Divine Mercy Chaplet (How To Pray + Printable PDF)

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a beautiful prayer based on the devotions by Saint Faustina Kowalska. She said she received guidance on the prayer through conversations with Jesus. Using the rosary, the prayer is broken into several distinct Divine Mercy prayers and additional optional prayers can be added (equaling 10).

The prayer is traditionally prayed with the same rosary beads that are used with the Dominican Rosary however no rosary is required to recite the prayer.

In this article, I’ll share a brief background the Divine Mercy prayer and how it can be prayed using the rosary (or fingers).  I’ll share the steps of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and a printable PDF so you can keep it handy for future prayers.

Scroll to the bottom of the page for my free printable PDF on the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Let’s get started.

A Brief History of the Divine Mercy Chaplet

As stated above, Saint Faustina Kowalska created the prayer after visions and dialog with Jesus. Her background is Polish and she was canonized as a Catholic saint in the year 2000.

>>also read the Five Finger Prayer for Kids

During her prayers Jesus directed her how to recite the prayers in the correct order.  As a result, her prayers become powerful and she was blessed.

Faustina goes into great detail in her diary.

She was told that, when in the presence of those who are dying, they will receive mercy. She was also told that if the request is compatible with God’s will, those who pray can receive anything!

The devotion is originally Roman Catholic and utilized their set of prayer beads. It is also an Anglican devotion and can be prayed using the Anglican prayer beads (read my travel prayer tips)

It can even be said without beads but make sure you use your fingers because you will forget which prayers you’ve completed.

It is typically recited on Divine Mercy Sunday and on Fridays at 3:00pm. Pope John Paull II was instrumental in the creation of the Devine Mercy devotion and the official Papal Blessing occurred in 2001.

How To Pray The Divine Mercy Chaplet Using The Rosary

1. Begin At And With The Sign Of The Cross

2. Opening Prayers (optional, repeat 3x)

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

>> read my blessing prayer examples

3. Our Father

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

4. Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

5. The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit the holy Catholic Church,
and the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen

6. Eternal Father (Bead)

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.

7. Pray On Each Of The Ten Small Beads (“Hail Mary” beads)

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

8. Repeat For Each Of The 5 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.

9. Holy God (say 3x)

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

10. Closing Prayer (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. Amen.

Praying The Divine Mercy Chaplet Without The Rosary

The Divine Mercy prayer is long, so using a rosary is helpful to stay on track. If you don’t have a rosary you can use the printout I’ve provided or count with your fingers while you pray (ready my prayers for a busy mother)

Don’t worry about messing up, just stay focused during your prayer and God will understand if you miss something or pray over an extra bead.

Printable Divine Mercy Chaplet PDF

Click here for this free printable PDF

Divine Mercy Chaplet for printing

Conclusion

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a powerful prayer that is meant to pray for yourself and others. Established by Saint Faustina Kowalska when Jesus spoke to her, the prayer is meant to help grant God’s blessings, especially for those who are dying.

Using the rosary, the Divine Mercy prayer can be prayed. It does not use the entire rosary, but it is complex in the amount of repetitions so pay close attention.

There are 10 prayers in total but some of them are optional.

I’ve shared the format of the prayer and how you can follow along using the beads, but you don’t need a rosary to recite the prayer.

Feel free to print my Divine Mercy Chaplet pdf and keep it close by for weekly prayers (suggested on Fridays at 3:00 pm and on Divine Mercy Sunday).