The Divine Mercy (also known as the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ) is a Catholic Devotion of Prayer that has over the past few years become more popular with the Catholic faithful though its origination dates back to 1931. The Devotional was founded by Saint Faustina Kowalska. St. Faustina wrote about visions she had during her lifetime of Jesus Christ in her book “The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul“. St. Faustina was a Catholic nun from a very humble background and born into poverty. Despite her humble origins (and very well because of them) she found herself in February 1931 seeing a “Divine King of Mercy” that she would later realize was Jesus Christ himself. In these visions St. Faustina was asked by Jesus Christ to found the Devotion and to paint a very specific image called “The Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ” that was painted by artist Eugene Kazimierowski under the direction of St. Faustina. St. Faustina was also entrusted by Christ with the “Chaplet of the Divine Mercy“, a specific group of prayers that were to be performed using a standard Rosary prayer chain. Christ informed St. Faustina that these prayers would be the most powerful when said in unison by all Catholic believers during the “Hour of Divine Mercy” or 3 pm to 4 pm daily local time in front of the Image of Divine Mercy. Christ also told St. Faustina that a special Feast day, Divine Mercy Sunday, should be established as a day of prayer and devotion to the Divine Mercy each year. Pope St. John Paul II established the Feast Day of Divine Mercy as the first Sunday after Easter Sunday. Today the Divine Mercy Devotional is overseen by the order entrusted by St. Faustina to continue the Devotional after her death called “The Marians of the Immaculate Conception“.

 

The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy is very easy to learn.

 

 

How to Recite the Chaplet

 

 

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

 

1. Make the Sign of the Cross

 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

2. Optional 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.

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

 

3. 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.

 

4. Hail Mary

 

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.

 

5. 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 rose 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.

 

6. The Eternal Father

 

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.

 

7. On the Ten Small Beads of Each Decade

 

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

 

8. Repeat for the remaining decades

 

Saying the “Eternal Father” (6) on the “Our Father” bead and then 10 “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion” (7) on the following “Hail Mary” beads.

 

9. Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times)

 

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

 

10. Optional 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.

 

2018 DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

 

The Feast of Divine Mercy this year will be Sunday, April 8, 2018. There will be many local Parishes celebrating this event. Please check your local Parish Bulletin.

 

The Church of the Infant Saviour in Pine Bush, NY will be celebrating the Feast of Divine Mercy beginning at 2:30p. The Chaplet will be prayed at 3p. The Devotion is a powerful hour of prayer and devotion. It is a wonderful way to celebrate Jesus Christ’s mercy and love for all his people. Please attend if you can.