In addition to the Novena to the Divine Mercy which Our Lord gave to Saint Faustina for her own personal use, He revealed to her a powerful prayer that He wanted everyone to say (the Divine Mercy Chaplet). Saint Faustina prayed the Chaplet almost constantly, especially for the dying, and the Lord urged her to encourage others to say it too, promising extraordinary graces to those who would recite this special prayer.

The Chaplet can be said any time, but the Lord specifically asked that it be recited as a novena especially on the nine days before the Feast of Mercy, and He promised, "By this Novena (of Chaplets) I will grant every possible grace to souls." (Diary 796)

We can pray this Novena of Chaplets for our own personal intentions or we can offer it together with the Novena to the Divine Mercy for the daily intentions dictated by Our Lord to Saint Faustina (Diary 1210-1230).

How to recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Chaplet of Mercy is recited using ordinary rosary beads of five decades. At the Shrine of Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, USA the Chaplet of Mercy is preceded by two opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Faustina and followed by a closing prayer.

Opening Prayers (optional)

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and an 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. (Diary 1319)

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You! (Diary 84) (x3)

Begin the Chaplet with the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Apostle's Creed.

The 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.

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among 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.

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 arose 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, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.  Amen.

Then on the ‘Our Father’ beads before each decade:
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 the ten ‘Hail Mary’ beads of each decade:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
have mercy on us and on the whole world.

In conclusion (after the five decades), three times recite these words:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,
have mercy on us and on the whole world.

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. (Diary 950)

Our Lord said to Saint Faustina:

Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you (Diary 1541) . . . Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death (Diary 687) . . . When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the Judge but as the Merciful Saviour (Diary 1541) . . . Priestswill recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this Chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite Mercy (Diary 687) . . . I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My Mercy (Diary 687) . . . Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will. (Diary 1731)