How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
April 21, 2025 2025-04-21 14:56How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy
A Brief History
St. Maria Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938), a humble Polish nun of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, received a series of visions of Jesus beginning in 1931. In those revelations the Lord entrusted her with a message of Divine Mercy for the whole world and taught her the Chaplet—a set of prayers that call upon God’s mercy “for us and on the whole world.” Written in her Diary (§476–§687), the Chaplet combines the language of the Mass (“Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity”) with the plea of Calvary (“have mercy on us”), inviting the faithful to intercede for sinners and to trust in God’s inexhaustible love. Approved by the Church in 1979 and popularized by Pope St. John Paul II, the Chaplet has become a global devotional practice, especially at the “Hour of Mercy,” 3 p.m., when we recall Christ’s saving death.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Make the Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening 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.
(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!
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.
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.
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.
Repeat this section 5 times…
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.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. (10x)
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. (3x)
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.
Amen.
