# Third Day of the Divine Mercy Novena
*2016-06-05*

> Bill Young leads the third day of the Divine Mercy novena, honors St. Boniface, and guides listeners through the prayers of the Our Father, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

## Feast of St. Boniface

Today is the feast of St. Boniface, the great apostle of Germany in the eighth century. He converted many pagans, became the first bishop of Mainz, and was martyred in 754. Let us ask his intercession as we pray.

## Personal Update

On a personal note, I’ve been using a food‑tracking app for the past week and have lost seven pounds. My goal is to reach my target weight by September. I’m also hoping to travel to Rome in September, during the Year of Mercy, to visit the four doors of the Divine Mercy, the 16th Station of the Cross, and to witness the canonization of Mother Teresa by Pope Francis.

## Opening Prayers

We begin with the Our Father:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Followed by the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

## Chaplet of Divine Mercy

We pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, beginning each decade with the Our Father and the Hail Mary, then saying:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, soul and divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, an expiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. (Repeated ten times per decade, for five decades.)

After the five decades we conclude with:

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Amen.

## Closing Prayer

Eternal God, whose mercy knows no bounds, look kindly upon us. Increase Your mercy in our hearts so that in difficult moments we do not despair but trust in Your holy will, which is love and mercy itself. Amen.

May the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be with you. God bless you and have a peaceful Sunday evening.

*May the endless mercy of Christ fill our hearts as we journey together toward His kingdom.*