An inner voice taught Sister M. Faustina Kowalska of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy this chaplet which is prayed on a traditional rosary. Jesus later said to Sister Faustina: “Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who says it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most hardened sinner, if he recites this chaplet even once, will receive grace from My infinite mercy. I want the whole world to know My infinite mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My mercy.”

This chaplet is especially recommended as the following times: immediately following the Mass (as an extension of the Eucharistic offering), at the 3:00 hour (recalling the hour of Christ’s death on the cross), and during the nine days before the Feast of Mercy (the Sunday following Easter).

The image of the Divine Mercy was also entrusted to Saint Faustina. She was told that the rays emanating from Christ are those of the water and blood that issued forth upon His death on the cross. Below the image are the words, “Jesus I trust in You”. Those who cherish this image of our Lord are promised to be forever in His care.

This chaplet is prayed on a standard 5 Decade Dominican rosary, but with a special Divine Mercy centre or medal. A corona, like a halo, is the crown of light that surrounds a radiant source. In the image of the Divine Mercy, Christ is surrounded by a corona of red and blue lights, representing the water and blood of His passion. The beads are often blue and/or red.

Prayers

Introductory Prayers (optional):

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!

On the Cross say one Our Father, one Hail Mary and the Apostles’ Creed.

General Prayers:

Begin at the divider bead below the centre. Pray:

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.

Now moving through the loop, pray the following on each of the ten prayer beads:

For the sake of his sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Repeat the above pattern four more times – once for each group of one divider bead and ten prayer beads.

Concluding Prayers:

On the three small prayer beads of the tail pray:

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Amen.

Note: These prayers are commonly chanted. To view or listen to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy see the EWTN website: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/Mercy/audvid.htm