Tf hoer TN ho ev eFneaaosft Co hf aTphl ee t Ds : i Pv irneep Ma reart ci oyn Novenas — nine consecutive days of prayer — are inspired by Jesus’ instruction to His disciples as He was about to ascend into heaven. Jesus ascended into heaven on the 40th day after He rose from the dead. Ten days later, on the Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit — the Promise of the Father — came down upon the disciples, who had immediately gone to the upper room, where the Last Supper took place. There “all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” for the intervening nine days (Acts 1:14). There are many entries in St. Faustina’s Diary about novenas. Jesus requested and even commanded St. Faustina to make novenas for various intentions. The foremost of these novenas was the one He gave instruction to St. Faustina on December 9, 1936, that she was to pray a novena of Divine Mercy Chaplets. He directed her to start it on Good Friday [March 26,1937]. St. Faustina noted: “The Lord told me to say this chaplet for nine days before the Feast of Mercy; it is to begin on Good Friday.” Jesus promised: By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls (796). On Good Friday of 1937, St. Faustina wrote: “Jesus is commanding me to make a novena before the Feast of Mercy, and today I am to begin it for the conversion of the whole world and for the recognition of The Divine Mercy ... so that every soul will praise My goodness. I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if 30
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