Divine Mercy Chaplet
In addition to the Novena to The Divine
Mercy, which Our Lord gave to Blessed Faustina for her own personal use, He
revealed to her a powerful prayer that He wanted everyone to say -the Chaplet of
Mercy. Blessed Faustina prayed the Chaplet almost constantly, especially for
the dying, and the Lord urged her to encourage others to say it too, promising
extraordinary graces to those who would recite this special prayer.
The Chaplet can be said anytime, but the Lord specifically asked that
it be recited as a novena, especially on the nine days before the Feast of
Mercy. And He promised, "By this Novena (of Chaplets) I will grant every
possible grace to souls" (796).
We can pray this Novena of Chaplets for our own personal intentions or
we can offer it together with the Novena to The Divine Mercy for the daily
intentions dictated by Our Lord to Blessed Faustina.
HOW TO RECITE
THE CHAPLET OF MERCY
The Chaplet of Mercy is recited
using ordinary rosary beads of five decades. At the Shrine of The Divine Mercy
in Stockbridge, Massachusetts the Chaplet is preceded by two opening prayers
from the Diary of Blessed Faustina and followed by a closing prayer.
optional
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, envelope the whole world and empty
Your-self out upon us (1319).
0 Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain
of mercy for us, I trust in you! (84)
OPENING
PRAYERS
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, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are
you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary,
Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and
earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by
the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead.
On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the
right hand of the Father. He will come again 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.
On the Large Bead before Each Decade: say
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 10 Small Beads of Each Decade: say
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and
on the whole world.
Conclude with:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on
us and on the whole world. (Say
three times)
optional
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 (950).
Our Lord said to Blessed Faustina: 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 (687, 1541, 1731).
Divine Mercy Novena
It is greatly recommended that the following
novena intentions and prayers be prayed together with the Chaplet of Divine
Mercy, since Our Lord specifically asked for a novena of Chaplets, especially
before the Feast of Mercy.
FIRST DAY
"Today bring to Me
ALL MANKIND, ESPECIALLY ALL SINNERS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you
will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges
Me."
Most Merciful Jesus,
whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look
upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness.
Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let
us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the
Father and the Holy Spirit.
Eternal Father, turn
Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all
enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His
sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of
Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.
SECOND DAY
"Today bring to Me
THE SOULS OF PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who
gave Me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels
My mercy flows out upon mankind."
Most Merciful Jesus,
from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women
consecrated to Your service, that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and
that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.
Eternal Father, turn
Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard -- upon the
souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your
blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded,
impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in
the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for
ages without end. Amen.
THIRD DAY
"Today bring to Me
ALL DEVOUT AND FAITHFUL SOULS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls
brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that drop of
consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness."
Most Merciful Jesus,
from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to
each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and
never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous
love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.
Eternal Father, turn
Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround
them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose
the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and
Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.
FOURTH DAY
"Today bring to Me
THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD AND THOSE WHO DO NOT
YET KNOW ME. I was thinking also of them during
My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in
the ocean of My mercy."
Most compassionate
Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your
Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of
those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them
that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not
let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.
Eternal Father, turn
Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of
those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most
Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls
do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may
extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
FIFTH DAY
"Today bring to Me
THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM
MY CHURCH, and immerse them in the ocean of My
mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My
Church. As they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal and in this way
they alleviate My Passion."
Most Merciful Jesus,
Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive
into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have
separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity
of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most
Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the
generosity of Your mercy.
Eternal Father, turn
Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from
Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces
by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but
upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent
for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart.
Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages.
Amen.
SIXTH DAY
"Today bring to Me
THE MEEK AND HUMBLE SOULS AND THE SOULS OF LITTLE
CHILDREN, and immerse them in My mercy. These
souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter
agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour
out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble soul is capable of
receiving My grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence."
Most Merciful Jesus, You
yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of
heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek
and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven
into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a
sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in
their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate
Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.
Eternal Father, turn
Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children
who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus.
These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises
from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all
goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You
take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the
praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
SEVENTH DAY
"Today bring to Me
THE SOULS WHO ESPECIALLY VENERATE AND GLORIFY MY MERCY, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over
my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My
Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the
next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly
defend each one of them at the hour of death."
Most Merciful Jesus,
whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate
Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of
Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the
midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your
mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders.
These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as
they depart from this life.
Eternal Father, turn
Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest
attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most
Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are
full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle
of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God:
Show them Your mercy
according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished
in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but
especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless
mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.
EIGHTH DAY
"Today bring to Me
THE SOULS WHO ARE DETAINED IN PURGATORY, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the
torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are
greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your
power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My
Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they
suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off
their debt to My justice."
Most Merciful Jesus, You
Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your
Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to
You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of
Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of
Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.
Eternal Father, turn
Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in
the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of
Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was
flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny.
Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your
dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your
goodness and compassion. Amen.
NINTH DAY
"Today bring to Me
SOULS WHO HAVE BECOME LUKEWARM, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound
My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the
Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out:
'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last
hope of salvation is to run to My mercy."
Most compassionate
Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your
Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls
who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set
aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and
draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of
holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.
Eternal Father, turn
Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most
Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion
of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify
the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.