The chaplet is recited using rosary beads. (You can also count on your ten fingers.)

1. Make the Sign of the Cross
2. Opening prayer: “You expired, Lord 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.”
3. 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!”
4. Pray the Our Father
5. Pray the Hail Mary
6. Recite the Apostles’ Creed
7. On the large bead before each of the five decades (set of ten prayer beads), 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.” (Or in Latin, pray: Pater aeterne, offero tibi Corpus et Sanguinem, animam et divinitatem dilectissimi Filii Tui, Domini nostri, Iesu Christi, in propitiatione pro peccatis nostris et totius mundi.)
8. On each small (Hail Mary) bead, pray: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” (Or in Latin, pray: Pro dolorosa Eius passione, miserere nobis et totius mundi.)
9. After praying all five decades, conclude by reciting this prayer three times: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” (Or in Latin, pray: Sanctus Deus, Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Immortalis, miserere nobis et totius mundi.)
10. Concluding 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.”

NOTE: The Chaplet of Divine Mercy may be recited as part of a Novena (nine-day prayer cycle).

If the Chaplet is prayed as a novena, it is recited with a special intention in mind for each of the nine days. Here are the intentions:

First Day — All mankind, especially all sinners

Second Day — The souls of priests and religious

Third Day — All devout and faithful souls

Fourth Day — Those who do not believe in God and who do not yet know Christ

Fifth Day — The souls who have separated themselves from the Church

Sixth Day — The meek and humble souls and souls of little children

Seventh Day — Souls who especially venerate and glorify Christ’s mercy

Eighth Day — Souls who are detained in Purgatory

Ninth Day — Souls who have become lukewarm