How to Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy: A Gentle Guide

A prayer of trust in Jesus

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a simple prayer that asks for God’s mercy through the Passion of Jesus Christ. Prayed on ordinary rosary beads, it usually takes about ten minutes. You do not need to feel peaceful or find perfect words to begin: you can bring your distracted, tired or anxious heart just as it is.

The story of St Faustina

St Faustina Kowalska was born Helena Kowalska in Poland in 1905. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and served in ordinary tasks, including cooking, gardening and keeping the convent door.

In her diary, she recorded experiences of Jesus calling her to proclaim His mercy. She described receiving the Chaplet in September 1935. Her message emphasised trust in Jesus and mercy towards others through deeds, words and prayer.

Faustina died in 1938, aged 33, and Pope John Paul II canonised her in 2000. Her life reminds us that holiness can grow quietly through everyday faithfulness. The revelations she recorded are private revelation: they help believers live the Gospel, rather than add to or replace it.

How to pray the Chaplet, step by step

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross. Take a quiet breath and place your intention before God. You might pray for someone who is ill, a troubled family, or the whole world.

2. Pray the opening prayers. Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary and the Apostles’ Creed. These familiar prayers prepare us to turn towards God with faith.

3. On the large bead before each decade, pray:

“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.”

4. On each of the ten small beads, pray:

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

5. Repeat for all five decades. Each decade consists of the large-bead prayer followed by the mercy prayer ten times. If your attention wanders, gently return to the words without scolding yourself.

6. Finish by saying three times:

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

You may then close with the Sign of the Cross and the simple invocation: “Jesus, I trust in You.”

When can I pray it?

You can pray the Chaplet at any time. Many Catholics pray it at three o’clock in the afternoon, recalling Jesus’ death, but that hour is not required. Without beads, you can count on your fingers.

This is not a formula for controlling outcomes. It is a way of entrusting ourselves and others to the love of Christ, whose mercy invites us to repentance, hope and practical compassion.

Pray with me: a one-minute prayer for anxiety

Jesus, I come to You with the worries I cannot put down. You know the thoughts that return at night, the conversations I keep rehearsing, and the future I cannot see. I do not need to hide any of this from You.

Meet me here, in this ordinary moment. Help me to breathe slowly, release what I cannot control, and recognise the next small thing that is mine to do. Give me courage to ask for help rather than carry everything alone.

When my feelings are unsettled, remind me that Your love is not measured by my calmness. Guide me towards wise support, good rest, and the care I need. Bless everyone living with anxiety today, especially those who feel ashamed or misunderstood.

For the sake of Your sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Hold my loved ones in Your care, and teach me to meet this day with patient trust. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.