I'll be following this guideline from the good folks at EWTN. We intend to pray the chaplet too. All you need for the chaplet is your rosary, the Apostles Creed, and these handy instructions.
According to Sister Faustina, Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. He gave St. Faustina 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."
In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:
"On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls."
The different souls prayed for on each day of the novena are:
DAY 1 (Good Friday)—All mankind, especially sinners
DAY 2 (Holy Saturday)—The souls of priests and religious
DAY 3 (Easter Sunday)—All devout and faithful souls
DAY 4 (Easter Monday)—Those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do not yet know Him
DAY 5 (Easter Tuesday)—The souls of separated brethren
DAY 6 (Easter Wednesday)—The meek and humble souls and the souls of children
DAY 7 (Easter Thursday)—The souls who especially venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy
DAY 8 (Easter Friday)—The souls who are detained in purgatory;
DAY 9 (Easter Saturday)—The souls who have become lukewarm.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy may also be offered each day for the day's intention, but is not strictly necessary to the Novena.
As it is Good Friday, we begin as follows:
First Day
"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.
Novenas—I'm starting to get the hang of them.
