The Image of the Divine Mercy
from various sources
The image of the Divine Mercy
originates from a vision that Sister Faustina had on February
22, 1931. In that vision Christ
expressed His desire to have such an image painted and that the words in
the signature beneath it be: Jesus, I trust in You.
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The image represents the risen Christ,
Whose hands and feet bear the marks of
the crucifixion. From His pierced Heart, not visible in the
image, two rays
issue forth: red and pale. When asked about their meaning Jesus
explained:
"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." (299)
In other words, these two rays signify the Sacraments,
and also the Holy Church born of the pierced side of Christ,
as well as the gifts of the Holy Spirit, of which water
is a symbol in Scripture.
"Happy is the one who will dwell in their
shelter" , said Jesus, "for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him." (299)
The image then, portrays the great mercy of
God, which was fully revealed in the Paschal Mystery of Christ,
and is manifested in the Church most effectively through the Holy
Sacraments. The purpose of this image is to serve as a vessel for obtaining graces,
and to be a sign which is to remind the world of the need to trust in
God and to show mercy toward our neighbor. The words
found in the signature beneath the image, Jesus, I trust
in You, speak of an attitude of trust.
"The image" , Jesus said, "is to
be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail
without works." (742)
The veneration of this image is based on confident
prayer, joined with deeds of mercy. Jesus
attached the following promises to the veneration of the image thus understood: 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.
"I am offering people a vessel" , Jesus told Sister Faustina, "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~." (327) "By means of this image I shall
be granting many graces to souls; so let every soul have access to it." (570) "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." (48)
"The flames of mercy are burning Me. I
desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain they cause Me when they do not
want to accept them! Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will
fill it with peace." (1074) "Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My
mercy." (300)
"Speak to the world about My mercy; let
all mankind recognize My unfathomable mercy. It is a sign for the end times; after it will
come the day of justice. While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fount of
My mercy; let them profit from the Blood and Water which gushed forth for them." (848) "Before I come as a Just
Judge, I first open wide the doors of My mercy. He who refuses to pass through the doors
of My mercy must pass through the doors of My justice." (1146)
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