What Is the Divine Mercy Chaplet?
The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a prayer of devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ, a concept that was revealed to Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun and mystic. The prayer is based on the revelations of Jesus Christ to Saint Faustina, who was told to pray it as a means of invoking God’s mercy on the world.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is prayed using a rosary. Most Catholic youth are familiar with the traditional prayers of the rosary – Hail Mary, Glory Be, Our Father – but the Divine Mercy Chaplet prayers are less widely know.
The Divine Mercy Chaplet consists of a series of prayers and meditations, which are focused on the Passion of Jesus Christ and His Divine Mercy. The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a devotion which reminds us that God is merciful and that we too must show mercy.
The chaplet is commonly said at 3PM, the hour of our Lord’s death. But it can be said any time of day.
It is often said for someone who is dying, especially when death is very near. This is a reminder that we all pass away, and when we do, we are all dependent on the mercy of Christ.
It is also sometimes said as a novena, especially from Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday (the 2nd Sunday of Easter).
How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
Make the Sign of the Cross
Say the 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.
Then repeat this prayer three times:
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!
Next say an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and the Apostle’s Creed
On the large bead before each decade say
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.
On the ten small beads of each decade say
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Repeat for the remaining decades
After the five decades are complete, say this prayer three times:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Then close with this prayer:
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.
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