The Chaplet of Divine Mercy (in Polish, Koronka Do Miłosierdzia Bożego is one of the most widely prayed devotions in the Catholic Church, and it’s especially beloved in Poland. It’s said on ordinary rosary beads, takes about ten minutes, and can be prayed alone, with family, or in a group. Here’s where it comes from, how to pray it, and when it’s traditionally said.
Where Does the Chaplet Come From?
The devotion is connected with St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), a Polish nun of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. According to her spiritual diary, Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul, she received the chaplet in 1935 in Vilnius in a vision. She began sharing it soon afterward, and after her death it spread across Poland and then around the world.
St. Faustina was canonized by Pope John Paul II on 30 April 2000. That same year, Divine Mercy Sunday, celebrated on the Sunday after Easter, was established for the whole Church.
What You Need
Just a standard rosary. No special objects or setting are required.
How to Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Opening (on the crucifix and first beads):
- Make the Sign of the Cross.
- Say one Our Father.
- Say one Hail Mary.
- Say the Apostles’ Creed.
On each large bead (once at the start of each of the five decades):
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 each of the ten small beads (ten times per decade):
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Closing (three times):
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Many people also finish with a short invocation: O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us, I trust in You.
This is the most common form. Exact wording can vary slightly by translation, so check your prayer book or your parish or shrine’s materials.
The Hour of Mercy: 3 PM
The Diary points to 3:00 PM, the hour Jesus died on the cross, as a special time for prayer. Many people pray the chaplet then, or at least say a short prayer such as O Blood and Water. In Poland, many churches pray it together, and it is also broadcast on radio and television.
The Divine Mercy Novena
The chaplet is also prayed as a novena, nine days of prayer that begins on Good Friday and ends on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday. Each day has its own intention, such as all humanity, priests and religious, faithful souls, or the souls in purgatory.
When to Pray It
- Daily, as a regular part of your routine, in the morning or evening
- At 3 PM, during the Hour of Mercy
- During the novena before Divine Mercy Sunday
- In difficult moments, for the sick, the deceased, family, or personal needs
- Together in a parish, prayer group, or family
How to Understand the Promises
The Diary records promises of grace connected with this prayer. Church teaching stresses that prayer is not an automatic formula but an expression of trust in God’s mercy, together with a sacramental life and works of mercy. If you’d like to go deeper, a priest or the official materials from the Divine Mercy shrine can help.
Where Is the Center of the Devotion?
The main place of pilgrimage is the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki, Poland, which holds St. Faustina’s relics and the well-known image Jesus, I trust in You. Pilgrims come from around the world, and the chaplet is prayed there daily.
Bottom Line
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a simple, short prayer built around trust in God’s mercy. It’s said on rosary beads, ideally regularly, and especially at 3 PM and during the novena before Divine Mercy Sunday. If you’re just starting, all you need is a rosary, a few quiet minutes, and the text of the prayers in front of you.
