The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a powerful prayer revealed by Jesus Himself to St Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, in the 1930s. It calls upon God’s mercy for the whole world, especially for sinners and the dying. Jesus made extraordinary promises to those who pray this chaplet, especially at the hour of death.
The chaplet is prayed using a standard rosary and takes approximately twenty minutes. Our Lord specifically asked that it be prayed at the Hour of Mercy—3:00 PM, the hour of His death on the Cross.
Our Lord appeared to St Faustina and dictated a message of Divine Mercy for the entire world. He instructed her to have an image painted with the words “Jesus, I trust in You” and to establish the Feast of Divine Mercy on the Sunday after Easter.
St Faustina recorded these revelations in her Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul. St John Paul II canonized her in 2000 and designated Divine Mercy Sunday as a feast for the universal Church.
“I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fountain of My mercy, that they may draw strength and refreshment and whatever grace they need.” — Jesus to St Faustina
Begin with the Sign of the Cross. Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed. On the Our Father beads: “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.”
On the Hail Mary beads: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” Repeat for five decades. Conclude by praying three times: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
Jesus promised: “Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death.” He also said that when the chaplet is prayed in the presence of the dying, He stands between the Father and the dying person as a merciful Savior, not a just Judge.
The image of Jesus with red and white rays streaming from His heart was painted according to St Faustina’s vision. The red ray represents blood—the life of souls; the white ray represents water—which makes souls righteous. The words “Jezu, Ufam Tobie” (“Jesus, I Trust in You”) express the essence of the devotion.
Yes. A rosary is only a counting aid, not a requirement. You can count the beads on your fingers or use any beads you have. What matters is the prayer itself and the intention behind it. Many people pray it while driving or walking, keeping track silently in their minds.
Pray it whenever you can. The 3 PM hour is a special invitation, not a strict rule that invalidates the prayer. Jesus asked for it at the hour of His death, but He understands your obligations. Offer it later with the same trust, and the grace remains. Many pray it at night before bed.
They are different prayers that share the same beads. The rosary meditates on the life of Christ through mysteries and repeats the Hail Mary. The chaplet focuses on God's mercy, using the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Creed, then the eternal Father invocation on each bead. Both are valid and can be prayed on the same rosary.
No, Confession is not required to pray it. However, Jesus tied the greatest promises to being in a state of grace, which normally means sacramental Confession for serious sin. If you are aware of grave sin, go to Confession soon. Otherwise, pray with a sincere heart and trust in His mercy.
Anyone may pray it. The chaplet is a simple prayer of trust in God's mercy, and children can learn it with a short explanation of each line. Non Catholics are welcome to pray it privately. The promises are tied to the heart's disposition, so approach it with faith and humility.
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