Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska
1320 At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to enter into My mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion….
(60) + J. M. J.
1572 I remind you, My daughter, that as often as you hear 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 (145) 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. My daughter, try your best to make the Stations of the Cross in this hour, provided that your duties permit it; and if you are not able to make the Stations of the Cross, then at least step into the chapel for a moment and adore, in the Blessed Sacrament, My Heart, which is full of mercy; and should you be unable to step into the chapel, immerse yourself in prayer there where you happen to be, if only for a very brief instant. I claim veneration for My mercy from every creature, but above all from you, since it is to you that I have given the most profound understanding of this mystery.
Scripture
John 14:13-14
13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son;
14 if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.
Matthew 27:45-50
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabach-thani?" that is, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
47 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "This man is calling Elijah."
48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink.
49 But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him."
50 And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
27:45 sixth hour . . . ninth hour: i.e., from noon until 3 P.M.
• The phenomena surrounding the Crucifixion recall Amos 8:8-10. In context, Amos prophesies the day of the Lord, when God would judge his enemies and the sinners of his people. On this day, the land would "tremble", the sun would "go down at noon", and there would be "lamentation" like the "mourning for an only son".
• Symbolically (St. Cyprian, De bono patientiae, 7): the disturbances of Good Friday signify creation's distress over the death of its Creator. The sun in particular withdraws its rays to look away, lest it be forced to gaze upon the crime of Jesus' enemies.
Three Ways to Keep the Three O’clock Hour:
1. We can immerse ourselves in the Lord’s Passion, especially in his abandonment on the Cross.
We can do this briefly (even “for an instant”) or for a longer period of time.
For example, we can simply look at a crucifix, think of Jesus in his Passion,
or pray the Three O’clock Prayer:
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 (n. 84). …
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You (n. 1319).
If we have more time, we can pray the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary or make the Stations of the Cross.
2. We can present our petitions to the Father by virtue of his Son’s Passion.
Our petitions should be made with bold confidence because of the indescribable power of Jesus’ Passion and the great promises attached to the Hour of Great Mercy.
I recommend presenting one’s petitions in the context of praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
(Don’t forget to pray for unrepentant sinners and the dying, especially for unrepentant sinners who are dying.)
3. The three o’clock hour is a great time to visit Jesus, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.