Praying at the Hour of Mercy is part of the devotion of Divine Mercy as is the novena, the chaplet or the Image of Divine Mercy. Through St. Faustina, Jesus invites us to completely give ourselves over to His mercy when praying in a particular manner at the Hour of His Passion : 3 o’clock. “In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion.” (Diary entry 1320)
During the last apparitions to St. Faustina, Jesus asked her to pray for His mercy everyday at 3 o’clock, the hour where He gave up His Spirit on the Cross: “I remind you, My daughter, that as often as you heart the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners; for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every soul. In this hour you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world - mercy triumphed over justice.” (Diary entry 1572)
At the hour of His death, Jesus shows the ultimate sacrifice, the ultimate abandon to God where He saves all of humanity. Jesus was killed by man in order to resurrect with them. Praying at “the hour of Golgotha” is not just commemorating something that happened 2000 years ago, but understanding that again today, everyday, Jesus is ready to save us and show us the extent of His love for each one of us. This is why we are invited to pray - by His sorrowful Passion - His infinite mercy, for us, for all mankind, and especially for sinners.
Beyond being in communion with Christ at 3 o’clock, it is an overall call to meditate on the Passion of Christ. “Meditation on My Passion will help you rise above all things.” (Diary entry 1184). Christ’s death is the biggest sign of God’s love for mankind; He gave us His Son to atone for our sins, our weaknesses, our failures. Jesus died on the Cross to save us, to free us from our condition as sinful men. It is the gift of our salvation; we don’t have to deserve it, Jesus gave it to us.
Looking back on the different elements of the Passion and meditating upon them, is essential to be able to understand the greatness of Divine Mercy and the necessity to abandon ourselves completely into the wide open arms of Christ on the Cross. We can also meditate upon the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
Jesus, himself, explained to St. Faustina how to pray at the Hour of Mercy:
Make the Stations of the Cross.
Step into a chapel and adore the Blessed Sacrament.
Immerse yourself in prayer wherever you are.
“I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion.” (Diary entry 1320)
Of course in our very busy everyday lives, it is very difficult to regularly make the Stations of the Cross at three o’clock, or escape from work to enter a chapel and pray. However, we can try to join Christ on the Cross for a few minutes within ourselves. “Immerse yourself in prayer there where you happen to be, if only for a very brief instant.” (Diary entry 1572)
Everyone should pray according to their preference, but there are a few rules that St. Faustine gave us. Other than the fact that His Passion should be meditated upon at three o’clock, our prayers should be addressed directly to Christ, through His Passion.
Jesus, by giving up His Spirit to the Father, calls us to do the same by imitating Jesus and abandoning ourselves completely. From here on, this prayer must be said with complete confidence in Jesus and in a spirit of charity towards thy neighbour just as the other pillars of the Divine Mercy devotion (especially the chaplet and the novena).
“Jesus, Jesus, I trust in You. Merciful Jesus, save us.”
“O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in you.”
“You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.”
“O Jesus, eternal Truth, our LIfe, I call upon You and beg Your mercy for poor sinners.”
If you want to offer more time in prayer to God, how about joining a prayer community of Hozana. Hozana is an online platform of prayer, with hundreds of prayer communities to meet the needs and lifestyles of all Christians. You can meditate upon the Gospel and receive a writing of a great spiritual leader each day. Learn more about Jesus through the eyes of Mary by praying the Rosary everyday. Last but not least let the Holy Spirit guide you to understanding what Jesus wants for you.