Discover the Beauty and Meaning Behind Catholic Chaplets
The saying goes like this: "What you put into it is what you get out of it." This also applies to prayer. Praying a Catholic chaplet can be a beautiful way to deepen your prayer life. A chaplet is a form of prayer, using beads, that honors a saint, archangel, or special devotion such as the seven sorrows of Mary or the five holy wounds of Christ.
At Marie Madeleine we carry three special Catholic chaplets online for sale: the St. Benedict Chaplet, the St. Michael Chaplet, and the Our Lady of Sorrows Rosary Chaplet. Another popular Catholic chaplet is the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy – which the instructions to pray this chaplet is included in the Marie Madeleine My Daily Prayer Booklet and A Young Catholic’s Daily Prayer Booklet.
A chaplet and a rosary are both forms of prayer beads but differ in structure. A rosary takes you on the life journey of Jesus, whereas a Catholic chaplet consists of prayers specifically crafted for that devotion or saint. Reciting a chaplet can help you live a holy life because it will improve your understanding of God's ways, strengthen your relationship with God, inspire you to obey God's will, and encourage self-reflection.
Catholic chaplets have distinctive medals associated with the devotion and are made with beads in a specific arrangement, quantity, size, and occasionally even color. You can find many Catholic chaplets online. Some are more popular than others. But they all carry one thing in common and that is devotion. See if a patron saint has a chaplet that can help you with your situation or needs. Catholic chaplets, such as the Divine Mercy chaplet, can be sung but all can be either recited on your own or in a group. The more times you are dedicated in praying your chaplet, the more effective in can be and the more graces you can receive.
Catholic chaplets have distinctive medals associated with the devotion and are made with beads in a specific arrangement, quantity, size, and occasionally even color. You can find many Catholic chaplets online. Some are more popular than others. But they all carry one thing in common and that is devotion. See if a patron saint has a chaplet that can help you with your situation or needs. Catholic chaplets, such as the Divine Mercy chaplet, can be sung but all can be either recited on your own or in a group. The more times you are dedicated in praying your chaplet, the more effective in can be and the more graces you can receive.
History and Meaning behind the 4 Catholic Chaplets at Marie Madeleine
1. Chaplet of Divine Mercy
The Divine Mercy is the most famous chaplet given to us by Jesus Himself during a private revelation when he appeared in the 1930s to Sister Faustina in a series of visions. Jesus showed her how to recite this prayer, explained the importance and promises behind it, and instructed her to have the image of the Divine Mercy painted with the inscription, “Jesus, I trust in You”. Best part about this chaplet is that it can be recited on a rosary. It is most popular to pray this powerful chaplet at 3:00 PM, the Hour of Mercy, when Jesus died on the cross (especially on Goof Friday). It is also popular to pray as a novena on the nine Sundays leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday, which is the second Sunday of Easter. It is common for a Catholic church to bring together their parishioners to sing the Divine Mercy during this time of year.
The 14 promises Jesus made to those who pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet:
1. “I promise that the soul that will venerate this image (of Divine Mercy) will not perish. I also promise victory over one's enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 48)
2. “The two rays denote Blood and Water... These two rays issued from the very depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. These rays shield souls from the wrath of My Father... I desire that the first Sunday after Easter be the Feast of Mercy... whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment. Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 299-300)
3. “I desire that the Feast of Mercy... be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter... The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion (in a state of grace on this day) shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 699)
4. “Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 687)
5.“Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy... I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 687)
6. “The souls that say this chaplet will be embraced by My mercy during their lifetime and especially at the hour of their death.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 754)
7.“Souls who spread the honor of My mercy... at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 1075)
8. “The prayer most pleasing to Me is prayer for the conversion for sinners. Know, my daughter, that this prayer is always heard and answered.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 1397)
9. “My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 1485)
10. “To priests who proclaim and extol My mercy, I will give wondrous power; I will anoint their words and touch the hearts of those to whom they will speak.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 1521)
11. “Through this chaplet, you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 1731)
12. “When hardened sinners say it, I will fill their souls with peace, and the hour of their death will be a happy one.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 1541)
13. “When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as a just Judge but as a merciful Savior.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 1541)
14. “At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony... I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 1320)
If you are interested in knowing how to pray the Divine Mercy, purchase our My Daily Prayer Booklet at Marie Madeleine – all instructions are inside along with other essential prayers.
2. St. Michael Chaplet
The St. Michael Chaplet is a prayer of devotion to not only St. Michael but to the great Archangels, along with the other nine Choirs of Angels in groupings of: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Powers, Virtues, Principalities, and the Archangels and Angels. This chaplet was given to us in private revelation during the 1750s when St. Michael appeared to the Portuguese Carmelite nun, Antonia d’Astonac.
St. Michael promised that whosoever prays this chaplet would have an escort of the nine angels chosen from each of the nine Choirs of Angels with you when approaching to receive Holy Communion. He also promised for those who recite this daily will have continual assistance during life and after death. This chaplet protects you from evil, distress, temptation and helps assist you to be more Christ like with the help of all the angels.
You can purchase a St. Michael Chaplet with instructions at Marie Madeleine.
3. Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Chaplet
Do not forget, the Bible foretells the sorrows that are to be pierced in Mary’s heart from the prophecy of Simeon at the presentation in the temple:
“and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” - Luke 2:34-35
This precious chaplet dates back to the 13th Century when seven holy men of noble birth, who had a strong devotion to Our Lady, left Florence, Italy to seek solitude by living their lives on Mount Senario. It was on Good Friday in 1239, when Our Lady appeared to them and asked for them to form an Order dedicated to practicing and spreading the devotion to her seven sorrows. These men formed the religious Order of the Servants of Mary; all these men have been canonized as saints.
What are the seven sorrows of Mary?
You can find the Our Lady of Sorrows Rosary Chaplet and The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows prayer booklet of instructions in our Rosary House at Marie Madeleine.
4. St. Benedict Chaplet
The St. Benedict Medal is incorporated into the design of this short powerful chaplet devoted to St. Benedict who lived in the 6th century. He is the patron saint of Europe, the founder of the Benedictine Order, the author of the Rule of St. Benedict, which is still followed by monks and nuns today, and he is credited with many miracles, such as driving out demons, healing the sick, and calming storms.
It was Pope Benedict XIV who approved of the St. Benedict medal in 1742 but its final design as we know of it today was commissioned in 1880 to mark the 1400th anniversary of St. Benedicts Birth. It is believed that the St. Benedict Chaplet evolved over time but no exact year of when it was created is definitively known.
The chaplet is to be prayed when asking for St. Benedicts intercession and protection against evil. You can find the St. Benedict Chaplet, along with a card of instructions in our rosary house at Marie Madeleine.
As Christians, we must strive to approach life with finding balance in our work life, prayer life, and time spent with community (friends and family). This is important because we must not lose our connection with God but also appreciate the beauty and love around us in our daily lives. This is when you can incorporate the practice of praying a Catholic chaplet either on your own, with a group of people, as a parish, at adoration, in the morning, at bedtime, on a specific feast day or any time of the day. It is a choice to remain rooted in Christ, and this can only happen if you keep up with practicing your faith. The more time you spend without praying or skipping mass, the more you get estranged from God and the more you live your life putting God in a corner.
Are you wanting to deepen your prayer life or are you simply thirsting to know Jesus? At Marie Madeleine, with easy ordering, you can find not only Catholic chaplets online but other tools and holy gifts to aid you in connecting with your faith.
Discover your next devotional companion in our beautifully handcrafted Catholic chaplets online at shopmariemadeleine.com.