I invite you to join me in praying in song the nine day Divine Mercy Novena which starts today, Good Friday, and culminates on Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday after Easter.  Powerful, beautiful prayer that draws us closer to the Heart of Christ, and through His Mercy and Love, radiates forth to bring unfathomable healing to those souls for whom we offer our prayer!

FIRST DAY OF THE NOVENA

Today bring to Me ALL MANKIND, ESPECIALLY ALL SINNERS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me.

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

Perhaps this video of the sung Divine Mercy prayer will inspire you to pray!  You will be praying in song along with Fr. Paul Yi, Fr. Joseph Vu, my Gracenotes Band, and the lovely community of the most beautiful Ascension Catholic Church in Donaldsonville, Louisiana where I am humbled and privileged to sing each year during Lent, as well as for the culmination of the Novena on Divine Mercy Sunday.

This particular Chaplet was offered as a special gathering in November 2016 at the culmination of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, and as an act of mercy for a community and a people still suffering from the August 2016 flooding that occurred in Louisiana, to radiate the hope that we all have in Jesus Christ Our Lord, through whatever cross we may be enduring.  Music touches the soul and the heart so deeply, and can be so very healing, drawing us ever more into union with Christ who desires his beloved to have peace in Him.

If it happens that you have limited time to pray the day’s novena at any point over the next 9 days, it can be prayed without singing as well.  Speaking the prayer takes only a short few minutes.  Here are some instructions on how to say the entire prayer on your rosary beads:

Opening Prayers

First, recite the Daily Intention for each of the nine days of the novena (different one each day), and certainly consider adding your own as well for the intentions that you desire to bring to the Heart of Jesus.

Make the sign of the cross, saying “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

 (NOTE:  See what Christ instructed St. Faustina about this next portion of this prayer – such powerful intercession for those we are interceding for conversion.  Christ says: “If you say this prayer, with a contrite heart and with faith, on behalf of some sinner I will give that soul the grace of conversion”.)

“O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus

as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus

as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus

as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!”

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Repeat this sequence on each decade as follows:

(On the “Our Father” beads, pray…)

“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.”

(On the Ten Beads of Each Decade, pray…)

“For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

Holy God

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,

have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,

have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,

have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Final Prayer

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

“Words of Christ to St. Faustina, Diary 1209

I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fountain of My mercy, that they may draw therefrom strength and refreshment and whatever grace they have need of in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour of death.”