What is the Divine Mercy Chaplet?

Divine Mercy Sunday, formally instituted by St. John Paul II on April 30, 2000 during the canonization of St. Faustina, is always the second Sunday of Easter. Like other popes, St. John Paul II was a major promoter of the message of Divine Mercy, often called an “apostle” of Divine Mercy. He died on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday in 2005.

Perhaps the most famous devotion of Divine Mercy, aside from the related Chaplet of Divine Mercy, is the image of Divine Mercy.

According to the U.S. bishops, in 1931, Jesus appeared to St. Faustina in a vision, with His right hand raised in a blessing and His left touching his garment above his heart. St. Faustina recorded these visions in her diary.

Red and white rays emanate from His heart, symbolizing the blood and water that was poured out for the salvation and the sanctification of the faithful.

PRAYER GUIDE

How To Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

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, envelope the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

(Repeat 3 times)

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

USING A ROSARY PRAY...

Start with: Our Father, Hail Mary and the Apostle’s Creed

For each of the five decades, on each “Our Father” bead of the rosary, pray:

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 each of the 10 “Hail Mary” beads, pray:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Concluding prayer (Repeat 3 times)

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

Optional Closing 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.