How To Pray The Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is an immensely powerful prayer given to us by Our Lord Himself. He gave it to St. Faustina Kowalska as part of the revelations of His Divine Mercy, speaking to her of its great efficacy in converting sinners and obtaining graces for ourselves and for the dying.

He said to her:

“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” and later, “When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person not as the just judge but as the Merciful Savior.”

The Chaplet is very quick and simple to recite. It only takes five minutes and can be said using an ordinary five-decade Rosary. Pray the Chaplet using the diagram below.

1. Make the Sign of the Cross. 

2. On the first Our Father bead: 

Optional opening prayer:

“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 fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!”

3. On the first three Hail Mary beads:

Pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed:

“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.”

“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.”

“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 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.”

4. On the next Our Father bead (or the centerpiece), 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.”

5. On the ten Hail Mary beads, pray:

“For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

6. Repeat 4 and 5 for all five decades.

7. At the conclusion of all five decades, pray:

“Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” (Repeat three times)

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. Amen.”

8. Finish with the Sign of the Cross.