The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a splendid sequence of prayers recited on the rosary beads. It was composed by Saint Faustina Kowałska following a series of visions of Jesus Christ, which was revealed to her precisely as Divine Mercy. To recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, after an initial sequence a series of prayers based on the tens of the rosary is recited.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Make the Sign of the Cross
Step 1. Familiarize yourself with the structure of a traditional 5 decade rosary
A small crucifix hangs at one end of the rosary, the string of which then features a single large grain, 3 small beads, another large grain and a small icon or image. The actual rosary cord is divided into 5 tens of beads.
- A dozen are made up of 10 small grains followed by a larger one. The first decade starts on the left side starting from the icon.
- The larger beads, which indicate the start / end of each decade, are also called the "Our Father" beads. The smaller ones, in the central sections, are also called "Ave Maria" grains.
Step 2. Hold the rosary in one hand
Most people prefer to gently hold the rosary in their right hand. This makes it easier to move and touch the beads while you say the prayers.
If you prefer to kneel, make sure the rosary never touches the ground
Step 3. Raise your right hand
While holding the rosary, move your hand so that it is in front of your body. Bend your thumb towards the inside of the palm and lightly touch it with your ring finger. Alternatively, you can make the sign of the cross with all 5 fingers.
- For some people making the sign of the cross with all 5 fingers means symbolizing the 5 wounds of Jesus Christ. Keeping only the middle and index fingers high, on the other hand, can symbolize the human and divine nature of Christ.
- Many congregations have a specific hand gesture that they use to symbolize the cross; ask about it if you are unsure.
Step 4. Gently touch the center of the forehead with your fingertips
Whether you use your whole hand or just a few fingers, you should have a light and firm touch but nothing more. As soon as the fingers come into contact with the forehead, say aloud “In the name of the Father…”, that is the beginning of the Trinitarian formula which is pronounced by making the sign of the cross.
You can also pronounce the Latin version “In nomine Patris…”
Step 5. Touch the center of your chest with your fingertips
Slowly and calmly move your right hand so that your fingertips gently touch the center of the breastbone. As soon as your fingers come into contact with this point, say "of the Son …". Continue holding the rosary in your right hand as you perform these gestures.
- You can also place your left hand flat against the center of your chest and lightly touch it with the fingertips of your right hand.
- The Latin version of this part is “et Filii…”.
Step 6. Touch the front of the left shoulder
While continuing to use the fingertips of the right hand, gently touch the front of the shoulder. When your fingers touch that point, say "and of the Spirit …".
You can also pronounce the Latin version, which is “et Spiritus…”
Step 7. Move your fingertips to the front of the right shoulder
While continuing to use your right hand, touch the front of your right shoulder. As soon as you have done so, say "… Holy".
The Latin version of this part is “… Sanctus”
Step 8. Join your hands in prayer
Place your hands in front of your chest with flat palms touching each other. Make sure your fingertips are pointing up. When your hands touch, say "Amen". This is the end of the sign of the cross and also the conclusion of the Trinitarian formula.
Method 2 of 3: Begin Reciting the Chaplet
Step 1. Choose whether to sing or recite the Chaplet
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a relatively quick prayer, so some people prefer to sing it. There are also audio guides that you can buy for your smartphone or on CD. If you decide to sing it, try to keep a steady and regular rhythm.
- Don't worry too much about the quality of your voice. The key point is to focus on the words and their meaning.
- The Chaplet can also be recited or sung in groups.
Step 2. Say the optional opening prayers
As you touch the grain immediately above the rosary cross, repeat the following: “Jesus, You have just died and already a source of life has gushed out for souls. O source of life, incomprehensible mercy of God, envelop the whole world and pour out upon us”.
When you have finished, you can complete another prayer by repeating the following formula 3 times in a row: "O Blood and Water that spring from the Heart of Jesus, as a source of mercy for us, I trust in You"
Step 3. Touch the first small bead and say the Our Father
While touching the rosary, say: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors, and do not abandon ourselves to temptation, but free us from evil. Amen".
Step 4. Touch the second grain and say the Hail Mary
Move up a single bead of the rosary and say: “Hail, O Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. You are blessed 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.
Step 5. Move on to the next grain and recite the Creed (in the version of the "Apostles' Symbol")
As you touch this grain, you must say, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; descended into hell; on the third day he rose from the dead; ascended to heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty”.
He continues like this: “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, life everlasting. Amen"
Step 6. Touch the next large grain and say the Eternal Father's prayer
The next bead in the rosary is large. As you touch it, say, "Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your beloved Son and Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world."
Method 3 of 3: Complete the Prayer
Step 1. Say a prayer for each small bead in the first decade
Remember to move to the left of the icon on the rosary. When you touch the first grain you must say: “For His painful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world”. Repeat this for each of the 10 small grains of the first decade.
Step 2. Say the Our Father when you get to the final decade grain
When you touch the big grain at the end of the decade, it says: “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 today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors, and do not abandon ourselves to temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Step 3. Repeat the formula for each decade
As you continue to shell the rosary, repeat “For His painful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world” every time you touch a small grain. So say an Our Father when you get to the large grains out of the tens..
Step 4. Tap the icon and say the so-called “Trisagion” 3 times
Once you have recited a prayer for each bead around the rosary circle, hold the icon in your right hand and repeat the following words: "Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us and the whole world". Repeat this 3 times.
Step 5. Say the optional closing prayer
You can choose to hold the entire rosary in your right hand or just the cross. He says the following words: “God, Merciful Father, who revealed Your love in Your Son Jesus Christ, and poured it out on us in the Holy Spirit Comforter, we entrust to you today the destinies of the world and of every man. Bend over us sinners, heal our weakness, defeat all evil, make all the inhabitants of the earth experience Your Mercy, so that in You, God One and Three, they will always find the source of hope. Eternal Father, for the painful Passion and Resurrection of Your Son, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Amen.
