The Divine Mercy Chaplet
How to Pray the Chaplet
The Lord said to Saint Faustina, “You will recite this chaplet on the beads of the Rosary in the following manner:
First of all you will say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Apostles Creed.
Then on the Our Father beads you will say the following words:
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 the those of the whole world.On the Hail Mary beads you will say the following words:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and the whole world.In conclusion after five decades you will say three times:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
When to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
The Divine Mercy Chaplet is often said at the three o’clock pm hour, but can be said at any time. Jesus said, “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 soul. In this hour you can obtain everything for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world – mercy triumphed over justice…”
Our Lord said to Saint Faustina, “Unceasingly recite this chaplet that I have taught you. Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death…Write that when they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the Just Judge, but as the merciful Savior.”
The Divine Mercy Image
Jesus said, “Paint a picture according to the vision you see and with the signature: “Jesus, I trust in You”. I desire that this picture be venerated first in your chapel and then throughout the whole world.”
“The rays represent the Blood and Water which gushed forth from the depths of my Mercy when my agonizing Heart was pierced on the cross. The pale rays symbolize the water, which cleanses and purifies the soul: the red rays represent the blood, which gives new life to the soul. These rays will shield the soul before the justice of My Father. Fortunate are those who live in this shelter, for the justice of God will not reach them there.”
Jesus’ Mercy
Jesus told Saint Faustina, “My daughter, speak to the world of my inexhaustible Mercy. I desire that this feast be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, especially for poor sinners. The very depths of My Mercy will be opened on that day. I will pour out a sea of graces upon those souls that will approach the fount of My Mercy on this day.” Jesus said, “Let no soul fear to come to Me, even if its sins be as scarlet. This feast emerged from the bosom of My Mercy and is founded in the depths of My Mercies.”
Jesus also said to Saint Faustina, “Write the greater the sinner, the greater the mercy. Summon all those to confidence in the incomprehensible depth of My Mercy for I desire to save all. The well of Mercy was opened wide with a lance on the Cross, for all souls. I do not exclude anyone.”
“The Graces of My Mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, that is TRUST. The more a soul trusts the more it will receive.” “I desire the confidence of My People. Let not even the weak and very sinful fear to approach me: even if their sins be as numerous as all the sands of the earth all will be forgiven in the fathomless pit of My Mercy.”
“Before I come as the just one, I first open wide the gates of My Mercy. He who does not pass through the gates of my Mercy must pass through the gates of justice.” On that day priests are to speak to souls about this great and unfathomable Mercy of Mine.” “My great delight is to unite Myself with souls. …When I come to a human hear in Holy Communion, My hands are full of all kinds of graces which I want to give to the soul.”
When to Celebrate Divine Mercy
“I desire that it be celebrated with great solemnity on the first Sunday after Easter.”
*Jesus says that on the first Sunday after Easter, “The soul that will go to confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” Our Lord does not explicitly say we have to get confession on the Feast itself. If confession is not possible on the day it should be as close to the day as possible. Saint Faustina herself made it on the Saturday before.
Jesus says: “When you go to confession, to this fountain of mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul.”
*The feast of the Divine Mercy should be preceded by a Novena of Chaplets to the Divine Mercy beginning on Good Friday.
Sister Faustina wrote in her Diary: “The Lord told me to recite this chaplet for the nine days before the Feast of Mercy. It is to begin on Good Friday. Then he told me: By this novena I will grant every possible grace to souls.”
Acts of Mercy
Jesus also calls us to be merciful:
“If a soul does not exercise mercy in some way or other it will not obtain My mercy on judgment day. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasures for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall my judgment with mercy.”
“I am giving you 3 ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first – by deed, the second – by word, and the third – by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of my mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy. Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be acts of mercy, and I demand the worship of My mercy through the solemn celebration of the Feast and through the veneration of the image which is painted. By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works.
The church teaches us to be merciful in various ways:
THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY
- Feed the hungry.
- Give drink to the thirsty.
- Clothe the naked.
- Shelter the homeless
- Comfort the imprisoned.
- Visit the sick.
- Bury the dead.
THE SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY
- Admonish sinners.
- Instruct the uninformed.
- Counsel the doubtful.
- Comfort the sorrowful.
- Be patient with those in error.
- Forgive offences.
- Pray for the living and the dead.
Additional prayers can be said at the end of the chaplet for the conversion of sinners and for the sake of one’s country.
Prayer for the Conversion of Sinners
JESUS SAID, “Call upon My Mercy on behalf of sinners; I desire their salvation. When you say this prayer, with a contrite heart and with faith on behalf of some sinner, I will give that soul the grace of conversion.” The prayer is:
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus
as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You.”
(Say three times)
Prayer for One’s Country
Most Merciful Jesus, I beseech you through the intercession of your saints, and especially the intercession of your dearest Mother who nurtured you from childhood; bless my native land. I beg you, Jesus, look on our sins, but on the tears of little children, on the hunger and cold they suffer. Jesus, for the sake of these innocent ones, grant me the grace that I am asking of you for my country. Amen.
*For information on the Divine Mercy Chaplet Novena visit:
Marians of the Immaculate Conception: marian.org