The Divine Mercy image and devotion are based on the writings and mystical experiences of St. Faustina, a humble and uneducated Polish nun who died in 1938. Born Helena Kowalska, St. Maria Faustina was canonized by St. John Paul II in the year 2000.

Following the instruction of her spiritual director, St. Faustina kept a diary documenting the visions and messages she received from the Lord. Jesus taught St. Faustina about the unending depths of His mercy and asked her to foster devotion to His Divine Mercy through the image He asked her to paint,  the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Feast Day, and the Novena.

EXCERPTS FROM ST. FAUSTINA'S DIARY

In the evening, when I was in my cell, I saw the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand [was] raised in the gesture of blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From beneath the garment, slightly drawn aside at the breast, there were emanating two large rays, one red, the other pale. In silence I kept my gaze fixed on the Lord; my soul was struck with awe, but also with great joy. After a while, Jesus said to me, Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. ... I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image. ... By means of this image I will grant many graces to souls. (Diary, entries 47-48, 327 and 742)

DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET

DIVINE MERCY NOVENA

A novena (from the Latin word for nine) is a series of prayers said for nine consecutive days. The Divine Mercy Novena can be prayed anytime but is most beautifully prayed on the nine days leading up to the Feast of Divine Mercy. This Novena begins on Good Friday and finishes the Saturday after Easter to prepare us for the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday. Jesus told St. Faustina, "By this Novena (of Chaplets), I will grant every possible grace to souls."
Novena Prayers

DIVINE MERCY RESOURCES

Divine Mercy Website
Divine Mercy, EWTN
17 Things Jesus Revealed to St. Faustina
Divine Mercy App