The Image of the Divine Mercy
The earliest element of the Devotion to the Divine Mercy revealed to St. Faustina was the Image. On February 22nd, 1931 Jesus appeared to her with rays radiating from His heart and said,
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 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)
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 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 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. Happy is the one who dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of god shall not lay hold of him. (Diary 299)
Not in the beauty of the color, nor of the brush, lies the greatness of this image, but in My grace. (Diary 313)
By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works. (Diary 742)
In these texts the Church's doctrine on images, justification and grace are explained. First, by itself an image is merely a painting, no matter how beautiful and expressive. Yet, it can point us the mysteries of the faith and dispose us to grasp and receive what it represents, in this case the Divine Mercy. It is thus a vessel, not the source, a reminder, not the reality. The reality is the merciful fountain of grace flowing from the pierced Heart of Christ on the Cross, and flowing out visibly to represent the visible, that is the sacramental, signs of grace, Baptism and Eucharist, standing for all the sacraments of the Church. Thus, St. John in his first letter insists on the presence of the invisible with the visible, the Spirit with the water and the Blood.
The image also reminds us that salvation is not just by faith, but by works of charity also. It takes faith to see and believe in what the Image signifies, Divine Mercy poured out from Christ upon the Cross, but it takes mercy, love going beyond the strict requirements of justice, in order to draw down mercy on oneself. "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us" (Mt 6:12) and "the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you" (Mt 7:2) The Image of the pierced side of Christ pouring out blood and water reminds us that the Cross, love in action, is the price of mercy. "As I have loved you so also should you love one another." (Jn 13:34)
Just caught the last part of the Mass.
I got done watching the encore broadcast of the concecration Mass on EWTN. I caught the Liturgy of the Word and the pope's homily earlier in the wee hours, but I was starting to fall asleep, so I missed the rest. I was just about to post a thread on the concecration of the Divine Mercy Shrine in Krakow, but NYer beat me to it! Oh well, but I think I'll "add a little color" to this thread by posting some pictures.
Catholic faithful cheer as Pope John Paul II arrives at the God's Mercy Basilica in Krakow, southern Poland, Saturday, Aug.17, 2002. The pope will consecrate the God's Mercy basilica in Krakow's Lagiewniki district, a popular sanctuary dedicated to St. Faustina, a mystic nun. Up to four million pilgrims are expected to greet the holy father during his Friday, Aug.16 to Monday, Aug.19 homecoming. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Pope John Paul II drives through Krakow, southern Poland, Saturday, Aug.17, 2002. Tens of thousands of adoring Poles gave the ailing Pope John Paul II a joyous welcome home Saturday, lining a seven-mile route and shouting ``Long live the pope!'' as he arrived to consecrate a new basilica. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Pope John Paul II drives through Krakow, southern Poland, Saturday, Aug.17, 2002. Up to four million pilgrims are expected to greet the holy father during his four-day homecoming visit. More than 250,000 Poles poured into the streets Friday night to greet the pope on the ninth visit to his homeland. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Pope John Paul II arrives at the God's Mercy Basilica in Krakow, southern Poland, Saturday, Aug.17, 2002. The pope will consecrate the God's Mercy basilica in Krakow's Lagiewniki district, a popular sanctuary dedicated to St. Faustine, a mystic nun. Up to four million pilgrims are expected to greet the holy father during his return to Poland this weekend. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Nuns cheers as they welcome Pope John Paul II upon his arrival at the God's Mercy Basilica in Krakow, southern Poland, Saturday, Aug.17, 2002. The pope will consecrate the God's Mercy basilica in Krakow's Lagiewniki district, a popular sanctuary dedicated to St. Faustina, a mystic nun. Up to four million pilgrims are expected to greet the holy father during his Friday, Aug.16 to Monday, Aug.19 homecoming. (AP Photo/Jockel Finck)
A crowd of several thousand Catholics wait to welcome Pope John Paul II upon his arrival at the God's Mercy Basilica in Krakow, southern Poland, Saturday, Aug.17, 2002. The pope will consecrate the God's Mercy basilica in Krakow's Lagiewniki district, a popular sanctuary dedicated to St. Faustina, a mystic nun. Up to four million pilgrims are expected to greet the holy father during his Friday, Aug.16 to Monday, Aug.19 homecoming. (AP Photo/Jockel Finck)
Pope John Paul II blesses the faithful as he enters the God's Mercy Basilica in Krakow Lagiewniki Saturday Aug.17, 2002. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)
Catholics faithful from Chicago cheer as they welcome Pope John Paul II upon his arrival at the God's Mercy Basilica in Krakow, southern Poland, Saturday, Aug.17, 2002. The pope consecrated the basilica in Krakow's Lagiewniki district, a popular sanctuary dedicated to St. Faustina, a mystic nun. (AP Photo/Jockel Finck)
A large group of American Catholics from Chicago, Ill. cheers as they welcome Pope John Paul II upon his arrival at the God's Mercy Basilica in Krakow, southern Poland, Saturday, Aug.17, 2002. Tens of thousands of adoring Poles gave the ailing Pope John Paul II a joyous welcome home Saturday, lining a seven-mile route and shouting ``Long live the pope!'' as he arrived to consecrate a new basilica.(AP Photo/Jockel Finck)
Pope John Paul II blesses the newly built sanctuary at Lagiewniki in a suburb of Krakow, August 17, 2002. The Pontiff issued a ringing plea on Saturday for an end to war and suffering around the world in a sermon from the city where he endured Nazi repression. REUTERS/Peter Andrews
Pope John Paul II consecrates the Divine Mercy Sanctuary church in Lagiewniki, near Krakow, August 17, 2002. The shrine is dedicated to a nun, Saint Faustina, whose visions before World War Two formed the basis of the mystic cult of the Divine Mercy. The nun's writings were banned at first by the Vatican, but the Pope rehabilitated, beatified and in 2000 canonized her. The 82 year-old pontiff is on his ninth pilgrimage to Poland, which will last four days. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen
Bishop Piero Marini helps Pope John Paul II to rub oil on the altar during dedicated ceremony of the new sanctuary at the Lagiewniki in the suburb of Krakow, August 17, 2002. Pope John Paul issued a ringing plea on Saturday for an end to war and suffering around the world in a sermon from the city where he endured Nazi repression. REUTERS/Peter Andrews
Pope John Paul II during the blessing ceremony at God's Mercy Basilica in Krakow, southern Poland, Saturday, Aug.17, 2002. The pontiff consecrated the God's Mercy Basilica in Krakow's Lagiewniki district, a popular sanctuary dedicated to St. Faustine, a mystic nun. Up to four million pilgrims are expected to greet the holy father during his four-day homecoming visit. (AP Photo/Vincenzo Pinto, POOL)
Pope John Paul II sits on his throne during the blessing ceremony of the church of Lagiewniki, in Krakow August 17, 2002. The 82-year-old pontiff, who faces a daily battle against the effects of Parkinson's disease and arthritis, is making his ninth papal visit to his home country of Poland, spending four days in and around Krakow, where he was archbishop before his surprise election as pope in 1978. REUTERS/Vincenzo Pinto
Pope John Paul II holds his mitre during holy mass at the Lagiewniki Sanctuary in a suburb of Krakow, August 17, 2002. The Pontiff issued a ringing plea on Saturday for an end to war and suffering around the world in a sermon from the city where he endured Nazi repression. REUTERS/Peter Andrews
Pope John Paul II sits on his throne during the blessing ceremony of the church of Lagiewniki, in Krakow August 17, 2002. The 82-year-old pontiff, who faces a daily battle against the effects of Parkinson's disease and arthritis, is making his ninth papal visit to his home country of Poland, spending four days in and around Krakow, where he was archbishop before his surprise election as pope in 1978. REUTERS/Vincenzo Pinto/POOL
Pope John Paul II prays in the God's Mercy Basilica in Krakow, southern Poland, Saturday, Aug.17, 2002. Consecrating the basilica at a shrine where he used to pray on his way to forced labor in a salt quarry under the Nazis, John Paul referred to evil in the world, making what appeared to be references to the Sept. 11 terror attacks and their aftermath.. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
The former President of Poland Lech Walesa, right, kisses the hand of Pope John Paul II, left, after the Holy Mass in the God's Mercy Basilica in Krakow, southern Poland, Saturday, Aug.17, 2002. Poles hoped the visit to his homeland would invigorate John Paul, who is exhibiting symptoms of Parkinson's disease that have left him stooped and slurred his speech at times.. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Followers watch Pope John Paul II on a giant video screen as he prays in the God's Mercy Basilica in Krakow, southern Poland, Saturday, Aug.17, 2002.Some 4,000 faithful clapped in rhythm as if to propel the frail, 82-year-old pope as he made his way through the just-finished Basilica of God's Mercy on a rolling platform. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Pope John Paul II talks to a crowd in front of the Metropolitan Residence in Krakow, southern Poland, Saturday, Aug.17, 2002 the second day of a four-day visit. Bishop at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
I made a little mistake on the HTML on the last three pictures' captions, but it'll be ok. Thanks for responding. :-)
Thanks. I appreciate the ping to this lovely thread. =)
Thanks for posting the pics. I see some old friends from Chicago in one of the pics. That makes my day!
Wouldn't it be great to see that many nuns in the streets in the USA? In habits! I love the pictures. Thanks once again.
Prayer Bump....Divine Mercy from SARS among all the other ills of the world. Prayers for the suffering.