# The rays of divine mercy: praying the chaplet and litany
*2021-05-07*

> Bill Young and John O'Rourke lead a prayer session centered on the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Litany of St. Faustina, and reflections on the grace of Divine Mercy Sunday.

## Praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

We begin our session in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We open with a prayer to the source of life and the ocean of mercy, invoking the blood and water that gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us. 

Following the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed, we move into the Chaplet. On the large beads, we pray: 'Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.' On the small beads, we pray: 'For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.'

We conclude the Chaplet by repeating three times: 'Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.' We close with a prayer asking the Eternal God to increase His mercy within us so that in difficult moments, we may not despair, but submit ourselves with confidence to His holy will.

## Interceding for Priests and Religious

As part of our daily devotion, we focus on the second day of the Divine Mercy reflections, which is dedicated to the souls of priests and religious. We ask the Lord to immerse these souls in His unfathomable mercy, recognizing that it was through them that He received strength to endure His bitter Passion. We pray that the Father turns His most merciful gaze upon the chosen ones in His vineyard, granting them power and light to guide others toward salvation.

## The Litany of Divine Mercy

We also pray the Litany of Divine Mercy given by Jesus to St. Faustina. With the repeated response, 'I trust in You,' we acknowledge Divine Mercy as the greatest attribute of God, an incomprehensible mystery, and the source of all life and happiness. We reflect on how this mercy flowed from the open wound of the heart of Jesus, established the Sacred Host and the Holy Church, and accompanies us through our entire lives, especially in the hour of death.

## Reflections on Faith and Media

It has been a while since our last podcast, but we are returning to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy almost every day via Zoom to provide a more personal experience for our listeners. 

Beyond prayer, we encourage everyone to seek out spiritually enriching media. We highly recommend 'The Chosen' series and the movie 'The Father,' both of which are deeply moving. We also suggest listening to the teachings of Father Chris Lavin and Father Michael Gaitley. In an age where it is easy to get trapped by the 'garbage' on Netflix or other platforms, there are wonderful resources—from intellectual deep dives to entertaining Catholic podcasts—that can have a positive impact on your daily life.

## Celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday

We recently celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday, which is a vital day for the Church. At St. Gregory the Great in Plantation, Florida, it was inspiring to see the lines for confession wrapping around the block and the Masses packed with people. Divine Mercy Sunday is a special gift where, for those who go to confession and receive Communion, not only sins but also punishments are relieved. 

For those looking for more resources, the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Massachusetts offers wonderful services, including live-streamed Masses and special events for First Fridays and First Saturdays.

*By utilizing the Chaplet, the Litany, and spiritually sound media, we can move away from worldly distractions and immerse ourselves in the boundless mercy of God.*