How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is one of the most beloved and widespread devotions within the Catholic Church. It was revealed by Jesus Christ himself to Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun canonized by Saint John Paul II, as part of the message of mercy that the Lord wanted to convey to the world through her. This prayer was born in the 1930s, during the revelations that Faustina received and which were recorded in her spiritual Diary, where Jesus told her:

“Pray this chaplet unceasingly that I have taught you. Whoever recites it will receive great mercy at the hour of death.” (Diary, 687)

The Divine Mercy Chaplet can be prayed at any time of the day, but Jesus especially asked that it be prayed at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, known as the Hour of Mercy, in remembrance of His death on the cross. This moment is ideal for uniting ourselves spiritually to Christ’s redemptive sacrifice and praying for our intentions and for the whole world.

Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet is an act of faith and trust in God’s infinite love. Through it, we offer to God the Father the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of His Son, in reparation for our sins and those of the world. It is a simple prayer that can be prayed with a common rosary, and has even been recommended to accompany the dying, as a source of comfort and hope.

Below, we explain step by step how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet correctly.

Step #1: The Sign of the Cross

Make the sign of the cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Step #2: Our Father, Hail Mary, and Apostles’ Creed

Pray the following prayers:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

I believe 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.

Amen.

Step #3: The large beads of the rosary

On each large bead (those used for the Our Father), 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.

Step #4: The small beads of the rosary

On each of the 10 small beads (those of the Hail Mary), pray:

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

(This set of prayers from steps 4 and 5 is repeated for the five decades of the rosary.)

Step #5: Final Doxology

Pray three times:

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

Step #6: Final Prayer

Saint Faustina wrote this prayer that can be said at the end:

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.

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is not just a pious devotion, but a concrete way to approach the Heart of Jesus and ask for His love and compassion for us and for all humanity. In a world full of wounds, divisions, and suffering, this prayer becomes a bridge of grace and a source of peace for the soul. Jesus promised that, when prayed with confidence, He would pour out oceans of mercy upon souls, especially upon the sinners most in need.

I invite you to include the Divine Mercy Chaplet in your daily life, especially at the Hour of Mercy, at 3:00 p.m. Pray for your intentions, for your loved ones, and for those who are suffering the most. This prayer has changed lives and continues to work silent miracles in the hearts of many faithful. Always remember the central message of this devotion: “Jesus, I trust in You.”