU KNOW, LORD, HOW WEAK I AM. I AM AN ABYSS OF WRETCHEDNESS, I AM NOTHINGNESS ITSELF; SO WHAT WILL BE SO STRANGE IF YOU LEAVE ME ALONE AND I FALL? I AM AN INFANT, LORD, SO I CANNOT GAT ALONG BY MYSELF! HOWEVER, BEYOND ALL ABANDONMENT I TRUST, AND IN SPITE OF MY OWN FEELING I TRUST! AND I AM BEING COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED INTO TRUST! - OFTEN IN SPITE OF WHAT I FEEL. DO NOT LESSEN ANY OF MY SUFFERINGS, ONLY GIVE ME STRENGTH TO BEAR THEM! DO WITH ME AS YOU PLEASE, LORD, ONLY GIVE ME THE GRACE TO BE ABLE TO LOVE YOU IN EVERY EVENT AND CIRCUMSTANCE. LORD, DO NOT LESSEN MY CUP OF BITTERNESS, ONLY GIVE ME STRENGTH THAT I MAY BE ABLE TO DRINK IT ALL!AMEN”.(V, 99).

“O MERCIFUL JESUS, EXTENDED ON THE CROSS, BE MINDFUL OF THE HOUR OF MY DEATH. O MOST MERCIFUL HEART OF JESUS, OPENED WITH A LANCE, SHELTER ME AT THE LAST MOMENT OF MY LIFE. O BLOOD AND WATER WHICH GUSHED FORTH FROM THE HEART OF JESUS AS A FOUNT OF UNFATHOMABLE MERCY FOR ME - JESUS, YOU WHO DIED FOR MEAS A PLEDGE OF MERCY - AVERT THE DIVINE WRATH AT THE HOUR OF MY DEATH. AMEN. (II, 205)
O MY JESUS, MAY THE LAST DAYS OF MY EXILE BE SPENT TOTALLY ACCORDING TO YOUR MOST HOLY WILL! I UNITE MY SUFFERINGS, GRIEF AND THE AGONY OF DEATH ITSELF WITH YOUR SACRED PASSION AND I OFFER MYSELF FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO OBTAIN AN ABUNDANCE OF GOD’S MERCY FOR SOULS, AND ESPECIALLY FOR SINFUL SOULS. I FIRMLY TRUST AND ENTIRELY COMMIT MYSELF TO YOUR HOLY WILL WHICH IS MERCY ITSELF. YOUR MERCY WILL BE EVERYTHING FOR ME IN THIS LAST HOUR! AMEN”. (V, 146).

“O JESUS, MY MASTER, I UNITE MY DESIRES TO THE DESIRES THAT YOU HAD ON THE CROSS: I DESIRE TO FULFILL YOUR HOLY WILL; I DESIRE THE CONVERSION OF SOULS; I DESIRE THAT YOUR MERCY BE ADORED; I DESIRE THAT THE TRIUMPH OF THE CHURCH BE HASTENED; I DESIRE THE FEAST OF MERCY TO BE CELEBRATED ALL OVER THE WORLD; I DESIRE SANCTITY FOR PRIESTS; I DESIRE THAT IN ALL HOUSES THERE REIGN A SPIRIT OF GREAT ZEAL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS; I DESIRE THAT SOULS DO NOT OFFEND GOD BUT PERSEVERE IN GOOD; I DESIRE THAT THE BLESSING OF GOD DESCEND UPON ALL! AMEN!”. (V, 150-151)

BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA WROTE IN HER DIARY: “SAINT JOSEPH URGED ME TO HAVE A CONSTANT DEVOTION TO HIM. HE HIMSELF TOLD ME TO RECITE EVERY DAY THREE PRAYERS, AND THE ‘REMEMBER......’ ONCE. HE LOOKED AT ME WITH GREAT KINDNESS AND GAVE ME TO KNOW HOW MUCH HE IS SUPPORTING THIS WORK [OF MERCY]. HE HAS PROMISED ME HIS SPECIAL HELP AND PROTECTION. I RECITE THE REQUESTED PRAYERS EVERY DAY AND FEEL HIS SPECIAL PROTECTION.” (III, 55)

THE “THREE PRAYERS” REFERRED TO ARE THE OUR FATHER, THE HAIL MARY, AND THE GLORY BE TO THE FATHER......
THE “REMEMBER” IS THE PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH THAT HER RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY RECITED DAILY:

“REMEMBER, O MOST OURE SPOUSE OF MARY, AND MY DEARLY BELOVED GUARDIAN, SAINT JOSEPH, THAT NEVER WAS IT KNOWN, THAT ANYONE WHO INVOKED YOUR CARE AND REQUESTED YOUR HELP WAS LEFT WITHOUT CONSOLATION.
INSPIRED WITH THIS CONFIDENCE, I COME TO YOU, AND WITH ALL THE ARDOR OF MY SPIRIT I COMMEND MYSELF TO YOU. DO NOT REJECT MY PRAYER, O FOSTER FATHER OF THE SAVIOUR, BUT GRACIOUSLY RECEIVE AND ANSWER IT!AMEN”.

A PURPOSE FOR THE DEVOTION TO THE DIVINE MERCY: TO PREPARE FOR OUR LORD’S RETURN

‘AS UNPLEASANT OR OUT-OF-PLACE SOME PEOPLE MAY CONSIDER THE THOUGHT OF THE “END TIMES” TO BE, THERE IS NO WAY OF AVOIDING THE FACT THAT JESUS IS CALLING ALL MANKIND TO TURN WITH DEVOTION TO HIS DIVINE MERCY, AS A PREPARATION FOR HIS RETURN IN GLORY.
ON DECEMBER 26TH, 1936, WHILE RECITING THE CHAPLET OF THE DIVINE MERCY, GIVEN TO HER BY HER SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR AS A “PENANCE” AFTER CONFESSION, BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA HEARD A VOICE WHICH SAID: “WRITE DOWN THESE WORDS, MY DAUGHTER. SPEAK TO THE WORLD ABOUT MY MERCY; LET ALL MANKIND RECOGNIZE 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 FOR THEM!” (II, 229-230)
AFTER THESE WORDS BLESSED SISTER FAUSTINA ADDED: ‘O HUMAN SOULS, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO HIDE ON THE DAY OF GOD’S ANGER? TAKE REFUGE NOW IN THE FOUNT OF GOD’S MERCY! O WHAT A GREAT MULTITUDE OF SOULS I SEE! THEY WORSHIPED THE DIVINE MERCY AND WILL BE SINGING THE HYMN OF PRAISE FOR ALL ETERNITY!” (II, 230)
LATER, OUR LORD ADDRESSED EVEN MORE SOLEMN WORDS TO THE SECRETARY AND APOSTLE OF HIS MERCY. BETWEEN FEBRUARY 3RD AND 10TH, 1938, SHE WROTE SIMPLY AND HUMBLY: TODAY I HEARD THESE WORDS: “IN THE OLD COVENANT I SENT PROPHETS WEILDING THUNDERBOLTS TO MY PEOPLE. TODAY I AM SENDING YOU WITH MY MERCY TO THE WHOLE OF MANKIND! I DO NOT WANT TO PUNISH ACHING MANKIND, BUT I DESIRE TO HEAL IT, PRESSING IT TO MY MERCIFUL HEART! I USE PUNISHMENT WHEN THEY THEMSELVES FORCE ME TO DO SO; MY HAND IS RELUCTANT TO TAKE HOLD OF THE SWORD OF JUSTICE! BEFORE THE DAY OF JUSTICE I AM SENDING THE DAY OF MERCY!”(V, 155).
TO HUMANITY IMMERSED IN SIN, THE LORD OFFERS GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT. DEVOTION TO HIS MERCY WILL INCLUDE CONFIDENT EXPECTATION OF HIS RETURN: “MY SECRETARY, WRITE THAT I AM MORE GENEROUS TOWARD SINNERS THAN TOWARD THE JUST! IT WAS FOR THEIR SAKE THAT I CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN; IT WAS FOR THEIR SAKE THAT MY BLOOD WAS SPILLED! LET THEM NOT FEAR TO APPROACH ME; THEY ARE IN MOST NEED OF MY MERCY!.......I CANNOT PUNISH EVEN THE GREATEST SINNER IF HE MAKES AN APPEAL TO MY COMPASSION BUT, ON THE CONTRARY, I JUSTIFY HIM IN MY UNFATHOMABLE AND MYSTERIOUS MERCY! HE WHO REFUSES TO PASS THROUGH THE DOOR OF MY MERCY MUST PASS THROUGH THE DOOR OF MY JUSTICE!”. (IV, 30; III, 39).

“O GREATLYMERCIFUL GOD, INFINITE GOODNESS, TODAY ALL MANKIND CALLS OUT FROM THE ABYSS OF IT’S MISERY TO YOUR MERCY - TO YOUR COMPASSION, O GOD; AND IT IS WITH IT’S MIGHTY VOICE OF MISERY THAT IT CRIES OUT! GRACIOUS GOD, DO NOT REJECT THE PRAYER OF THIS EARTH’S EXILES! O LORD, GOODNESS BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING, WHO ARE ACQUAITED WITH OUR MISERY THROUGH AND THROUGH, AND KNOW THAT BY OUR OWN POWER WE CANNOT ASCEND TO YOU, WE IMPLORE YOU; ANTICIPATE US WITH YOUR GRACE AND KEEP ON INCREASING YOUR MERCY IN US, THAT WE MAY FAITHFULLY DO YOUR HOLY WILL ALL THROUGH OUR LIFE AND AT DEATH’S HOUR! LET THE OMNIPOTENCE OF YOUR MERCY SHIELD US FROM THE DARTS OF OUR SALVATION’S ENEMIES, THAT WE MAY WITH CONFIDENCE, AS YOUR CHILDREN, AWAIT YOUR FINAL COMING - THAT DAY KNOWN TO YOU ALONE! AND WE EXPECT TO OBTAIN EVERYTHING PROMISED US BY JESUS IN SPITE OF ALL OUR WRETCHEDNESS! FOR JESUS IS OUR HOPE; THROUGH HIS MERCIFUL HEART AS THROUGH AN OPEN GATE WE PASS THROUGH TO HEAVEN!” (V, 143)

DEVOTION TO DIVINE MERCY