Do you need to be in a state of grace to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet?

[A_Really_Big_Cat]

My friend said something on our discord that really threw me for a loop. He said that he couldn’t pray the Divine Mercy chaplet as another friend requested because he wasn’t in a state of grace. He claims that the prayer is ineffectual if one is in a state of mortal sin. I’ve never heard this before; is this true?

 

[FiremanFrach]

I would think it would be all the more a reason to pray it. For Divine Mercy for who you (“you” in general) are praying for and for mercy of the reciter.

 

[MeganCecilia]

No of course not. I would encourage one to ESPECIALLY say it when in mortal sin

 

[Vico]

My friend said something on our discord that really threw me for a loop. He said that he couldn’t pray the Divine Mercy chaplet as another friend requested because he wasn’t in a state of grace. He claims that the prayer is ineffectual if one is in a state of mortal sin. I’ve never heard this before; is this true?

No merit accrues unless in a state of grace, however it does not mean prayer should be avoided.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

God hears the sincere prayers of those in mortal sin.

God and the Church encourage those in mortal sin to pray. It helps you get out of mortal sin and stay out of mortal sin.

It’s true that you can’t earn indulgences and merits for your prayers if you are in mortal sin, as you have to be in a state of grace to earn indulgences and merits, but those have nothing to do with God hearing your prayer. They’re like bonus points.

It’s also true that the prayers of very holy saints might be more efficacious than prayers of a sinner, but we don’t know that for sure because a big factor is the sincerity and motivation of a prayer. Sinners can sometimes pray very heartfelt and sincere prayers.