How to Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a powerful prayer Jesus gave to St. Faustina for the salvation of sinners, for the dying, and for the entire world. Jesus attached extraordinary promises to this devotion for those who pray it with trust—for themselves or for others.
Promises of Jesus for Those Who Pray the Chaplet
“By saying the Chaplet you are bringing mankind closer to Me.”
“At the hour of their death, I defend every soul that will say this chaplet.”
“When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying soul.”
“Through this Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My Will.”
The Chaplet can be prayed at any time, but Jesus asked that it be prayed especially at the 3 o’clock Hour of Mercy, the hour of His death on the Cross.
How to Recite the Chaplet
The Chaplet is prayed using ordinary Rosary beads of five decades.
1. Make the Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. Optional Opening Prayers
St. Faustina’s Prayer for Sinners
O Jesus, eternal Truth, our Life, I call upon You and I beg Your mercy for poor sinners. O sweetest Heart of my Lord, full of pity and unfathomable mercy, I plead with You for poor sinners. O Most Sacred Heart, Fount of Mercy from which gush forth rays of inconceivable graces upon the entire human race, I beg of You light for poor sinners. O Jesus, be mindful of Your own bitter Passion and do not permit the loss of souls redeemed at so dear a price of Your most precious Blood. O Jesus, when I consider the great price of Your Blood, I rejoice at its immensity, for one drop alone would have been enough for the salvation of all sinners. Although sin is an abyss of wickedness and ingratitude, the price paid for us can never be equalled. Therefore, let every soul trust in the Passion of the Lord, and place its hope in His mercy. God will not deny His mercy to anyone. Heaven and earth may change, but God’s mercy will never be exhausted. Oh, what immense joy burns in my heart when I contemplate Your incomprehensible goodness, O Jesus! I desire to bring all sinners to Your feet that they may glorify Your mercy throughout endless ages.
Prayer from the Diary
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 fount of mercy for us,
I trust in You!
3. Our Father
Our Father, Who art in Heaven…
4. Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace…
5. The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty…
6. On the “Our Father” Bead
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.
7. On Each of the 10 “Hail Mary” Beads
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
have mercy on us and on the whole world.
8. Repeat for All Five Decades
Repeat step 6 on each “Our Father” bead and step 7 on each set of 10 beads.
9. Conclude by Praying Three Times:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,
have mercy on us and on the whole world.
10. 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.
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… (full text kept as provided)
The 3 O’Clock Hour of Mercy
Jesus asked that we especially remember Him at the hour of His Passion — 3pm. Even a brief moment of prayer at this hour obtains great graces. Whenever possible, praying the Chaplet at this hour is especially powerful.