# The Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Its Novena
*2023-02-01*

> Bill and John pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, explain the novena given to St. Faustina, share a testimony of a dying loved one, and continue with the Rosary.

## Opening Prayer and Apostles’ Creed

We began with an opening prayer invoking the source of life, the Ocean of Mercy, and the blood and water flowing from the heart of Jesus. Then we recited the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, 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 rose again from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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.”

## The Chaplet of Divine Mercy

We prayed the Chaplet, repeating the prayer of mercy: “Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood of your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins. Have mercy on us and on the whole world.” The refrain was repeated several times, invoking the Holy God, the Mighty One, and the Immortal One, asking for mercy on the whole world.

## The Novena of Divine Mercy

Bill explained that the Novena of Divine Mercy was given to St. Faustina by Jesus for personal use, but He asked that it be prayed especially during the nine days before the Feast of Divine Mercy. The promise attached to the novena is that anyone who recites it will receive great mercy at the hour of death, and that even the hardest sinner can obtain grace if they pray it once. The novena can be prayed for personal intentions or offered for the souls in purgatory.

John recalled a recent experience when a friend’s mother, who was near death, recovered after the Chaplet was prayed over her, attributing the miracle to God’s mercy.

## The Meaning of the Chaplet (Day Four)

We reflected on the fourth day of the Chaplet, focusing on those who do not yet know Christ. The prayer asked the Father to turn His merciful gaze toward these souls, that they might be drawn into the light of the Gospel and share in God’s infinite mercy.

The prayer concluded with a petition for the grace to “exalt the generosity of your mercy for endless ages.”

## Continuing with the Rosary

After the Chaplet, we moved to the Rosary, beginning with the Apostles’ Creed again and then the prayers of the Holy Spirit. We prayed the Glorious Mysteries, as today is a Wednesday, focusing on the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, and the Assumption. Each mystery was followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, ending with the prayer, “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls, especially those most in need of mercy, to heaven.”

*The Chaplet of Divine Mercy, especially when prayed as a novena, opens the heart of God’s boundless mercy to all souls.*