View source for Chaplet of the Divine Mercy

{{Short description|Catholic devotion}}
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{{Divine Mercy}}
{{Christian mysticism}}
The '''Chaplet of the Divine Mercy''', also called the '''Divine Mercy Chaplet''', is a [[Catholic devotions|Catholic devotion]] to the [[Divine Mercy (Catholic devotion)|Divine Mercy]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marian.org/divinemercy/story.php?NID=4548|title=Is Divine Mercy for All Christians?|last=Roesch|first=Joe|year=2014|publisher=Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M|quote=However, all Christians can agree that we are redeemed through the death of Christ on the cross. There is no reason, therefore, why all Christians could not pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, since it focuses on our redemption in Christ.|access-date=27 April 2014}}</ref> based on the [[Visions of Jesus and Mary|Christological apparitions]] of [[Jesus in Christianity|Jesus Christ]] reported by [[Faustina Kowalska]] (1905–1938), known as "the Apostle of Mercy".<ref name=Ball174 /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/homilies/2002/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_20020818_beatification-krakow_en.html | last=Pope John Paul II | author-link=Pope John Paul II | title=Homily for Faustina at Vatican website}}</ref> She was a Polish [[religious sister]] of the [[Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy]] and was [[canonized]] as a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[saint]] in 2000 by [[Pope John Paul II]].<ref name=KVatican />

Kowalska stated that she received this [[Rosary-based prayers|rosary-based prayer]] directly from Jesus through visions and conversations, who also made specific promises regarding the recitation of the prayer.<ref name=Ball174 /> Her Vatican biography quotes some of these conversations.<ref name=KVatican>[https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20000430_faustina_en.html Vatican Biography of Faustina Kowalska] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303000335/https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20000430_faustina_en.html |date=March 3, 2013 }}</ref> 

This [[chaplet (prayer)|chaplet]] is prayed with the same set of rosary beads used for reciting the [[Marian devotions|Marian]] [[Rosary]]. As an [[Anglican devotion]], the Divine Mercy Society of the [[Anglican Church]] states that the chaplet can also be recited on [[Anglican prayer beads]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.divinemercysociety.org/TheChaplet.dsp |title=The Chaplet |publisher=The Divine Mercy Society of the Anglican Church |access-date=27 April 2014 |quote=The Chaplet below is the Universal Anglican Church version and may be recited using either the Universal Anglican Church prayer beads or the Roman Catholic rosary. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922120126/http://www.divinemercysociety.org/TheChaplet.dsp |archive-date=September 22, 2010 }}</ref> The chaplet may also be said without beads, by counting prayers on the fingertips,<ref name=Ball174 >Ann Ball, 2003 "Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices". {{ISBN|0-87973-910-X}} page 174</ref> and can be accompanied by the [[veneration]] of the [[Divine Mercy image]].<ref name=Drake85 /><ref>''Sourcebook for Sundays and Seasons 2008'' by D. Todd Williamson'' 2007 {{ISBN|1-56854-617-3}} page 195</ref>

==History==
{{main|Divine Mercy (Catholic devotion)}}
Kowalska wrote about the revelations of Jesus regarding the chaplet in her diary (''Diary'' 474-476) during her stay in [[Vilnius]] on 13 and 14 September 1935.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm |title=Chaplet of Divine Mercy |access-date=2011-05-03 |archive-date=2013-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708192845/http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Torretto63 >''A Divine Mercy Resource'' by Richard Torretto 2010 {{ISBN|1-4502-3236-1}} pages 63-79</ref> Kowalska recounted a vision in which she saw an angel of divine wrath sent to punish the earth for its sins. In response, Kowalska began praying for the angel to delay its punishment and for the world to repent. While she was praying for this, she suddenly had a vision of the [[Trinity|Holy Trinity]] and was taken before the Throne of God. Overwhelmed by its majesty, she did not dare to repeat her prayers. However, she felt a power from Jesus in her soul and heard internally two new prayers: [[Chaplet of the Divine Mercy#Eternal Father|"The Eternal Father"]] and [[Chaplet of the Divine Mercy#For the sake of His sorrowful Passion|"For the sake of His sorrowful Passion"]]. As she was moved to pray these prayers, the angel became powerless and unable to perform the punishment.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Chaplet of the Divine Mercy {{!}} Mercy - Saint Faustina - Diary - Jesus, I trust in You - Congregation |url=https://www.saint-faustina.org/chaplet-of-the-divine-mercy/?wide=true#more-154 |access-date=2024-08-22 |language=en}}</ref><ref>Kazimierz Lijka, Nabożeństwo do Miłosierdzia Bożego, „Teologia Praktyczna", 17, 2016, s. 161–177</ref> The next day, on 14 September 1935, as she entered a chapel, she again heard Jesus dictating the same prayers to her and the structure of a new chaplet based on them.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chaplet of Divine Mercy {{!}} EWTN |url=https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/chaplet-13364 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=EWTN Global Catholic Television Network |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy {{!}} EWTN |url=https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/chaplet-of-the-divine-mercy-387 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=EWTN Global Catholic Television Network |language=en}}</ref> 

Kowalska stated that Jesus asked her to pray this chaplet and instruct others to do so. She learned that the prayers were to be taught to all the people of the world.<ref>Alan Butler and Paul Burns, 2005, ''Butler's Lives of the Saints'', Burns and Oats {{ISBN|0-86012-383-9}} page 251</ref> Although the chaplet is said on beads like the [[Rosary]], it is about a third of the length of the Rosary, and unlike the Rosary that has evolved over the years, the form and structure of the chaplet has remained unchanged since Kowalska attributed it to a message from Jesus.<ref name="Torretto63" /><ref>[https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/catholicchaplaincy/divinemercy/chaplet/thepromisesofjesustothosewhopraythechaplet/ Catholic Chaplaincy: The Promises of Jesus to Those Who Pray The Chaplet]</ref> According to Kowalska's visions, written in her diary, the chaplet's prayers for mercy are threefold: to obtain mercy, to trust in [[Christ]]'s mercy, and to show mercy to others.<ref name="Drake85">Tim Drake, 2002, ''Saints of the Jubilee'', Authorhouse {{ISBN|978-1-4033-1009-5}} pages 85-95</ref><ref>Catherine M. Odell, 1998, ''Faustina: Apostle of Divine Mercy'' OSV Press {{ISBN|978-0-87973-923-2}}</ref><ref name="EWTNCDM">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm |title=EWTN description of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy |access-date=2011-05-03 |archive-date=2013-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708192845/http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On November 19, 1958, and reaffirmed in 1959, the Vatican banned the Chaplet and its promulgation. Some Polish bishops questioned Kowalska's claims and were uncomfortable with the image's similarity to the red-and-white [[Polish flag]].<ref name="NCR_2011">{{Citation|last=Allen|first=John L. Jr. |author-link=John L. Allen Jr.|date=28 April 2011|title=Beatification Q&A #4: What's the Divine Mercy connection?|periodical=[[National Catholic Reporter]]|url = https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/beatification-qa-4-whats-divine-mercy-connection}}</ref> Polish priests were reported to be interpreting the rays as a symbol of the flag.<ref>[''Development of the Worship of Divine Mercy in Poland and Abroad'', Bishop Pawel Socha, Peregrinis Cracoviensis 11, 2001]</ref>

The ban on devotion was lifted on 15 April 1978, due to pressure from future Polish pope [[Pope John Paul II|Karol Wojtyła]], who had great interest in Kowalska.<ref name="NCR_2011" /> After assuming the throne of Peter, John Paul II was instrumental in the formal establishment of the [[Divine Mercy devotion]] and acknowledged the efforts of the [[Congregation of Marian Fathers|Marian Fathers]] in its promotion in a Papal Blessing in 2001, on the 70th anniversary of the revelation of the Divine Mercy Message and Devotion.

Although the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the [[Chaplet of Holy Wounds]] share similarities, these are distinct chaplets and were introduced over 20 years apart, one in [[Poland]], the other in [[France]].<ref>G. P. Geoghegan, 2006, "A Collection of My Favorite Prayers". {{ISBN|978-1-4116-9457-6}}</ref>

== Promises ==
Kowalska wrote that Jesus promised great mercy to all who recite this chaplet, both during their lifetime and especially at the hour of death. She also noted that some graces could be granted to the dying if others pray the chaplet at their bedside. She recorded Jesus saying :<blockquote>“Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death.” (''Diary'' 687)

"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.” (''Diary'' 687)

"The souls that say this chaplet will be embraced by My mercy during their lifetime and especially at the hour of their death." (''Diary'' 754)

"I shall treat every soul that says this Chaplet as My glory, and I shall grant it My defence at the hour of death; also those at whose deathbed others say the Chaplet shall be granted the same indulgence. When people say the Chaplet at a dying person’s bedside, God’s anger is placated, and unfathomed mercy embraces the soul " (''Diary'' 811)

“When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as a just Judge but as a merciful Savior.” (''Diary'' 1541)

“When hardened sinners say it, I will fill their souls with peace, and the hour of their death will be a happy one.” (''Diary'' 1541)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2020-10-05 |title=The Divine Mercy Promises |url=https://catholicexchange.com/the-divine-mercy-promises/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Catholic Exchange |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2020-11-27 |title=14 Amazing Promises Jesus Made to Those Who Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet |url=https://www.churchpop.com/14-amazing-promises-jesus-made-to-those-who-pray-the-divine-mercy-chaplet/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=ChurchPOP |language=en}}</ref></blockquote>According to her diary, she sometimes had sudden visions of certain souls dying and she was then asked by Jesus to pray the chaplet in order to obtain for them mercy and be saved through the prayer.

Kowalska also stated that Jesus promised that anything can be obtained with this prayer if it is compatible with his will.

<blockquote>“When they say this Chaplet, it will please Me to grant everything they shall ask for” (''Diary'' 1541)</blockquote>

<blockquote>“Through this chaplet, you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will.” (''Diary'' 1731)<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /></blockquote>

==Practice==
According to [[Roman Catholic]] tradition, the chaplet may be said at any time, but it is often said on [[Divine Mercy Sunday]], as part of a [[Chaplet of the Divine Mercy#Divine Mercy Novena|novena]] that starts on Good Friday or on Fridays at 3:00{{nbsp}}p.m.. 

The chaplet is prayed daily at the [[National Shrine of The Divine Mercy]] in [[Stockbridge, Massachusetts]] and on the National Shrine in Krakow and Vilnius respectively at the shared time.

In the [[Philippines]], the opening portion of the chaplet known as the "3 O'Clock Habit" ({{langx|fil|Panalangin Para Sa Ikatlo/Alas-Tres Ng Hapon}}) is broadcast on radio stations and television networks{{efn|Some radio and television stations (with the exception of [[ABS-CBN]] television network and ABS-CBN's [[DZMM-AM|DZMM]] radio station) dropped the practice in 1990s and 2000s, but it is currently{{when|date=July 2023}} only shown on [[ABS-CBN]]'s [[Kapamilya Channel]].}} daily at 3:00{{nbsp}}p.m., beginning June 16, 1985.<ref>[https://www.divinemercyph.com/divine-mercy-in-the-philippines Divine Mercy in the Philippines]</ref> In 2000, [[Pope John Paul II]] ordained the Sunday after Easter as the Divine Mercy Sunday, where Roman Catholics remember the institution of the [[Sacrament of Penance]]. The hour Jesus died by crucifixion, 3:00{{nbsp}}p.m., is called the [[Divine Mercy (Catholic devotion)#Hour of Mercy|Hour of Mercy]]. In a [[novena]], the chaplet is usually said each of the nine days from [[Good Friday]] to Divine Mercy Sunday.

==Chaplet==
===Prayers===
The chaplet contains several unique prayers. The rosary is traditionally used to move through the prayers.

====First opening prayer (optional)====
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:

{{blockquote|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.<ref name=booklet>{{cite book|title=Divine Mercy Novena and Chaplet|year=2012|author=Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.|publisher=Marian Press|location=[[Stockbridge, Massachusetts]]|isbn=978-1-59614-036-3}}</ref>}}

====Eternal Father====
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:
{{blockquote|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.<ref name=booklet/>}}

====For the sake of His sorrowful Passion====
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:

{{blockquote|For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.<ref name=booklet/>}}

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

{{blockquote|Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.<ref name=booklet/>}}

==== Closing prayer (optional) ====
The closing prayer is used after the Holy God to end the chaplet:

{{blockquote|Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion&nbsp;– 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.<ref name=booklet/><ref>[https://archive.org/details/St.FaustinaKowalskaDiary/page/n231/mode/2up ''St. Faustina Kowalska Diary - Divine Mercy in My Soul - 950'']</ref>}}

===Structure===
[[File:Rosary.jpeg|thumb|right|upright=0.9|The chaplet is often recited on beads as a [[Rosary-based prayers|rosary-based prayer]]]]
[[File:Divine Mercy.jpeg|thumb|right|upright=0.9|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]].<ref name=booklet/><ref name=EWTNCDM /> 

However, according to the [[Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy]], the chaplet should not be prayed the same way as an ordinary rosary: the decades should not be interspersed with meditations, intentions or any other prayers. Any intentions or texts are to be meditated upon at the beginning so that the entire prayer is said the way Jesus dictated it.<ref name=":0" />

It is also to be noted that the optional prayers were not in the original dictation. The structure of the chaplet is as follows:<ref name="booklet" /><ref name="EWTNCDM" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Divine Mercy Chaplet - Vatican News |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/prayers/divine-mercy-chaplet.html |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=www.vaticannews.va |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=CNA |title=Divine Mercy Chaplet |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/55316/divine-mercy-chaplet |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref>

The chaplet is begun on the short strand of the rosary beads:
* The [[sign of the cross]] on the [[Crucifix]];
* The [[#First opening prayer|first opening prayer]] on the first large bead (optional);
* 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|Eternal Father]] on the large bead; and
* The [[#For the sake of His sorrowful Passion|For the sake of His sorrowful Passion]] on each of the ten adjacent small beads, emphasizing the offering of the [[Body of Christ|Body]] and [[Blood of Christ]].

To conclude:
* The [[#Holy God|Holy God]] on the medallion;
* The [[#Closing prayer|closing prayer]], still on the medallion (optional);
* The sign of the cross.

===Divine Mercy Novena===
The Divine Mercy Chaplet may be repeated over a period of nine days as part of a [[novena]]. According to Kowalska's ''Diary'', Jesus himself asked Faustina 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]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divine Mercy Sunday {{!}} USCCB |url=https://www.usccb.org/prolife/divine-mercy-sunday |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=www.usccb.org}}</ref> The novena should begin on [[Good Friday]].<blockquote>"Jesus told me to say the Chaplet for nine days before the Feast of Mercy. It's to start on Good Friday. "Through this Novena, I shall grant all manner of graces to souls."" (''Diary'' 796)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Faustyna.pl - Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska |url=https://www.faustyna.pl/en/Dzienniczek/Diary.php?token=1742557214rx8PAezDSQXntLYjC#p=409 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.faustyna.pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-01 |title=The Divine Mercy Novena of Chaplets |url=https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/novena |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=The Divine Mercy |language=en}}</ref> 

"I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fountain of My mercy, that they may draw therefrom strength and refreshment and whatever grace they have need of in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour of death" (''Diary'' 1209)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=CNA |title=Nine Day Divine Mercy Novena |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/56107/nine-day-divine-mercy-novena |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref></blockquote>There is a prayer intention for specific group of people on each of the nine days. <blockquote>"On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls." (''Diary'' 1209)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divine Mercy Novena {{!}} EWTN |url=https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-13366 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=EWTN Global Catholic Television Network |language=en}}</ref></blockquote>The novena intentions for each day are:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chaplet of Divine Mercy {{!}} Diocese of Portland |url=https://portlanddiocese.org/content/chaplet-divine-mercy |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=portlanddiocese.org}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
# All mankind, in particular, all [[Christian views on sin|sinners]].
# The souls of Catholic priests and religious.
# All devout and faithful souls.
# Those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know him.
# The souls of those separated from the Catholic Church.
# [[Meek]] and [[Humility|humble]] of heart, and children.
# People who especially venerate and glorify Christ's [[mercy]].
# The [[souls]] in [[Purgatory]].
# The souls of those who have become lukewarm.

==See also==
{{Portal|Catholicism}}
* [[Divine Mercy (Catholic devotion)]]
* [[Divine Mercy Sunday]]
* [[Divine Mercy image]]
* [[Faustina Kowalska]]
* [[Works of mercy]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* ''[[Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul]]'' by Faustina Kowalska 2003 {{ISBN|1-59614-110-7}}
* ''Pope Benedict's Divine Mercy Mandate'' by David Came 2009 {{ISBN|978-1-59614-203-9}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080219214545/https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/tribunals/apost_penit/documents/rc_trib_appen_doc_20020629_decree-ii_en.html The Holy See: "Indulgences attached to devotions in honour of Divine Mercy"] (a decree of the [[Roman Curia]]; archive at [[Internet Archive]])
*[http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year-of-faith/how-to-pray-the-chaplet-of-divine-mercy.cfm United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: How To Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy]

{{Private revelation in the Catholic Church}}

[[Category:Catholic spirituality]]
[[Category:Divine Mercy (Catholic devotion)]]
[[Category:Catholic devotions]]
[[Category:Visions of Jesus and Mary]]