Fiat Bintulu: What is Divine Mercy? and How to Recite it?

Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

The Humble Instrument

Sister Faustina was a young, uneducated nun in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland during the 1930s. She came from a poor family that struggled during the years of World War I. She had only three years of simple education, so hers were the humblest tasks in the convent, usually in the kitchen or garden. However, she received extraordinary revelations — or messages — from our Lord Jesus. Jesus asked Sr. Faustina to record these experiences, which she compiled into notebooks. These notebooks are known today as the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, and the words contained within are God's loving message of Divine Mercy.

Though the Divine Mercy message is not new to the teachings of the Church, Sr. Faustina's Diary sparked a great movement, and a strong and significant focus on the mercy of Christ. Saint John Paul II canonized Sr. Faustina in 2000 making her the "first saint of the new millennium." Speaking of Sr. Faustina and the importance of the message contained in her Diary, the Pope call her "the great apostle of Divine Mercy in our time."

Today, we continue to rely of St. Faustina as a constant reminder of the message to trust in Jesus' endless mercy, and to live life mercifully toward others. We also turn to her in prayer and request her intercession to our merciful Savior on our behalf. At the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, we include the following in our 3 o'clock prayers:

Saint Faustina,

you told us that your mission would continue after your death and that you would not forget us. Our Lord also granted you a great privilege, telling you to "distribute graces as you will, to who you will, and when you will." Relying on this, we ask your intercession for the graces we need, especially for the intentions just mentioned. Help us, above all, to trust in Jesus as you did and thus to glorify His mercy every moment of our lives. Amen. Amen

The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us – all of us. And, he wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy. 

The Divine Mercy message is one we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC: 

A - Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world. 

B - Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us. 

C - Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive. 

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.

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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.

Source

The prayer can be sung also:

Events in the life and mission of St. Faustina

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History of the Message and Devotion to Divine Mercy

Timeline

Events in the life and mission of St. Faustina

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August 25, 1905	Helena Kowalska was born in Glogowiec, Poland; the third of ten children living off a small farm and her father's carpentry work.
August 27, 1905	Helena is baptized at St. Casimirís church in Swinice Warckie.
1912	At the age of seven, Helena hears a voice calling her to religious life.
1914	Helena receives first Holy Communion.
1917	Helena begins her primary education, which lasts only two and a half years.
1920	At age 15, Helena begins domestic work to support her large family.
1922	Helena returns home, announces a desire to enter convent; her parents oppose; she works two years to help support her family.
July 1924	Helena sees a vision of the scourged Christ who calls her to religious life. Helena goes to Warsaw to search for a convent, and she works to support herself.
August 1925	Helena is accepted by the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy; one month later she wants to leave for a stricter order.
April 30, 1926	Helena receives habit and her religious name Maria Faustina.
April 3, 1927	Sr. Faustina experiences spiritual dark night during novitiate.
April 16, 1928	On Good Friday, she is engulfed by the flame of Divine Love.
April 30, 1928	Sr. Faustina makes her first profession of temporary vows.
December 1928	Newly elected Mother General Michaela Moraczewska is source of help and comfort to Sr. Faustina during her religious life.
October 1928-30	Easily adaptable, Sr. Faustina is sent to work at various houses.
February 22, 1931	Sr. Faustina sees a vision of Jesus who tells her to paint His image.
May 1, 1933	Sr. Faustina takes her perpetual vows.
May 25, 1933	Sr. Faustina goes to Vilnius where she receives many mystical experiences and is assisted by Fr. Michael Sopocko, a wise spiritual director.
January 2, 1934	Sr. Faustina visits the artist Kazimirowski, who is to paint the image.
March 29, 1934	Sr. Faustina offers herself for sinners, especially those who lack trust.
June 1934	The painting of Divine Mercy is completed, but Sr. Faustina does not like it.
July 1934	Beginning of Sr. Faustina's illness; she begins writing the Diary under obedience.
April 28, 1935	(Feast of Mercy) Divine Mercy image is publicly venerated in Vilnius for the conclusion of the Jubilee Year of Redemption: January 8, 1936. Sr. Faustina informs the Bishop that Jesus requests the founding of an order.
May 11, 1936	Sr. Faustina goes to Krakow; guided by Fr. Andrasz SJ; her health deteriorates.
September 1937	Holy cards with the Divine Mercy image printed for first time.
September 1938	Sr. Faustina prepares herself for death, and she asks pardon of the Congregation.
October 5, 1938	Sr. Faustina makes final confession, and dies late in the evening.
October 7, 1938	Funeral of Sr. Faustina, burial at the convent cemetery.
1940-1941	Divine Mercy message spreads first among the victims of WWII.
April 1941	Fr. Joseph Jarzebowski, MIC, brings the Divine Mercy message to the USA and the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception begins to spread the message in Polish.
1942-1959	The Divine Mercy message spreads worldwide through the efforts of the Marians, who publish images and literature in many languages.
March 6, 1959	Holy Office issues a notification banning Divine Mercy devotion.
October 21, 1965	Informative Process of Sr. Faustina's life and virtues is opened by Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, Archbishop of Krakow, encouraged by Cardinal Ottaviani, the Prefect of the Holy Office.
September 1967	Informative Process closes; Cardinal Wojtyla sends acts to Rome, January 31, 1968. The process of Beatification of Sr. Faustina is inaugurated.
April 15, 1978	Prefect of Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith declares the Notification ban no longer binding.
October 16, 1978	Cardinal Karol Wojtyla becomes Pope John Paul II.
July 12, 1979	Marians receive an authoritative explanation of the Notification issued by the Prefect for the Doctrine of Faith stating that no impediments exist in the spread of the message and devotion to the Divine Mercy in the forms proposed by Sr. Faustina.
May 1980	Marians publish critical edition of Sr. Faustina's Diary in Polish.
November 30, 1980	Pope John Paul II issues encyclical on the Divine Mercy.
November 22, 1981	Pope John Paul II visits the Shrine of Merciful Love in Collevalenza near Todi, Italy, stating that, "Right from the beginning of my ministry in St. Peter's See in Rome, I considered this message (of Divine Mercy) my special task."
1986	Marians publish critical edition of Sr. Faustina's Diary in English.
April 10, 1991	Pope John Paul II links the encyclical's message to Sr. Faustina.
March 7, 1992	Decree of Heroic Virtues of Sr. Faustina is promulgated.
December 1992	Miracle through intercession of Sr. Faustina is accepted.
April 18, 1993	Sr. Faustina beatified in Rome on Second Sunday of Easter.
January 2000	Second miracle through Bl. Faustina intercession is accepted.
April 30, 2000	Bl. Faustina is canonized in Rome on Divine Mercy Sunday and Divine Mercy Sunday is proclaimed.
May 5, 2000	Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issues a Decree proclaiming the Second Sunday of Easter also as Divine Mercy Sunday.
December 2000	The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments listed the Devotion to the Divine Mercy in itsDirectory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines.
April 22, 2001	Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated officially for the first time by the universal Church.
May 13, 2001	Congregation For The Clergy issues a document: "Priest of God, you embody the Mystery of Mercy."
August 18, 2002	John Paul II consecrates the whole world to the Divine Mercy from The Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Krakow-Lagiewniki, the site of St. Faustina's tomb.
August 21, 2002	Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary issued on Indulgences attached to devotions in honor of Divine Mercy.

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