DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

APRIL 16TH, 2023

Remember to start
the Divine Mercy Novena
on Good Friday, April 7th.

Preparing for Divine Mercy Sunday:

In the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Jesus asked that the Feast of Divine Mercy, known today as Divine Mercy Sunday, be preceded by a Novena to The Divine Mercy. A Novena is nine days of prayer in preparation for a feast. In the case of the Novena to Divine Mercy, we pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy each day for a specific intention. Those intentions are:

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

NOTE: Click on the desired day in the list above to view the intention for that day - or use this 9 Day Novena.
Our Lord told St. Faustina, "I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fountain of My mercy, that they may draw ... strength and refreshment and whatever grace they need in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour of death" (Diary, 1209)*.

St. Pope John Paul II established that Divine Mercy Sunday be enriched by a plenary indulgence which you may receive by attending any Mass with the intention of receiving His great mercy, as well as following the directives outlined below. 

• Celebrate the Feast on the Sunday after Easter; (can be done on this day at any Mass with this intention) and pray for the intentions of Our Pope
• Sincerely repent of all our sins;
• Place our complete trust in Jesus; Trust in His message of mercy - the graces of His mercy are dependent on our trust. Jesus said, “I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls.”*  
• Go to Confession, preferably 8 days before or after that Sunday;
• Receive Holy Communion on the day of the Feast;
• Venerate the Image of the Divine Mercy; (which Jesus instructed St. Faustina to have painted) Jesus said, “I want the image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it.”*
• Be merciful to others, through our actions, words and prayers on their behalf.