Question: What is the story behind the Divine Mercy Chaplet?

The Divine Mercy Chaplet was a meditative prayer given to the world by Jesus in an apparition. He appeared to St. Faustina, a Polish nun, numerous times in the early part of the 1900's. If you want to read more about St. Faustina, you can read her diary (available at Good Shepherd Catholic Bookstore 747-9494). The message that Jesus gave to her was that He wanted the world to be reminded of His great mercy for us. He wanted us to be reminded that He does not want any of us to go to hell. He wanted to remind us that no matter how terrible a sinner someone was, that they were not beyond the mercy of God through the sacrifice of the cross. It is a message of hope, and it is awesome to think that it came to a nun in Poland , right before the atrocities of World War II (in which Poland was at the center). For a while, the Vatican suppressed the devotion of praying the chaplet, while it was verifying to make sure that everything was authentic (which is the Church's duty--see the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph #801). However, that time has passed and under the leadership of Pope John Paul II, another holy person from Poland and a contemporary of St. Faustina, the devotion has spread. Sr. Faustina was just canonized a few years ago and now the second Sunday of the Easter season is officially "Divine Mercy Sunday" in recognition of this great message. We should meditate and pray often on the mercy of God, even if we do not pray the chaplet. However, praying the chaplet is the best way to do this. And Jesus promised St. Faustina, that if the chaplet was said during the 3 o'clock hour, each day (the hour of mercy He called it, since this is the hour He died on the cross), that many souls would be saved and that souls would be released from purgatory. So you can pray the chaplet anytime, but it is most powerful and fruitful during the 3o'clock hour. For more information, you can also check-out the video "Oceans of Mercy" from the parish library, which tells the stories of St. Faustina, Pope John Paul II and another polish Saint, St. Maximilian Kolbe, and how the Lord has worked in these three holy lives to better our world. May Jesus in His great mercy, save all of us. Amen!