Litany of Divine Mercy

Litany of Divine Mercy

(From St Faustina's Diary #949)

TO THE LITANY OF DIVINE MERCY

The Litany of Divine Mercy is a devotional prayer in the Catholic tradition, inspired by the private revelations received by St Maria Faustina Kowalska between 1931 and 1938.

Composed as a series of invocations that praise specific attributes of God’s mercy—such as “Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God,” “Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery,” and “Divine Mercy, refuge of sinners”—each petition is answered with the trusting refrain “I trust in You.”

The Litany of Divine Mercy draws directly from the themes in Faustina’s Diary, emphasizing mercy as God’s greatest gift to humanity, especially for the most hardened sinners, and it was later approved for public use by the Church as part of the broader Divine Mercy devotion.

Widely recited during the Hour of Mercy at 3 pm, in chaplet services, or as a standalone prayer, the litany invites believers to meditate on the boundless compassion that flows from the pierced Heart of Christ.

Its structure fosters both personal repentance and confident hope, reinforcing the message that no soul is beyond redemption when it turns to divine mercy with trust.

Popularized globally by St John Paul II, who established the Feast of Divine Mercy (also called Divine Mercy Sunday) and canonized Faustina in 2000, the prayer remains a cornerstone of modern Catholic spirituality, helping countless people cultivate deeper reliance on God’s forgiving love amid life’s trials.

The Litany of the Divine Mercy is not officially authorized by the Catholic Church. Only six litanies officially approved for public worship)

However, in practice you can pray it privately or in informal group settings, such as during personal or family Divine Mercy devotions. Some parishes or apostolates may recite it publicly as a popular devotion outside of strict liturgical rites (after Mass or in a prayer group).

SYMBOLS

[℣] Leader  [℟] Response  [Ⱥ] All together

SIGN OF THE CROSS

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

IF YOU HAVE, MENTION YOUR SPECIAL INTENTIONS HERE

  • Lord have mercy. [℟] Lord have mercy.
  • Christ have mercy [℟] Christ have mercy
  • Lord have mercy. [℟] Lord have mercy.
  • Christ hear us. [℟] Christ graciously hear us.
● ● ●

[℟] = have mercy on us.

  • God, the Father of heaven, [℟]
  • God the Son, Redeemer of the world, [℟]
  • God the Holy Spirit, [℟]
  • Holy Trinity, one God, [℟]
● ● ●

[℟] = I trust in You

  • Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, unfathomable love of the Sanctifier, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, expression of the greatest might of God, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, in creation of heavenly spirits, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingness to existence, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, shielding us from deserved punishment, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, lifting us from the misery of sin, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, justifying us through the Person of the Incarnate Word, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, which flowed out from the wounds of Christ, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, giving us the Blessed Virgin Mary as Mother of Mercy, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, in revealing the mysteries of God, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, in the founding of the Holy Church, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, in instituting the Holy Sacraments, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, first of all in the sacraments of Baptism and Penance, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, in the Holy Eucharist and sacrament of Holy Orders, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, in calling us to the holy faith, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, in the conversion of sinners, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, in sanctifying the just, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, in perfecting of the pious, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, fount of help for the sick and the suffering, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy only hope of despairing souls, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, accompanying us in every moment of our life, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, anticipating our needs with graces, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, repose of the dying, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, heavenly delight of the saved, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, respite, and relief of the souls in purgatory, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, crown of all saints, [℟]
  • Divine Mercy, inexhaustible source of miracles, [℟]
● ● ●
  • Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, [℟] spare us, O Lord.
  • Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, [℟] graciously hear us, O Lord.
  • Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, [℟] have mercy on us.
● ● ●
  • The Mercy of God is above all his works. [℟] Hence, we will praise The Divine Mercy forever and ever.

[℣] Let us pray:

[Ⱥ] 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. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, King of Mercy, who with you and the Holy Spirit shows us mercy now and forever. Amen.

[℣] May the divine assistance remain always with us, [℟] and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

SIGN OF THE CROSS

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

Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy Novena
Purgatory Chaplet of Divine Mercy

The Bible highlights mercy as a core attribute of God and a virtue to be practiced by Christians. Mercy is integral to both the Old and New Testaments. Psalm 103:8 says, “The Lord is merciful and gracious…” illustrating God’s endless and enduring mercy.

Psalm 23:6

“Only goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever.”

Matthew 5:7

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.”

Luke 6:36

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Hebrews 4:16

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace when we are in need of help.”

1 Peter 1:3

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy he has given us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”

James 2:13

“For judgment will be without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy, but mercy triumphs over judgment.”