The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is one of the most powerful prayers of trust and surrender in our Catholic faith. It was given to the world through Saint Faustina Kowalska, a humble Polish nun, in the 1930s. Jesus appeared to her and asked that she spread devotion to His Divine Mercy: His endless love and compassion for every soul. The chaplet is prayed using ordinary rosary beads, and it centers on asking for God’s mercy for ourselves and for the whole world.
Saint Faustina recorded Jesus’ words in her diary, “Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you… Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death.” This simple but profound prayer invites us to rest in the heart of Christ and to trust that His mercy is greater than any sin, fear, or uncertainty we face.
1. Make the Sign of the Cross
2. Our Father
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.
3. 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 death. Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
4. Apostle's Creed
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.
5. Eternal Father..
On every large bead, recite this prayer:
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.
6. For the Sake...
On the 10 small beads of each decade, recite this prayer:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
7. Concluding Doxology (repeat 3x)
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
8. 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. Amen.
