The
Image of Divine Mercy
The origins
of this image are associated with the vision that Saint Faustina
of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy had in the convent
in Poland on 22nd February, 1931.
She wrote
in her diary, "In the evening, when I was in my cell,
I saw the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand
[was] raised in the gesture of blessing, the other was touching
the garment at the breast. From beneath the garment, slightly
drawn aside at the breast, there were emanating two large
rays, one red, the other pale . . . After a while, Jesus said
to me, "Paint an image according
to the pattern you see, with the signature; Jesus I Trust
in You. I desire that this image be venerated first in your
chapel and then throughout the world."
(Diary 47)
"I
promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not
perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already
here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will
defend it as My own glory." (Diary 48)
Jesus,
when asked what the rays meant said, "The
pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous.
The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls
. . . Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter."
(Diary 299)
It is
of course the sacraments of Baptism and Reconciliation that
purify the soul and the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist that
is the life of the soul. Thus Jesus is again directing us
to this infinite source of His mercy and love.
The words
contained in the image, Jesus I Trust in You, are a reminder
that we must totally trust in Him and show mercy always to
others. Jesus said, "[The
image] is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because
even the strongest faith is of no avail without works."
(Diary 742)
"My
gaze from this image is like My gaze from the cross."
(Diary 326) "I am offering
people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces
to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the
signature: 'Jesus, I trust in You.' "
(Diary 327)
The veneration
of the image is based on confident prayer joined with deeds
of mercy, to which Jesus attached the following promises;
the grace of salvation, great progress on the road to Christian
perfection, the grace of a happy death, and all other graces
and temporal blessings which people who practice mercy will
ask Him for with trust.
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