Divine Mercy Novena starts Good Friday

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
April 6, 2006

Pope John Paul II, in 2000, canonized Sister Faustina Kowalska, the polish nun whose visions gave rise to Divine Mercy devocations. At that time, he asked that Divine Mercy Sunday be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. The late pope had been greatly influenced by the writings of St. Faustina.

In year 2004, the pope had said as "we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, the Lord asks us to bring his peace to all people -- a peace based on pardon and the forgiveness of sins."

Larry Walsh, a member of the spiritual committee at Trinity Heights in Sioux City, pointed out that St. Faustina had been designated by Jesus "to record and spread the message of Christ's mercy as is evidenced by his suffering and death on the cross for each of us - culminated on that Friday afternoon at 3 p.m."

Through Faustina, Christ revealed a powerful prayer called the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Many people opt to pray this at 3 p.m. as a reminder of Christ's ultimate act of mercy - his death on the cross for the salvation of the people.

Christ also asked that the chaplet be recited as a novena, especially on the nine days before the Feast of Mercy. As recorded in St. Faustina's diary, Christ promised, "By this novena (of chaplets) I will grant every possible grace to souls."

With this is mind, Trinity Heights is once again promoting a Divine Mercy Novena that is to start on Good Friday, April 14. It will culminate on Saturday, April 22 on the eve of the Feast of Divine Mercy.

Walsh explained that people will start the novena on their own in their homes Good Friday through Easter Sunday. Beginning on Monday, April 17, people will have the option to join with others at Trinity Heights to continue the novena at 7:30 p.m. nightly.

"Each of those nine days of prayer includes a certain set of intentions," he noted. Christ had revealed these intentions to Faustina.

The intention for the first day is all mankind, especially sinners. The intention for the second day is for the souls of priests and religious. The intention for the third day is for all devout and faithful souls. Other intentions: on the fourth day - for those who do not believe in God and those that do not yet know Jesus; on the fifth day - for the souls that have separated themselves from the church; on the sixth day - for the meek and humble souls to Christ as well as the souls of little children; on the seventh day - for the souls that venerate and glorify Christ's mercy; on the eighth day - for the souls that are detained in purgatory; and on the ninth day pray for the souls that have become lukewarm.

"The purpose of these prayers - directed to the father - are for special graces for each of these special groups of people," said Walsh.

For those who wish to join others in prayer for the last six days of the novena, a different priest or deacon will offer reflections each evening at Trinity Heights. The prayer leaders include Father Michael Erpelding on April 17, Father Paul Kelly on April 18, Deacon Jim Sands on April 19, Deacon Bill Berger on April 20, Father Raymond Weiling on April 21 and Father Dennis Meinen on April 22.

Walsh pointed out that due to this novena, the normally scheduled 22nd of the month pro-life prayer service will not be held that evening.

"The novena is good mental and spiritual preparation for Christ's graces that are available to us on Divine Mercy Sunday and the novena is something that Jesus has recommended - through the writings of St. Faustina," said Walsh.

The Mercy Sunday celebration that is slated for April 23 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Sioux City. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will begin at 1:30 p.m. Confessions will be held from 1:30 to 2:50 p.m. and the Hour of Mercy is set for 3 p.m.

Father Merlin Schrad, pastor at Blessed Sacrament Church, will serve as the host of the event and Father Dan Greving will be the homilist.

Walsh referred to participation in the Divine Mercy services as a "time of great grace and forgiveness of sin."

A pamphlet containing the prayers of the novena may be obtained at Trinity Heights. If individuals are unable to make it to the evening prayers at Trinity Heights, they may continue to pray the novena on their own.

"Pope John Paul II declared himself a servant of mercy," noted Walsh. "He was so influenced by the writings of this holy nun that he declared Divine Mercy Sunday so that each of us may become more aware of God's forgiveness."