Chaplet of Divine Mercy [PDF Download and Free Guide]

New to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy? We’ve provided a How to Pray the Divine Mercy PDF to help you pray!

Praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a wonderful and powerful way to grow deeper in faith and deeper in the trust of Jesus. Also known as the Divine Mercy Chaplet, through this prayer we ask for God’s mercy.

Jesus' mercy is limitless. It's always there for us, and He's just waiting for us to take it. We don't always ask for it, and we don't always believe in it. Because He longs to share His Divine Mercy with us, Jesus provides us with a lovely way to do so: through devotion to the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Below is guide to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, how to pray the prayer, it's history, and a Chaplet of Divine Mercy PDF Guide.

How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is commonly prayed on a Catholic Rosary, though to do so is not necessary. A Rosary has a set of introductory prayers, five repeated decades, and a set of closing prayers. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is similar and uses the beads of the Rosaries for specific prayers.

The Structure of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

1. The Introductory Prayers
2. The Decades
3. The Conclusion Prayers

Introductory Prayers:

1. On the crucifix, make the sign of the cross.
2. On the first bead, recite Saint Faustina’s Prayer for Sinners and on the next three small beads repeat the “O Blood and Water..” prayer three times.
3. On the fifth, larger bead, pray the Our Father.
4. While still on the fifth bead, pray the Hail Mary.
5. While still on the fifth bead, pray the Apostles’ Creed.

The Decades:

1. On the first larger bead (the Rosary’s Our Father bead) Pray one Eternal Father Prayer.
2. On the 10 smaller beads (the Rosary’s Hail Mary beads) pray “For the sake..” Prayer.
3. Repeat this pattern four more times.

Conclusion Prayers

1. After saying all five decades, Pray the Holy God Prayer three times.
2. Conclude with praying the closing prayer.

The Prayers of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Saint Faustina’s Prayer for Sinners

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 fount of mercy for us, I trust in You! (x3)

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, Amen.

Hail Mary

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.

Apostles’ 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.

Eternal Father

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.

“For the sake…” (Prayed on the decades)

His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy God

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. (x3)

Closing Prayer

Let us pray: 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.

Chaplet of Divine Mercy [PDF Download and Free Guide]

Where did the Divine Mercy Chaplet come from?

Several visions and messages from Jesus were given to a Polish nun named Faustina Kowalska during the 1930s. During these private revelations, a strong emphasis was placed on God's Divine Mercy.

The Divine Mercy Chaplet was given to St. Faustina in 1935. St. Faustina was a humble nun in the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy Congregation. Throughout her life, St. Faustina received revelations from Jesus, and diligently recorded them in her diary, entitled Divine Mercy in my Soul. In 1935, an angel appeared to St. Faustina and told her to pray for mercy. The following day, Christ appeared to her and urged her to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

She wrote down this revelation 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. 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. Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this Chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy. I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy. Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will.

St. Faustina’s Diary

When to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet PDF?

At 3pm Each Day

3:00 p.m. is known as the "hour of great mercy" in commemoration of Christ's death on the cross on Good Friday. Similarly, at this time, many people pray the Stations of the Cross.

Following Catholic Mass

The Divine Mercy is an intercessory prayer that extends the Eucharistic offering, it is especially appropriate to use it after receiving Holy Communion at Mass.

Prior to the Feast of Mercy The Chaplet can be prayed at any time, but Our Lord specifically instructed St. Faustina to pray it as a novena nine days before the Feast of Mercy (the first Sunday after Easter). "By this Novena [of Chaplets], I will grant every possible grace to souls," he continued. The feast is normally in the middle of April.

Conclusion to the Divine Mercy Chaplet PDF Guide

What is the purpose of praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet? Why should we pray this “New” prayer? We pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for mercy in our own lives as well as in the lives of our neighbors. And we pray to remind ourselves that we must rely on God; we must recognize our weaknesses and replace our anxieties and worries with unfailing trust in God. We pray so that we can truly live out the words "Jesus, I trust in You." Trust in Jesus and Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet!

Want to learn more? Click on our other Catholic PDF guides below!

How to Pray the Catholic Rosary

How to Pray the Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Prayers after Communion - What to Pray After Communion.

 

The Rosary Card - Built For Convenience

As you learn to pray the Rosary, check out our Rosary Cards. They are designed for convenience (same size as a Credit Card) and make it much easier to pray the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet often. 

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