Introduction
The devotion to and feast day of Divine Mercy originated with Jesus’ visions to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a holy nun from Poland.  These visions and inspirations occurred in her Poland convent(s) spanning from 1934 to 1938 (the year of her death).  She recorded them in a series of journals (which she calls “books”).  They were compiled into a book, Divine Mercy in My Soul: The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception identified “five new elements” in our spiritual lives through Jesus’ visions to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska.  They are: (1) the Feast of Divine Mercy (the 2^nd Sunday of Easter, or the Octave day of Easter), (2) the Image of Divine Mercy (above), (3) the Novena of Divine Mercy, (4) the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and (5) the Hour of Mercy (3pm).

The Chaplet can be said anytime, but the Lord specifically asked that it be recited as a novena (a nine-day devotion).  He promised, “By this Novena (of Chaplets), I will grant every possible grace to souls.”  Jesus also said through St. Faustina, “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” (Diary, 1209).  The novena has been arranged by Jesus to present to him (intercede for) certain groupings of people for his help and mercy.  It begins on Good Friday and ends the day before the Feast of Divine Mercy (2^nd Sunday of Easter).

Pope St. John Paul II promoted devotion to the Divine Mercy during his papacy. On April 30, 2000, at the Canonization of Faustina Kowalska, he officially designated the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday.  A plenary indulgence is offered to the faithful by the Church on Divine Mercy Sunday (see Resources below).

Resources

• Explanation of the image of Divine Mercy 
• How to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy 
• The Divine Mercy Novena 
• Seal The Doorposts 
• Plenary Indulgence for Divine Mercy Sunday 

First Day:  Good Friday
Second Day:  Holy Saturday
Third Day:  Easter Sunday
Fourth Day:  Easter Monday
Fifth Day:  Easter Tuesday
Sixth Day:  Easter Wednesday
Seventh Day:  Easter Thursday
Eighth Day:  Easter Friday
Ninth Day:  Easter Saturday
Closing and Celebration Feast Day: Divine Mercy Sunday (2^nd Sunday of Easter)