“Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My Mercy.” (Jesus to St. Faustina, Diary, 300)
Prayed on ordinary rosary beads, the Divine Mercy Chaplet is a series of prayers revealed by Jesus to St. Faustina, imploring God’s mercy.
What is the Divine Mercy Chaplet?
In the 1930s, Jesus appeared to St. Faustina, a humble young religious sister in Poland, revealing a series of messages reminding the world of God’s infinite mercy and the need to extend mercy to others.
Through this series of revelations recorded in the Diary of St. Marie Faustina Kowalska, Jesus communicated anew the timeless truth of God’s merciful love, especially through four channels: (1) the Image of Divine Mercy, (2) Feast of Divine Mercy, (3) praying at the Hour of Great Mercy, and (4) the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
The prayers of the chaplet were dictated to St. Faustina by Jesus Himself on September 13-14, 1935, as a prayer of atonement to be shared with the whole world.
Why pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet?
Many today doubt their sins can be forgiven, but Jesus desires that we trust in His infinite mercy. Jesus asked St. Faustina to encourage souls to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, declaring those who recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. Even the most hardened of sinners, if they recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet just once, receive grace from Jesus’ infinite mercy. To the humble Sr. Faustina, Jesus said:
“I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy… Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will.” (Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 687, 1541, 1731)
When to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet?
The Divine Mercy Chapel can be prayed anytime in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. It is also especially fitting to pray at the following times:
- After Mass – Since it extends the offering of the Holy Eucharist, it is fitting to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet after receiving Holy Communion.
- Good Friday through Divine Mercy Sunday – Our Lord asked St. Faustina to recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet during the nine days leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter) saying, “By this Novena [of Chaplets] I will grant every possible grace to souls.” (Diary, 796)
- The Hour of Great Mercy (3:00 p.m.) – It is fitting to pray the chaplet at three o’clock each afternoon recalling the time of Christ’s death on the cross. Jesus revealed to St. Faustina, “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, 1572).
How to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet:
Using an ordinary rosary with five decades, pray the following:
1. On the Crucifix, make the Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. On the first bead, pray the optional opening prayers: 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. (Diary, 1319)
(Repeat three times)
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You! (Diary, 84)
3. On the first of bead of the group of three, pray 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.
4. On the second bead of the group of three, pray the Hail Mary: Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
5. On the third bead of the group of three, pray 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 from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come 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.
6. On the single bead, pray the “Eternal Father” prayer: Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
7. On the ten small beads of each decade, pray: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
8. For the remaining decades, repeat: Pray the "Eternal Father" on the large bead and then ten "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion" prayers on the following ten small beads.
9. Conclude with the “Holy God” prayer (repeat three times):
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
10. Optional Closing Prayers Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. (Diary, 950)
Related Devotions
How to Pray The Holy Rosary, including
Joyful Mysteries - Rosary for Monday and Rosary for Saturday
Sorrowful Mysteries - Rosary for Tuesday
Glorious Mysteries - Rosary for Wednesday and Rosary for Sunday
Luminous Mysteries - Rosary for Thursday
How to Pray The Seven Sorrows Rosary.