Divine Mercy Novena Guide: How to Pray the 9-Day Prayer Before Easter Sunday
The Divine Mercy Novena was given by Jesus himself to St. Faustina, beginning on Good Friday. This guide explains what it is, how to pray it step by step, and how to receive the extraordinary graces of Divine Mercy Sunday.
The Divine Mercy novena runs from Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday — nine days of chaplet prayers Christ gave St. Faustina for different groups of souls. Jesus attached promises of grace and conversion; the image "Jesus, I trust in You" accompanies the devotion.
What Is the Divine Mercy Devotion?
The Divine Mercy devotion was revealed by Jesus to St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, in a series of visions in the 1930s. Jesus asked her to spread trust in his mercy and to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. He also established Divine Mercy Sunday — the first Sunday after Easter — as a special day of grace. The devotion was approved by the Church and promoted by Pope John Paul II, who canonized St. Faustina in 2000 and established Divine Mercy Sunday for the universal Church.
What Is the Divine Mercy Novena?
The Divine Mercy Novena is a nine-day prayer that Jesus himself asked St. Faustina to pray, beginning on Good Friday and ending on the Saturday before Divine Mercy Sunday. Each day, Jesus gave St. Faustina a different group of souls to pray for — sinners, priests, devout souls, unbelievers, and others. It is one of the few novenas with a specific starting date given by Jesus himself.
Why Pray the Divine Mercy Novena?
Jesus promised extraordinary graces to those who pray the Divine Mercy Novena with trust. He told St. Faustina: "By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls." The novena is prayed for the conversion of sinners, for priests and religious, for those who do not yet believe, for the dying, and for all souls in need of God's mercy. It is especially powerful when prayed in the nine days before Divine Mercy Sunday.
How to Pray the Divine Mercy Novena — Step by Step
- Begin on Good Friday. The traditional starting date is Good Friday, so the novena ends on the Saturday before Divine Mercy Sunday. However, it can be prayed at any time of year.
- Each day has a different intention. Jesus gave St. Faustina a specific group of souls to pray for each day — from sinners on Day 1 to all souls on Day 9. Pray with that intention in mind.
- Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet each day. The chaplet is the heart of the novena. It takes about 15 minutes and is prayed on rosary beads.
- Pray at 3:00 PM if possible. Jesus called 3:00 PM the "Hour of Mercy" — the hour of his death on the cross. Praying the chaplet at this hour brings special graces.
- Pray the full novena online. The complete Divine Mercy Novena — with the prayer text for all nine days — is available at Catholic Bible Online. This free resource guides you through each day with the full prayer text.
The Divine Mercy Chaplet — Key Prayer
"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."
The chaplet is prayed on rosary beads and takes about 15 minutes. It is the heart of the Divine Mercy Novena.
Divine Mercy Sunday
Divine Mercy Sunday is the first Sunday after Easter — the culmination of the novena. Jesus promised St. Faustina: "Whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment." To receive this grace, a person must go to Confession (within a reasonable time before or after), receive Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday, and trust completely in God's mercy. It is one of the greatest graces available in the entire liturgical year.
Ready to begin? The complete Divine Mercy Novena — with the full prayer text for all nine days — is available for free at Catholic Bible Online. You can pray it directly on the site, day by day, with no registration required. Jesus, I trust in You.