Divine Mercy Novena
The Divine Mercy Novena was given to St. Faustina Kowalska, the Polish nun who recorded Jesus's request for a feast of mercy on the Sunday after Easter. Each of the nine days is offered for a different group of souls. John Paul II made Divine Mercy Sunday a feast of the universal Church in 2000.
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Key takeaways
- It starts on Good Friday and ends the Saturday before Divine Mercy Sunday.
- In 2027: Friday, March 26 to Saturday, April 3; Divine Mercy Sunday is April 4.
- Each day you pray for a different group, using the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
The prayer for every day
Each day, pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the day's intention. The chaplet is said on ordinary Rosary beads: the Sign of the Cross, an Our Father, a Hail Mary and the Creed; then on each large bead, an offering of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus; on each small bead, "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world"; and three times at the end, a short invocation to the holy God. The exact words are not reproduced here.
Day by day
1Day 1: Good Friday
All people, especially sinners.
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for every person in the world, and especially for anyone far from God.
2Day 2: Holy Saturday
Priests and religious.
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for priests, deacons, sisters and brothers, that they stay faithful.
3Day 3: Easter Sunday
Devout and faithful souls.
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for those who are trying to live their faith, that they persevere.
4Day 4: Easter Monday
Those who do not yet know God.
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for people who have not heard the Gospel and for those who do not believe.
5Day 5: Easter Tuesday
Christians separated from the Catholic Church.
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for Christian unity and for those who have left the Church.
6Day 6: Easter Wednesday
Gentle and humble souls, and children.
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for children and for people who are meek and humble of heart.
7Day 7: Easter Thursday
Those who honor and spread devotion to God's mercy.
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for those who share the message of mercy with others.
8Day 8: Easter Friday
The souls in purgatory.
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the faithful departed, that they come soon to the light of God.
9Day 9: Holy Saturday of the Octave
Lukewarm souls.
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for those whose faith has grown cold, and for yourself where it has.
Closing prayer
On Divine Mercy Sunday, April 4, 2027, Catholics are encouraged to go to Confession in the days before and receive Communion. The Church attaches a plenary indulgence to the day under the usual conditions.
Get a reminder for each day of the Divine Mercy Novena.
Start praying with Rosary & MercyQuestions people ask
What is Divine Mercy Sunday?
The Second Sunday of Easter. John Paul II named it Divine Mercy Sunday when he canonized St. Faustina on April 30, 2000.
Do I need to pray the chaplet every day?
The novena asks for the Chaplet on each of the nine days. If you miss one, pray it when you can and finish the rest.
When is the Divine Mercy hour?
It is 3 pm, the hour Jesus died, recalled in the Diary of St. Faustina as a time of special mercy. Catholics pray the chaplet then when possible.
Is the Divine Mercy devotion approved by the Church?
Yes. After a period of restrictions in the 1950s, the devotion was approved, and Faustina was canonized in 2000. Belief in private revelation is optional for Catholics.
Keep praying
Sources: Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska (Divine Mercy in My Soul) · John Paul II, canonization homily (April 30, 2000) · Catechism of the Catholic Church 1846-1848, 2559 · USCCB