How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a powerful prayer of intercession that Jesus Christ Himself revealed to Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, in the 1930s. In His revelations, Jesus promised extraordinary graces to those who pray this chaplet faithfully—including the assurance of mercy at the hour of death, even for the most hardened sinners . Jesus told St. Faustina, “Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death… 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” (Diary, 687).

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is traditionally prayed on ordinary rosary beads, but it can also be recited without beads, using one’s fingers to count the prayers . It is an intercessory prayer that extends the offering of the Eucharist, making it especially appropriate to pray after receiving Holy Communion at Mass . The chaplet is most commonly prayed at 3:00 PM, the Hour of Great Mercy—the hour when Jesus died on the cross—but it can be prayed at any time.

This guide will walk you through how to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet step by step, including all the prayers, the promises Jesus attached to this devotion, and practical tips for incorporating this powerful prayer into your daily spiritual life.

Opening Scripture: John 20:27 – “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”

The History of the Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Divine Mercy Chaplet was given to St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) during a series of visions and conversations with Jesus. On September 13, 1935, Faustina wrote in her diary about a vision in which she saw an angel sent to destroy a city. As she began to pray, she felt the strong presence of the Holy Trinity, and after she prayed the internally instructed prayers, the angel was powerless to harm the city . Jesus later revealed to her that these prayers were to be taught to all the people of the world.

St. Faustina recorded Jesus’ words in her diary: “Encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given you” (Diary, 1541) . Pope John Paul II, who canonized St. Faustina in 2000, was instrumental in spreading the Divine Mercy devotion throughout the Church. He established Divine Mercy Sunday as the Second Sunday of Easter, and he died on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday in 2005.

READ ALSO Our Lady of Sorrows Rosary

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What You Need to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

• A standard rosary (five decades) – The chaplet uses the same beads as the traditional Dominican Rosary

• Or your fingers – If you do not have a rosary, you can count the prayers on your fingertips

• A quiet place – Where you can focus on the prayers and meditate on Jesus’ passion

The chaplet takes approximately 10 minutes to pray and can be done anywhere—at home, in the car, at church, or even at the bedside of the dying .

Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

Step 1: The Sign of the Cross

Begin by making the Sign of the Cross while holding the crucifix:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Step 2: Optional Opening Prayers

While still holding the crucifix, you may pray the optional opening prayers that Jesus taught St. Faustina:

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.

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Then, 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! (Diary, 84)

Note: These opening prayers are optional but highly recommended, as they come directly from St. Faustina’s diary .

Step 3: The Our Father

On the first large bead (the bead where you would normally pray the Our Father in the traditional Rosary), pray the 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.

Step 4: The Hail Mary

On the next bead (traditionally the Hail Mary bead), pray the Hail Mary:

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among 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.

Step 5: The Apostles’ Creed

On the next bead (the third bead of the introductory set), pray the 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; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there 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 the life everlasting. Amen.

Step 6: The Eternal Father Prayer (On the Large Beads of Each Decade)

On the large bead before each of the five decades (the beads where you would normally pray the Our Father in the traditional Rosary), 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.

Important: This prayer is said on the large bead of each of the five decades. There are five decades, so you will pray this prayer five times .

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Step 7: The “For the Sake of His Sorrowful Passion” Prayer (On the Ten Small Beads of Each Decade)

On each of the ten small beads of the decade (the beads where you would normally pray the Hail Mary in the traditional Rosary), pray:

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

Important: You will pray this prayer ten times for each of the five decades. In total, you will pray this prayer fifty times .

Step 8: Repeat Steps 6 and 7 for All Five Decades

For the remaining four decades, repeat the pattern:

1. On the large bead: “Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood…”

2. On the ten small beads: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion…”

Continue this pattern until you have completed all five decades .

Step 9: The Concluding Doxology (Holy God Prayer)

After completing the five decades, pray the following prayer three times:

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

Step 10: Optional Closing Prayer

You may conclude with this 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.

End with the Sign of the Cross.

Visual Summary: How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Promises of the Divine Mercy Chaplet

Jesus made extraordinary promises to St. Faustina for those who pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet:

Promise 1: Mercy at the Hour of Death

“Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. … 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” (Diary, 687).

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Promise 2: Jesus Stands as Merciful Savior for the Dying

“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” (Diary, 1541) .

Promise 3: Anything Can Be Obtained

St. Faustina wrote that Jesus promised that anything can be obtained with this prayer if it is compatible with His will .

Promise 4: Protection from Divine Wrath

In her vision of the angel sent to destroy a city, Faustina learned that the chaplet has the power to avert divine punishment .

When to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Hour of Great Mercy (3:00 PM)

Jesus asked St. Faustina to pray the chaplet at 3:00 PM, the hour He died on the cross. He said, “At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world” (Diary, 1320) .

Divine Mercy Sunday (The Second Sunday of Easter)

The chaplet is especially prayed on Divine Mercy Sunday, the feast established by Pope John Paul II .

Daily Devotion

Many faithful pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet daily, often at 3:00 PM .

For the Dying

Jesus specifically promised to stand as the Merciful Savior between the Father and the dying person when the chaplet is prayed in their presence .

Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet Without a Rosary

If you do not have a rosary, you can still pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Simply count the prayers on your fingers:

• Use your fingers to count the ten “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion” prayers for each of the five decades

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• Keep track of which decade you are on mentally or with small marks on paper

The prayer remains just as powerful when prayed without beads .

Printable Divine Mercy Chaplet Guide

Many Catholic resources offer free printable PDF guides for the Divine Mercy Chaplet. You can find these online through:

• The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception (the official promoters of the Divine Mercy message)

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• Catholic printing apostolates

• Local parishes

A printable guide is especially helpful for learning the prayers and keeping them handy while you pray .

Frequently Asked Questions About the Divine Mercy Chaplet

Is the Divine Mercy Chaplet the same as the Rosary?

No. While the Divine Mercy Chaplet uses the same beads as the Rosary, it is a different prayer with different prayers and intentions. The Rosary focuses on the mysteries of Christ’s life, while the Divine Mercy Chaplet focuses on imploring God’s mercy through the offering of Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

Do I need a special rosary for the Divine Mercy Chaplet?

No. You can use any standard five-decade rosary. The chaplet uses the same bead configuration as the traditional Rosary .

Can I pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for someone else?

Yes. The chaplet is an intercessory prayer, and you can offer it for the intentions of others, including the dying, the suffering, and sinners .

What if I miss a bead or lose count?

Do not worry. God knows your intention. Simply continue as best you can. The sincerity of your prayer matters more than perfect counting .

Is the Divine Mercy Chaplet only for Catholics?

The devotion originated in the Catholic Church, but Christians of other traditions who are drawn to God’s mercy can also pray the chaplet. The promises were given to St. Faustina for the whole world .

Can children pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet?

Yes. The prayers are simple enough for children to learn, especially with a printable guide. The chaplet is a beautiful way to teach children about God’s mercy.

Conclusion

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a gift from Jesus to the whole world—a simple yet powerful prayer that opens the floodgates of His mercy. Through St. Faustina, Jesus promised extraordinary graces to those who pray this chaplet with trust, especially the grace of mercy at the hour of death.

Learning how to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet is easy. With a rosary and this guide, you can begin praying this powerful devotion today. Whether you pray it at 3:00 PM, the Hour of Great Mercy, or at any other time, you are joining countless faithful who have discovered the power of imploring God’s mercy through the offering of His Son.

As you pray, remember Jesus’ words to St. Faustina: “I desire that the whole world know My infinite mercy” (Diary, 687) . Let this chaplet be your daily encounter with that mercy—both receiving it for yourself and interceding for the whole world.

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.

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