Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a beautiful set of prayers similar to a Rosary. In fact, it's said on Rosary beads. It was composed by Saint Faustina Kowałska following a series of visions she had from Jesus Christ, who revealed Himself as the Divine Mercy.
Steps
- Make the Sign of the Cross.
- Say these 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, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
- O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You! (Repeat 3 times)
- Pray the Lord's Prayer.
- 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.
- Say the Hail Mary.
- Hail, Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among 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.
- Say the Apostle's Creed.
- I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary; He suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to Hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; He will come again 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.
- Say the Eternal Father.
- 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.
- Say "For the Sake..." prayer on the ten small bead of each decade.
- For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
- Repeat for the remaining decades.
- Conclude with reciting the Trisagion ("thrice holy") 3 times.
- Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
- Say this Closing Prayer (optional).
- 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.
- Say the Divine Mercy Prayer (optional)
- O greatly Merciful God, Infinite Goodness, today all mankind calls out from the abyss of its misery to Your mercy---to Your compassion, O God; and it is with its mighty voice of misery that it cries out. Gracious God do not reject the prayer of this earth's exiles! O Lord, Goodness beyond our understanding, Who are acquainted with our misery through and through, and know that by our own power we cannot ascend to You, we implore You; anticipate us with Your Grace and keep on increasing Your mercy in us, that we may faithfully do Your holy will all through our life and at death's hour. Let the omnipotence of Your mercy shield us from the darts of our salvation's enemies, that we may with confidence, as Your children await Your final coming - that day known to You alone. And we expect to obtain everything promised us by Jesus in spite of all our wretchedness. For Jesus is our Hope:Through His merciful Heart as through an open gate we pass through to heaven.
- End with the Sign of the Cross.
Rosary Prayer
Doc:Rosary in English,Rosary in Latin
Tips
- As with the Rosary, while it is helpful to have beads (and the Chaplet is easier to say on a full five-decade Rosary than on a one-decade or ring rosary), it is not necessary to have the beads. You can say the prayers on your hands by using one hand to count the five decades and the other hand to count the ten prayers by counting the fingers twice. However, using rosary beads is easier.
- There is also a Novena of Divine Mercy traditionally prayed between Good Friday and the Feast of Divine Mercy (the Sunday after Easter, traditionally known as Low Sunday).
- As with the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is an indulgenced prayer (see the Marians' website for details); however, it is NOT magic. Think about what you're saying, and try to draw a little closer to God and a little further from sin as you say the Chaplet.
- Another way of reflecting whilst praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is to focus on the Five Holy Wounds of Christ: His head, His side, His two hands and two feet (alternatively, His side wound, His two hand wounds, and His two feet). Pray each decade while reflecting on the many sins we commit with our head (mind), our hands, our feet, etc. For example, we commit the sin of gossip with our mouth and our mind, the sin of assault with our feet and hands, the sin of envy with our eyes, etc.
- Offer each decade for a person who particularly needs prayer, e.g., a sick relative.
Warnings
- Praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a good way of reminding yourself that God is God, and you are not, and that you do need Jesus Christ as your Saviour. It's also a healthy reminder that while we all have sinned, God is ready and willing to forgive us, but not just so we can go out and sin again.
Things You'll Need
- Standard Rosary beads or 10 fingers
- Image or icon of the Divine Mercy (optional)
