Chaplet of Divine Mercy

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The Divine Mercy painting by Adolf Hyla. The phrase at the bottom is Polish for "Jesus I trust in you".
The Divine Mercy painting by Adolf Hyla. The phrase at the bottom is Polish for "Jesus I trust in you".

The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotion based on the visions of Polish nun and canonized saint, Sister Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), known as the "Apostle of Mercy". The chaplet is often said as a rosary based prayer with the same set of rosary beads used for reciting the Holy Rosary or the Chaplet of Holy Wounds. However, the chaplet may also be said without beads, usually by counting prayers on the fingertips.[1]

According to Sister Faustina'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. Still, according to Sister Faustina's visions, Jesus Christ promised that all who recite this chaplet at the hour of death or in the presence of the dying will receive great mercy. Jesus said, "....When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying not as the just judge but as the Merciful Savior". Jesus also promised that anything can be obtained with this prayer if it is compatible with His will. It is prayed daily at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA. In the Philippines, the "3 o'clock Prayer" is broadcast on television stations daily at 3:00 p.m.

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

Sister Faustina recounts in her diary that, in her vision, she saw an angel sent to a city to destroy it. Sister Faustina began to pray for God's mercy on the city and felt the strong presence of the Trinity. After she prayed the internally-instructed prayers, the angel was powerless to harm the city. In subsequent revelations, Sister Faustina learned that the prayers she spoke were to be taught to all the people of the world.

According to Roman Catholic tradition, the chaplet may be said at any time, but it is said especially on Divine Mercy Sunday and Fridays at 3:00 PM. In 2000, Pope John Paul II ordained the Sunday after Easter Divine Mercy Sunday, where Roman Catholics remember the institution of the Sacrament of Penance. The hour Jesus died by crucifixion, 3:00 PM (15:00), is called the Hour of Mercy. In novena, the chaplet is usually said each of the nine days from Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday.

Although the prayers said on the beads of the rosary chain share specific similarities in the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the Chaplet of Holy Wounds, these are distinct chaplets and were introduced over 20 years apart, one in Poland, the other in France.[2]

The chaplet is associated with a Polish image painted by Adolf Hyla. Hyla painted according to the visions Sister Faustina described. In the image, Jesus stands with a hand outstretched in blessing. The other hand clutches the side wounded by the spear, from which proceed beams of falling light. The words “Jesus I Trust in You” usually accompany the image (“Jezu Ufam Tobie” in Polish).

Contents

[edit] The prayers

Instructions on how to pray the Chaplet:

Start: the Crucifix

  1. Make the Sign of the Cross.

Optional opening prayer:

"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.

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

  1. Pray the Our Father.
  2. Pray the Hail Mary.
  3. Recite the Apostles' Creed.

On the large bead before each of the five decades (set of ten prayers):

"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 small "Hail Mary" bead:

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

After five decades, conclude by saying three times:

"Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world." (This prayer is based on the Trisagion of the Eastern tradition.)

Optional concluding prayers:

"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."

[edit] The Intentions

The Chaplet may be said alone or as part of a Novena. The novena prayers for each of the nine days ask for God's mercy on a different group of people:

  • First Day - all mankind, especially all sinners.
  • Second Day - the souls of priests and religious.
  • Third Day - all devout and faithful souls.
  • Fourth Day - those who do not believe in God and who do not yet know Christ.
  • Fifth Day - the souls who have separated themselves from the Church. (Jesus's original words here were "heretics and schismatics," since he spoke to Saint Faustina within the context of her times. As of the Second Vatican Council, Church authorities have seen fit not to use those designations in accordance with the explanation given in the Council's Decree on Ecumenism (n.3). Every pope since the Council has reaffirmed that usage.)
  • Sixth Day - the meek and humble souls and souls of little children.
  • Seventh Day - souls who especially venerate and glorify Christ's mercy.
  • Eighth Day - souls who are detained in Purgatory.
  • Ninth Day - souls who have become lukewarm.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Ann Ball, 2003 Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices ISBN 087973910X
  2. ^ G. P. Geoghegan, 2006, A Collection of My Favorite Prayers ISBN 9781411694576

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaplet_of_Divine_Mercy"
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