I have a Divine Mercy picture in my kitchen. My neighbor is going to pray a Divine Mercy novena. The first Sunday after Easter, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Divine Mercy. What is all this "Divine Mercy" talk about?
Devotion to Jesus as Divine Mercy
Having a devotional life to Jesus as Divine Mercy is based on the diary of Sister (Sr.) Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun. Beginning in 1931, Jesus appeared in visions to Sr. Faustina and gave her instructions to teach the world about His mercy.
In the first vision she saw Jesus dressed in a white robe. Two rays of light emanated from the area of his heart, one red and the other white. Jesus was raising his right hand as if he were doing a blessing or greeting, and his left hand touched his chest near the place that the rays emanated from.
Jesus explained, in a later vision, that "The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depth of my tender mercy when my agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross." (Diary, 742)
Jesus said, "Paint an image, according to the pattern you see with the signature: Jesus, I Trust in You. . . . I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish . . . ." (Diary, 47) Several versions of this painting can be found. The Lord had this to say about the picure. "Not in the beauty of the color, nor of the brush lies the greatness of this image, but in My grace. (Diary, 313)
Divine Mercy Pictures
All families are encouraged to have a Divine Mercy picture in their home. Sources for more information and pictures are listed at the end of this article. Great are the promises of our Lord to those who use this picture as a reminder of His mercy and our obligation to be merciful as Our Father in heaven is merciful. The picture of Jesus with the rays representing the water and the blood coming from his heart are a testimony to the great gifts he has given us through baptism and his own shed blood.
Divine Mercy Prayers
Everyone is encouraged to pray a
