Chaplet of the Divine Mercy

The chaplet contains several unique prayers. The rosary may be used to move through the prayers.

The first prayer is prayed on the first large bead where the Our Father is normally prayed and may be used to begin the chaplet:

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.[17]

The second prayer is O Blood and Water (Polish: O krwi i wodo), also known as conversion prayer. It is repeated three times in succession, while remaining on the first large bead, and may be used along with the first opening prayer to begin the chaplet. Its full text, as reported in the Diary, is:

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You![17]

It may be regarded as an extension of the ejaculatory prayer Jezu, ufam tobie ("Jesus, I trust in You"), set under the Divine Mercy image (according to Diary 47).

It is given three times in the Diary (84, 187, 309), for the first time under the date of August 2, 1934. Jesus himself promised to Faustina Kowalska: "When you say this prayer, with a contrite heart and with faith on behalf of some sinner, I will give him the grace of conversion" (186).

This prayer is often said in the Hour of Mercy (3:00 p.m.), when someone has no time for a longer prayer, like the entire Chaplet, because of the duties (as recommended in Diary 1320, 1572). It is also applied in various other situations, especially when someone meets a sinner (as Jesus requires passim in the Diary).

It invokes the Divine Mercy that is given to the humanity from the cross of Jesus. Blood and water from his side pierced by a spear (John 19:34) symbolizes the grace of sacraments: help and forgiveness (cf. Diary 299). This is also the meaning of the red and white ray in the Divine Mercy image.

The Eternal Father prayer opens each decade of the chaplet and is prayed on the single beads separating the decades where the Our Father is normally prayed:

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.[17]

The "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion" prayer, repeated 10 times in succession, forms the body of each decade of the chaplet, using the beads where the Hail Marys are normally recited:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.[17]

The Holy God prayer, repeated three times in succession, concludes the chaplet, recited where the Hail Holy Queen is normally prayed:

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.[17]

The closing prayer is used after the Holy God to end the chaplet:

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.[17][18]

The chaplet is often recited on beads as a rosary-based prayer

The Divine Mercy image devoted with the Chaplet

The chaplet is prayed on ordinary rosary beads that are also used to pray the Dominican Rosary.[17][12] The structure of the chaplet is as follows:[17][12]

The chaplet is begun on the short strand of the rosary beads:

• The sign of the cross on the Crucifix;
• The optional first opening prayer on the first large bead;
• The optional second opening prayer, repeated three times, still on the first large bead;
• The Lord's Prayer on the first small bead;
• The Hail Mary on the second small bead; and
• The Apostles' Creed on the third small bead.

The praying of the decades then follows, repeating this cycle for each:

• The Eternal Father on the large bead, with a specific offering each decade; and
• The For the sake of His sorrowful Passion on each of the ten adjacent small beads, with other petitions for mercy, emphasizing the offering of the Body and Blood of Christ.

To conclude:

• The Holy God on the medallion;
• The optional closing prayer, still on the medallion;
• Any further intentions; and
• The sign of the cross.

In Poland, the second opening prayer is used as a closing prayer instead, followed by Jesus, I trust in you three times, and Saint Faustina, Apostle of Mercy, save us three times.

The chaplet may be repeated over a period of nine days as part of a novena. According to Kowalska's Diary, Jesus himself in a vision asked that the Divine Mercy Novena be prayed as a preparation for the Feast of the Divine Mercy, celebrated each year on first Sunday after Easter.[19] The novena should begin on Good Friday. There is a prayer intention for specific group of people on each of the nine days. The novena intentions for each day are:[20]

1. All mankind, in particular, all sinners.
2. The souls of Catholic priests and religious.
3. All devout and faithful souls.
4. Those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know him.
5. The souls of those separated from the Catholic Church.
6. Meek and humble of heart, and children.
7. People who especially venerate and glorify Christ's mercy.
8. The souls in Purgatory.
9. The souls of those who have become lukewarm.