Introduction

Hello! The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a powerful prayer in the Catholic tradition that focuses on asking for God’s mercy for ourselves and the whole world. It’s a simple yet profound devotion, often prayed using Rosary beads, and it’s especially linked to Jesus’ promise of mercy as shared through St. Faustina. Don’t worry if you’re new to this—we’ll walk through it together, step by step. Let’s begin!

What You’ll Need

• Rosary Beads: A standard Rosary with five decades (groups of ten beads) works perfectly. If you don’t have one, you can use your fingers to count.
• Time: About 5-10 minutes.
• A Quiet Space: A calm place to focus and pray.

Step-by-Step Guide to Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet

1. Make the Sign of the Cross
   • Hold the crucifix (or your hands if no beads) and say: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
   • This opens the prayer and invites God’s presence.
2. Say the Opening Prayers (Optional but Traditional)
   • On the first standalone bead after the crucifix, pray: “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, on the same bead or the next, say 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!”
   • These set the tone by recalling Jesus’ sacrifice and mercy.
3. Pray the Our Father
   • Move to the next standalone bead (or count one if using fingers) and say: “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. Pray the Hail Mary
   • On the next bead, say: “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.”
5. Pray the Apostles’ Creed
   • On the next bead or space, recite: “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; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall 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. Begin the Decades: Pray the Divine Mercy Prayer
   • On the standalone bead before each decade (or every fifth count if using fingers), 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.”
   • Then, on each of the ten beads in the decade, pray: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
   • Repeat this for all five decades: one “Eternal Father” prayer followed by ten “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion” prayers per decade.
7. Conclude the Chaplet
   • After the fifth decade, pray the following three times: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
   • This is called the Trisagion (meaning “thrice holy”) and seals the prayer.
8. Optional Closing Prayer
   • Add this final 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. Amen.”
9. Make the Sign of the Cross
   • End as you began: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

When to Pray It

• The Divine Mercy Chaplet can be prayed anytime, but it’s especially encouraged at 3:00 PM (the “Hour of Mercy,” when Jesus died on the cross) or during the Divine Mercy Novena, which starts on Good Friday and ends on Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter).

Tips for Beginners

• Focus on the words and imagine Jesus’ mercy flowing out to you and the world.