Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
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Divine Mercy Sunday is April 7, 2024
In 2000, Pope John Paul II decreed that the Sunday after Easter would be observed every year as Divine Mercy Sunday, a feast celebrating Jesus’ boundless mercy. Learn more about Divine Mercy and how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet below.
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What is Divine Mercy?
Jesus appered to St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, in the 1930s and gave her His message of Divine Mercy. In the vision, red and white rays pour from Jesus' heart, symbolizing the blood and water that flowed from His side at the crucifixion. He asked that this image be spread and honored throughout the world, with the words "Jesus, I trust in You," written on the bottom. He said. “I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish” (Diary, no. 48).
The message of Divine Mercy is that God loves us, all of us. His mercy is greater than our sins. We can trust Him, accept His mercy, and give this mercy to others.
The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a devotion that Jesus gave to St. Faustina. He asked that she spread devotion to it, so that the faithful would come to know the depths of His love for them and receive His mercy. Learn how to pray it below.
Jesus Himself asked St. Faustina that a feast of Divine Mercy be observed. He told her that on this day, He will pour His grace and mercy upon the whole world. On May 5, 2000, Pope John Paul II declared the first Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday.
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How to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
1. Make the Sign of the Cross (rosary crucifix)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. Optional Opening Prayers (first bead after crucifix)
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!3. Our Father (first of series of 3 beads)
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. Hail Mary (second of series of 3 beads)
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. The Apostles’ Creed (third of series of 3 beads)
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. The Eternal Father (final bead before rosary center)
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 10 Small Beads of Each Decade
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
8. Repeat for the remaining decades
Saying the "Eternal Father" (6) on the "Our Father" bead and then 10 "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion" (7) on the following "Hail Mary" beads.
9. Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times)
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
10. 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.
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