Saint Faustina Kowalska

Saint Faustina Kowalska

Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Taught by Jesus to Saint Faustina, Vilnius, 1935 (Diary, 476)

PolishEnglish

At the start: Ojcze nasz, Zdrowaś Maryjo, Wierzę w Boga.

At the start: Our Father, Hail Mary, the Apostles’ Creed.

On the large beads:
Ojcze Przedwieczny, ofiaruję Ci Ciało i Krew, Duszę i Bóstwo najmilszego Syna Twojego, a Pana naszego Jezusa Chrystusa, na przebłaganie za grzechy nasze i całego świata.

On the large beads:
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 small beads (ten times):
Dla Jego bolesnej męki miej miłosierdzie dla nas i całego świata.

On the small beads (ten times):
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

To close (three times):
Święty Boże, Święty Mocny, Święty Nieśmiertelny, zmiłuj się nad nami i nad całym światem.

To close (three times):
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

— Saint Faustina’s Diary, 476 · Polish text approved in Kraków, 1980 · English as given by the Marian Fathers

SourceSaint Faustina Kowalska · Taught by Jesus to Saint Faustina, Vilnius, 1935 (Diary, 476)

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The history of this prayer

In September 1935, in Vilnius, St Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938), a Polish nun, received this prayer from Jesus and wrote it down in her Diary (nos. 474–476). He promised great graces to those who pray it, above all at the bedside of the dying.

It is prayed on ordinary rosary beads, ideally at three in the afternoon, the Hour of Mercy. St John Paul II canonized St Faustina on 30 April 2000 and on the same day announced Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday after Easter.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need special beads for the Divine Mercy Chaplet?

No. Ordinary five-decade rosary beads are used: “Eternal Father” on the large beads and “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion” on the ten small beads.

What time should the Divine Mercy Chaplet be prayed?

It may be prayed at any time, but the custom is 3 p.m., the hour of Jesus' death, called the Hour of Mercy.

How long does it take?

About ten minutes, prayed unhurriedly.

More prayers: Prayers of the saints

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