Pillars of Fire In My Soul

Sister Faustina said to the Savior in all simplicity, Jesus, I do not know how to make this novena and which souls to bring first to Your Most Compassionate Heart (Diary, 1209). Then Our Lord instructed her to bring all mankind on the first day, especially sinners — on the second day, the souls of priests and religious — on the third, the devout and faithful — on the fourth, those who do not believe in Him and those who do not yet know Him— on the fifth, separated Christians: they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church — on the sixth, the humble and meek, as well as the souls of little children—on the seventh, the souls who especially venerate and glorify His mercy ... These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life — on the eighth, the souls detained in Purgatory — on the ninth day, the lukewarm souls: My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls ... For them the last security when all else has failed is to take refuge inMy mercy (Diary, 1210 to 1229). Sister Faustina was to immerse each of these groups in the boundless sea of Christ’s mercy and thus to bring them into contact with the benefits of His Saving Passion. The Novena to The Divine Mercy composed by Sister Faustina can be made at any time; but, according to Our Lord’s wishes, the dates fixed for its celebration are from Good Friday to the First Sunday after Easter. Jesus , wrote Sister Faustina, is commanding me to make a Novena before the Feast of Mercy, and today [on Good Friday] I am to begin it for the conversion of the whole world and that Divine Mercy come to be known (Diary, 1059). [Jesus elaborated on these intentions by explaining:] ... so that every soul will praise My goodness, I desire trust from My creatures ...Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, Divine Mercy … We Trust in You! 51