“This Feast emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of My tender mercies. Every soul believing and trusting in My mercy will obtain it.” (Diary of St. Faustina, 420)
This Sunday is the Feast of the Divine Mercy, April 28, 2019, which is also be referred to as Divine Mercy Sunday for Catholics around the world. Pope (now Saint) John Paul II established this Sunday “be enriched by a plenary indulgence so that the faithful might receive in great abundance the gift of the consolation of the Holy Spirit”. During his homily in 2001, Pope John Paul II said, “Divine Mercy! This is the Easter gift that the Church receives from the risen Christ and offers to humanity”.
The Divine Mercy is a devotion to Jesus Christ, as he appeared to Saint Faustina Kowalska. a Polish nun. Sister Faustina had a gift of vision, said to have been visited by Jesus and she conversed with Him. In her 600-paged diary, there were 14 revelations of the visions which she claimed continued for years. She wrote on God’s mercy and the call to accept God’s mercy. Also the need to be merciful and for conversion of hearts. In her diary, she called to trust completely in God. Accordingly, Jesus asked her to paint the vision of His Merciful Divinity.
The Divine Mercy image is based on the vision of St. Faustina in 1931, showing Jesus Christ risen with his right hand in blessing, and his left hand pointed towards his chest from which flow forth a red ray symbolizing His blood (life of souls) and a translucent white ray for water (which justify souls). The depiction contains the message “Jesus, I trust in You!” Looking at the whole image, it is referred to as the “Fountain of Mercy” – which symbolizes charity, forgiveness, and love of God. The faithful now foster a growing love for God and fellowmen.
In her vision of His Mercy in 1933, Sister Faustina wrote: “I saw a great light, with God the Father in the midst of it. Between this light and the earth I saw Jesus nailed to the Cross and in such a way that God, wanting to look upon the earth, had to look through Our Lord’s wounds and I understood that God blessed the earth for the sake of Jesus.”
As we give praise to God for his Divine Mercy, the prayer to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is encouraged. And while as we say “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world” three times, we proclaim the power of God and our need for His great Mercy.
In the midst of these challenging times, we cling to God’s mercy and give our full trust to our Lord, Jesus Christ.
