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."