The Divine Mercy Chaplet and Novena

About Novenas

After the ascension of Jesus, the Apostles and Mary spent nine days in prayer in the Upper Room, until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The word novena comes from the Latin word for nine, and it refers to the practice of praying for nine days, in private or with others.

A novena can be prayers, hymns, readings, or spiritual acts. A novena is offered for a special intention such as healing, discernment, or another special grace. We can pray the novena for ourselves or for others.

A novena can vary in length, from a few minutes to several hours. What is important is not the length, but the sincerity of one’s prayer and trusting in the will of God. He knows his children and answers their prayers, how and when is best for them.

About Chaplets

A chaplet is string a beads used to help us keep track of our prayers. It also serves as a physical and tactile reminder that we are in the presence of God.

Like a novena, a chaplet can be prayed in private or with others. Unlike a novena, a chaplet does not need to be prayed for nine consecutive days. Some may pray a chaplet occasionally while others may do so daily.

There are many prayer chaplets. The Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel has nine sets of three beads for the nine choirs of angels. The Chaplet of Seven Sorrows has seven sets of seven beads. However, the most common chaplets are The Rosary and The Divine Mercy Chaplet; both have five sets of ten beads.

Video: The Rosary vs. The Divine Mercy Chaplet with Fr. Mike

About Sister Faustina

Faustina Kowalska was born in Poland in 1905. Her family was poor and she had very little education. When she became a nun, Faustina worked in the convent garden and kitchen.

She only lived to be 33, but during her time in the convent, Jesus appeared to her many times. He asked Faustina to encourage others to pray. Her superiors were initially skeptical about her private revelations, but eventually believed them to be genuine.

Through these revelations, Jesus wanted to remind the world of The Divine Mercy. No matter what we have done, if we turn to God, he will forgive us. Faustina wrote these revelations in her diary which include The Divine Mercy Chaplet and The Divine Mercy Novena.

How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

1. Make and say the Sign of the Cross holding the Crucifix.

2. Say the Opening Prayers on the first bead (optional).

On the next three beads…
3. Say the Our Father.

4. Say the Hail Mary.

5. Say the Apostles’ Creed.

6. Say the Eternal Father on the next bead, before the medallion.
Next, skip over the medallion to the first set of 10 beads.

7. Say the For The Sake on the next 10 beads.

8. thru 11. Repeat 6 and 7 for the next four decades.

12. Say the Holy God three times on the medallion.

13. Say the Closing Prayer (optional).

14. Make and say the Sign of the Cross.

Divine Mercy Chaplet Prayers

Opening Prayers:

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.

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

Eternal Father

V. 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,
R. and those of the whole world.

For the Sake

V. For the sake of his sorrowful Passion,
R. have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy God

(3x) Holy God, holy mighty One, holy immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Closing Prayer:

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.

Videos: The Divine Mercy Playlist

Works of Mercy

Throughout the Gospels, and other books of the Bible, Jesus commands us to perform works of mercy. By doing so, we are participating in God’s Divine Mercy. The following is a common list.

Seven Corporal Works of Mercy

Feed the hungry.
Give drink to the thirsty.
Clothe the naked.
Shelter the homeless.
Visit the sick.
Visit the imprisoned.
Bury the dead.

Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy

Counsel the doubtful.
Instruct the ignorant.
Admonish sinners.
Comfort the afflicted.
Forgive offenses.
Bear wrongs patiently.
Pray for the living and the dead.

Video: Corporal Works of Mercy with Fr. Mike

Video: Spiritual Works of Mercy with Bishop Barron

Video: Spiritual Works of Mercy with Fr. Alar