Forms of Divine Mercy Devotion

Jesus requested St. Faustina to prepare herself for the Feast of Mercy by praying a novena which would begin on Good Friday. He gave her an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said:

These souls cause me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.’ The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy.

I desire that during these nine days, you bring souls to the fount of My mercy, that they may draw strength and refreshment from and whatever grace they need in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour of death. On each day, you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in the ocean of My mercy, and I will bring all these souls into the house of My Father. You will do this in this life and in the next. I will deny nothing to any soul whom you will bring to the fount of My mercy. On each day, you will beg My Father on the strength of my passion for graces for these souls.

The different souls prayed for on each day of the novena are:

1st day -All mankind, especially sinners
2nd day -The souls of priests and religious
3rd day -All devout and faithful souls
4th day - Those who do believe in Jesus, and those who do not know Him yet
5th day - The souls of separated brethren
6th day - The meek and humble souls and the souls of children
7th day - The souls who especially venerate and glorify Jesus’ mercy
8th day - The souls who are detained in purgatory
9th day - The souls who have become lukewarm