How To Pray The Divine Mercy Novena

“Jesus, I trust in you.” 

These words, shining in gold under the Divine Mercy image of Jesus on my desk, gently remind me that He is in control. 

It’s something I have to remind myself of pretty much all the time, especially in this season of chaotic motherhood that I’m in– raising three very young children across the country from our extended family and support network. But beyond just this season, there is an abundance of anxiety, uncertainty, and doubt swirling around us all right now with every click of the TV remote or scroll through social media.

It’s easy to forget to place our trust in Jesus. But it’s SO important to remember!

Trust is an integral part of Divine Mercy, and although we focus on Divine Mercy during the Easter season, it’s relevant to our lives all year long.

What Is Divine Mercy?

To be honest, aside from the prayers and feast day, I didn’t know much more about Divine Mercy until recently. I grew up praying the chalet from Good Friday through Divine Mercy Sunday, but I never really knew its history. But once I dove into learning about it, I was absolutely captivated by its beauty!

The Marian Fathers describe the concept in this way: 

“The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us – all of us. And, He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.” 

Source: thedivinemercy.org

And that is why we need to remember to place our trust in Him. Even though we are sinful by nature, when we trust in Him, He will give us His mercy. 

Why is Divine Mercy So Important?

Divine Mercy is a powerful way for us to defeat the Devil and receive God’s abundant grace. In the diary of St. Faustina, God tells us, “My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world.” (The Diary of St. Faustina, 1485)

St. Pope John Paul II also told us that we will find happiness and peace through God’s Mercy. And couldn’t we all use an injection of peace right about now?

Who Delivered The Message Of Divine Mercy? 

Jesus appeared to a Polish nun, St. Faustina Kowalska, in the 1930s to deliver the message of Divine Mercy. She began to share the message and she also recorded all of her encounters with Jesus in her 600-page diary, which has since been published. 

But even before He appeared to St. Faustina, we do find messages of God’s abundant mercy throughout the Bible. And the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus’ death on the cross manifests God’s mercy on humanity.

Here are a few Bible passages to read and reflect on regarding God’s merciful heart: 
 

“So the LORD passed before [Moses] and proclaimed: The LORD, the LORD, a God gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love and fidelity, continuing his love for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin;” Exodus 34:6-7

“I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One present among you; I will not come in wrath.” Hosea 11:9

“He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.” Hebrews 4:15-16
 

After Jesus visited St. Faustina, he imparted the devotion of Divine Mercy which was later spread throughout the world and is often accompanied now by the iconic image of Divine Mercy. 

St. Pope John Paul II, known as the Mercy Pope, had a special devotion to Divine Mercy and instituted Divine Mercy Sunday, which occurs as a yearly feast day the Sunday after Easter. And in 2002, St. Pope John Paul II entrusted the entire world to Divine Mercy and he wrote the papal encyclical Dives in Misericorda (Rich in Mercy).

How To Pray The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a series of short prayers which can be prayed using the rosary as a guide. 

The entire process is written out on the image below- feel free to take a screenshot and save it to your phone for later!

How To Pray The Divine Mercy Novena

The Divine Mercy Novena is prayed by reciting the Chaplet daily for 9 days. It is typically started at the Hour of Great Mercy on Good Friday (3 p.m. when Christ has died) and ends on Divine Mercy Sunday. You can pray the Novena any time throughout the year as well. 

Each day of the Novena is centered around a specific intention, all nine of which are beautifully laid out here.

Why Should We Pray The Divine Mercy Novena?

When we pray the Divine Mercy Novena, God tells us that He will “grant every possible grace to souls,” (The Diary of St. Faustina, 796), and specifically at the hour of death, He will bestow His great mercy on those who recite it (The Diary of St. Faustina, 687).

In St. Faustina’s diary, we also learn that “through [the Divine Mercy] chaplet, you will obtain everything if what you ask for is compatible with My will” (The Diary of St. Faustina, 1731). 

How Else Can You Incorporate Divine Mercy Into Your Life?

If you don’t already have it, I would highly recommend getting a copy of the Divine Mercy image to display in your home. The image has the traditional “Jesus, I Trust In You” prayer at the bottom, and simply seeing that daily in a prominent place in your home will help you remember to actually give your trust to Him.

You can also set the Divine Mercy image or an image inspired by Divine Mercy as the background of your phone or computer so that you see it every time you look at your device.

Another way to incorporate Divine Mercy into your life is to set a daily alarm for 3 p.m. as a reminder to stop and pray the Chaplet. 

The message of Divine Mercy is such a powerful and beautiful one, and I’m so happy to have the chance to share it with you in this way. 

When life is chaotic and messy, or even downright difficult, remember to call upon God and His abundant mercy. Praying the Divine Mercy Novena is a great way to connect with Him more deeply!