The Novena to Divine Mercy is a powerful devotional practice inviting the faithful to deepen their trust in Christ’s merciful love. Inspired by the revelations to Saint Faustina, the novena consists of nine days of prayer, meditation, and petition, offering the opportunity to intercede for various intentions and to experience divine forgiveness in its fullness.
The words of Jesus to Saint Faustina, in the Carmel, were:
“I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the source of My mercy, that they may receive strength, comfort, and all the graces they need in the difficulties of life and at the hour of death. Each day you will bring to My Heart a different group of souls and immerse them in this ocean of My mercy. I will lead all these souls into the house of My Father. You will proceed in this way in this life and the next. On My part, I will deny nothing to any soul you bring to the fountain of My mercy. Each day you will ask My Father, by My bitter Passion, for graces for these souls.” (Diary, 1209)
Before these words, Saint Faustina said she did not know how to begin the novena or which souls to bring, and He replied that day by day He Himself would show her how to pray it.
First Day
“Today, bring Me the whole of humanity, especially all sinners, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. By this you will console Me in the bitterness into which the loss of souls plunges Me.”
Merciful Jesus, who are by nature compassionate and forgiving, do not look upon our sins, but upon the trust we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us into the abode of Your compassionate Heart and never allow us to leave it. We ask this of You through the love with which You are united to the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Eternal Father, look with mercy on all humanity, enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus, and in a particular way on poor sinners. Through the bitter Passion of Your Son, show us Your mercy, so that we may glorify the omnipotence of Your mercy for all ages. Amen.
Second Day
“Today, bring Me the souls of priests and religious, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. They strengthened Me to endure My bitter Passion. By their prayers, My mercy flows to humanity like through channels.”
Merciful Jesus, from whom all good things come, increase in us the grace to perform worthy works of mercy, so that all who look to us may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.
Eternal Father, direct the gaze of Your mercy upon the chosen portion of Your vineyard: the souls of priests and religious. Grant them the power of Your blessing and, by the feelings of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enclosed, give them the strength of Your light, so that they may lead others along the paths of salvation and together with them sing the glory of Your unfathomable mercy for all eternity. Amen.
Third Day
“Today, bring Me all devout and faithful souls and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls consoled Me on the Way of the Cross; they were the drops of comfort in the sea of My bitter suffering.”
Merciful Jesus, who pour forth all the graces from the treasury of Your mercy, receive us into the abode of Your compassionate Heart and never let us depart from it forever. We implore You by the inconceivable love which inflames Your Heart with the Father.
Eternal Father, look with the gaze of Your mercy on the faithful souls, as the inheritance of Your Son. Through the painful Passion of Your Son, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection, so that they may not lose the love and treasure of holy faith, but, together with all the angels and saints, glorify Your immense mercy for all eternity. Amen.
Fourth Day
“Today, bring Me the pagans and those who have not known Me, and whom I thought of in My bitter Passion. Their future zeal will console My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.”
Merciful Jesus, who are the light of the whole world, accept into the abode of Your compassionate Heart the souls of the pagans who do not yet know You. Let the rays of Your grace illuminate them, so that they too may glorify the wonders of Your mercy together with us, and do not allow them to depart from the abode of Your compassionate Heart.
May the light of Your love shine upon the darkness of their souls! Grant that these souls may come to know You and glorify Your mercy together with us!
Eternal Father, look with mercy on the souls of the pagans and those who have not known You, who are enclosed in the compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know how great a joy it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may glorify the richness of Your mercy for all eternity. Amen.
Fifth Day
“Today, bring Me the souls of Christians separated from the unity of the Church, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In My bitter Passion they tore apart My Body and My Heart, that is, My Church. When they return to the unity of the Church, My wounds are healed, and that in this way they console My Passion.”
Merciful Jesus, who are Divine Goodness itself, You do not refuse light to those who ask. Receive into the abode of Your compassionate Heart the souls of our separated brothers, and by Your light draw them to the unity of the Church; do not allow them to depart from the abode of Your compassionate Heart, but allow them, too, to glorify the richness of Your mercy.
Eternal Father, look upon the souls of our separated brothers, who have misused Your gifts and graces, yet obstinately persisted in error. Do not look upon their sins, but upon the love of Your Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He endured for them; they also are enclosed in the compassionate Heart of Jesus. Permit that they too may glorify Your mercy for all eternity. Amen.
Sixth Day
“Today, bring Me the meek and humble souls, and the souls of little children, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls are most like My Heart. They comforted Me in the bitter Passion of My agony. I saw them as earthly angels who would one day guard My altars. Over these souls I pour out the torrents of My grace. Only the humble soul is capable of receiving My grace. I favor such souls with My confidence.”
Merciful Jesus, who said: “Learn of Me, for I am meek and humble of heart,” accept into the abode of Your compassionate Heart the meek and humble souls, and the souls of little children. These souls enchant all of heaven and are the special delight of the Heavenly Father. Like a bouquet before the throne of God, whose fragrance delights the Lord Himself. These souls have a permanent dwelling in Your compassionate Heart and sing ceaselessly a hymn of love and mercy forever.
Eternal Father, look with mercy on the meek and humble souls and on the souls of little children who are enclosed in the compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are most like Your Son. The fragrance of their souls rises from earth and reaches Your throne. Father of Mercy and all goodness, I beg You, by the love and predilection You have for these souls: bless the whole world, that all may sing together the glory of Your mercy for all eternity. Amen.
Seventh Day
“Today, bring Me those souls who especially honour and glorify My mercy, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls have suffered most because of My Passion and have penetrated most deeply into My spirit. They are the living image of My compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with special brightness in the life to come. None of them will go to hell. I will protect each one especially at the hour of death.”
Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love itself, accept into the abode of Your compassionate Heart those souls who honour and glorify the greatness of Your mercy in a special way.
Eternal Father, look with mercy on the souls who glorify and honour Your greatest attribute, Your unfathomable mercy. These souls are the living Gospel, and their hands are filled with works of mercy; their souls, full of joy, sing a hymn of mercy to the Most High. I implore You, O God, show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Amen.
Eighth Day
“Today, bring Me the souls in purgatory and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood refresh their souls. These souls are very dear to Me. They are paying the debt of My justice. It is within your power to bring them relief. Draw from the treasury of My Church all indulgences and offer them for these souls. Oh, if you knew their suffering, you would unceasingly offer for them the alms of spirit and pay their debt to My justice.”
Merciful Jesus, who said You desire mercy, behold I bring to the abode of Your compassionate Heart the souls in purgatory, souls most dear to You, who, however, must make amends to Your justice.
Eternal Father, look with mercy on the souls suffering in purgatory, enclosed in the compassionate Heart of Jesus. Do not look upon them otherwise than through the wounds of Jesus, Your beloved Son, because we believe Your goodness and mercy are boundless. Amen.
Ninth Day
“Today, bring Me the lukewarm souls and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls painfully wound My Heart. It was because of a lukewarm soul that My own soul felt repugnance in the Garden of Olives. They moved Me to say: ‘Father, remove this cup from Me, if it be Your will.’ For them the last plank of salvation is to run to My mercy.”
O Merciful Jesus, You who are Compassion itself, I bring the lukewarm souls to the abode of Your compassionate Heart; may they warm themselves at the fire of Your pure love. These frozen souls, like corpses, fill You with such repugnance. O Jesus, most merciful, use the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the fire of Your love and grant them holy love, for You can do all things.
Eternal Father, look with Your mercy on the lukewarm souls enclosed in the compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You, by the bitterness of Your Son’s Passion and by His three hours of agony on the Cross, allow them too to glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.