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The Image of the Divine Mercy |
The image of the Divine Mercy originates from a vision that Sister Faustina had in Plock 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.
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)
JEZU, UFAM TOBIE !
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)
