The Mercy of God

The Teachings and Devotion of Divine Mercy

The Mercy of God

The Mercy of God has a straightforward message. God loves us, and he loves us all. Furthermore, He wants us to understand that His kindness is bigger than our sins so that we might call on Him in faith, receive His mercy, and then extend it to others through us. All will therefore show up to participate in His happiness.

We can message by simply recalling the ABCs:

A – Beg His pardon. God desires that we continually turn to Him in prayer, confessing our transgressions and pleading with Him to extend His mercy to both the world and us.
B – Show mercy. God desires for us to experience His mercy and allow it to spread to others through us. He wants us to show others the same love and forgiveness that He shows to us.

C: Put all your faith in Jesus. God wants us to understand that our trust is the only way we may accept all of His merciful favors. The more fully we give Him access to our hearts and life.

This message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Kindness are based on the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun with no formal education who, under the direction of her spiritual director, penned a 600-page journal containing insights she had about God’s mercy. The Divine Mercy was becoming more and more popular even before she passed away in 1938.

• The message and devotional practices outlined in the Diary of Saint Faustina and presented on this website and in other publications by the Marians of the Immaculate Conception are wholly in accordance with Church teachings and have their foundations firmly planted in the Good News of our Merciful Savior. They will support our growth as sincere disciples of Christ if properly understood and put into practice.

Learn more about God’s mercy, develop your faith in Jesus, and strive to be as forgiving of others as Christ is for you.

Methods of Devotion

The Merciful Savior has provided the suffering world with new avenues for the profusion of His mercy via St. Faustina. These new channels include prayer at 3 p.m., the Hour of Great Mercy, the Chaplet, the Feast of Mercy (Divine Mercy Sunday), the Image of The Divine Mercy, the Novena to The Divine Mercy, and Divine Mercy Sunday.

Even though these ways of obtaining God’s mercy take on various forms, they all share the same message about how merciful God is throughout time. They also remind us of the Holy Eucharist, the great Sacrament of Pity, where the living Lord, who suffered and died on the Cross and had His Heart pierced, pours forth His mercy on all people and pardons those who draw near to Him.

The enormous mercy I have for souls, especially for wretched sinners, bursts from my heart. It was for them that the Blood and Water gushed forth from My Heart like a fountain of mercy. I reside in the tabernacle for them as the King of Mercy. (Diary, 367).

In a vision, St. Faustina saw our Lord in 1931. She caught a glimpse of Jesus dressed in white, His right hand lifted in blessing. In the region of His Heart, where two sizable rays—one crimson and the other pale—came forth from, His left hand was resting against His clothing. She kept her mouth still as she fixed a solemn look of awe and deep gladness onto the Lord. Jesus told her:

Create a picture using the pattern you see and sign it “Jesus, I trust in You.” I guarantee that no soul that honors this image will perish. In particular in the hour of death, I also guarantee victory over [its] foes who are already on this planet. I will stand up for it as a matter of honor (Diary, 47, 48). I’m giving individuals a means by which they can continue to approach the compassion spring in search of graces. Jesus, I trust in You is written on this vessel’s picture (327). I want this picture to be revered, first in your chapel, then all around the world (47).

St. Faustina questioned the Lord about the significance of the rays in the picture at the direction of her spiritual adviser. She received the following feedback:

The two rays stand for Water and Blood. The pale ray represents the Water that purifies souls. The crimson light symbolizes the blood, which is the souls’ source of life. When My agonizing Heart was pierced by a spear on the Cross, these two beams of mercy sprang forth from the depths of My gentle kindness. The person who chooses to live in their shelter will be happy since God’s just hand will not overpower him (299). I will bestow countless mercies on souls through the use of this image. It is to serve as a reminder of the conditions of My mercy, for even the most fervent faith is ineffective in the absence of deeds (742).

These words suggest that the image is a representation of Divine Mercy’s graces, which are bestowed onto the world through the Eucharist and Baptism.

This image has been depicted in a variety of ways, but our Lord made it clear that the actual painting is not what matters. Who will paint You as beautiful as You are? St. Faustina cried in disappointment when she first saw the original portrait that was being painted under her supervision. (313).

She then heard the words, “Not in the beauty of the color, nor of the brush lies the magnificence of this image, but in My grace” (313).

Therefore, if it is revered with faith in God’s mercy, regardless of the version of the image we favor, we can be sure that it is a means of God’s kindness.

When Great Mercy Strikes

Our Lord requested a special prayer and meditation on His Passion every afternoon at three o’clock, the hour that commemorates His death on the cross, in His revelations to St. Faustina.

Ask for My mercy at three o’clock, especially for sinners, and, if only for a moment, become fully present in My Passion, especially in My abandonment in the midst of suffering. The time of tremendous kindness is now. I won’t turn away any soul who requests something from Me at this time because of my passion.

Immerse yourselves fully in My kindness as often as you hear the third hour chimes, worshiping and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for everyone, but especially for wretched sinners; for at that time mercy was opened wide for every soul. It was the hour of grace for the entire world, when kindness overcame justice, and everything was available to you for the taking, both for yourself and for others.

If your obligations allow it, my daughter, do your best to perform the Stations of the Cross at this time. If not, at the very least, step into the chapel for a moment and worship My merciful Heart in the Most Blessed Sacrament. If you are unable to enter the chapel, spend as much time in prayer wherever you are, even if it is only for a split second.

These specific instructions make it obvious that Our Lord wants us to focus on His Passion at the hour of three in whatever way our obligations permit and to petition for His mercy.

Abraham pleaded with God in Genesis 18:16–32 to ease the requirements for His showing mercy to the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. Due to the various demands of our daily obligations, Christ Himself offers a reduction of conditions in this passage, and He implores us to pray for His mercy even in the tiniest of ways so that He may shower it upon all of us.

Although we may not all be able to attend the Stations of the Cross or worship Him in the Blessed Sacrament, we can all take a “brief instant” to reflect on His complete abandonment in the hour of suffering and pray briefly, such as “Jesus, Mercy” or “Jesus, for the sake of Your Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on me.”and on the entire planet.

The Pope argues in Rich in Mercy that this meditation on Christ’s Passion brings us face to face with the cross and that it is there that the revelation of merciful love reaches its pinnacle. The Holy Father continues, “God calls us to have pity on His own Son, the crucified one”. Because of this, Our Lord’s love for us should be “not simply an act of solidarity with the suffering Son of Man, but also a form of’mercy’ exhibited by each of us to the Son of the Eternal Father,” according to the reflection on the Passion.

The Mercy and Love of God

Jesus showed God’s mercy in numerous ways throughout His earthly career. In addition to healing the blind, demon-possessed, and leprous, Jesus showed charity to the lost and innocent.

We will now see further instances of how He showed kindness from God and proved that God expects people to show mercy to one another.

The Many-Fooled Mercy of God

Jesus showed mercy to humanity on a number of occasions. Huge crowds were attracted to Him as a consequence of His travels to several cities and villages, teaching in synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every sort of affliction and disease (Mt. 9:35). However, when He observed the large crowds, He was moved by compassion for them because they were worn out and dispersed, like sheep without a shepherd (v. 36).

Jesus went alone to a remote region after John the Baptist was beheaded. However, when word got out, a sizable following followed Him out of the cities (14:10–13). He “was touched with compassion for them and healed their sick” when He saw the “huge number” (v. 14).

When night fell, His followers advised Him to send the crowd to nearby villages to get food for themselves since they were in a deserted location and it was late (v. 15). Jesus instructed His followers to provide them with food. They claimed that their only supplies were two fish and five loaves of bread. The disciples were tasked by Jesus to draw the crowd to Him (vv. 16–18).

Jesus instructed the crowd to sit on the grass when they arrived:

Looking up to heaven, He took the two fish and the five loaves, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples, who then distributed them to the crowds. After filling themselves up with food, they all left with twelve baskets full of the leftover pieces. Along with women and kids, there were now roughly 5,000 males who had eaten (vv. 19–21).

Later, Jesus climbed a mountain close to the Sea of Galilee and took a seat. People with various ailments and deformities were brought to Jesus by “great numbers,” who then “layed them down at His feet and He healed them” (15:29–30). When the blind saw, they glorified the God of Israel. “The multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing” (v. 31).

I feel compassion on the crowd, because they have now been with Me for three days and have nothing to eat, Jesus said to His disciples. And I don’t want to send them on their way hungry for fear that they would pass out (v. 32).

Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to feed such a large number, wondered the disciples. There were only seven loaves of bread and a few tiny fish available (vv. 33–34).

The crowd was told by Jesus to take a seat on the floor. After giving thanks, He broke the seven loaves of bread and the fish into pieces and gave them to His followers, who then distributed them to the crowd (vv. 35–36). It took seven enormous baskets to hold the leftover food after everyone had eaten and was satisfied (v. 37).

That day, 4,000 men, women, and children ate (v. 38).

God’s Kindness to a Widow

When a dead man was being brought out of the city of Nain, Jesus, many of His disciples, and a sizable crowd of people arrived close to the city gate. His mother, a widow, had only one son. She was carrying her son’s body out with a sizable group of people (Lk. 7:11–12).

Jesus took compassion on the woman when he saw her and told her not to cry (v. 13). When Jesus approached the open casket and touched it, those who were carrying the body halted. Then He commanded the body to stand up, “Young man.” When the boy talked and sat up, Jesus gave the boy to his mother (vv. 14–15).

God’s Compassion in Adversity

Christians are urged to openly approach God’s throne to ask for His mercy when they are in need (Heb. 4:16). We have access to the throne because Jesus, our High Priest, is there all the time. He is also able to relate to our weaknesses because He “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” during His time on Earth (vv. 14–15).

The Mercy of God for Eternal Life

The phrase “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” is used by believers in Jude 21. For believers, eternal life is attained via Christ’s grace, not through their own human efforts. The Greek word that is translated as “seeing” in the text is present tense and conveys the idea of “expectation.” 1 This reality suggests that Christians should constantly expect Christ’s charity to lead them to eternal life rather than eternal judgment.

God’s Demand for Human Compassion

“Blessed are the compassionate, because they shall gain mercy,” said Jesus (Mt. 5:7).

I was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” by a man. In one of his parables, Jesus described how thieves attacked a traveler, stole his belongings, injured him, and left him for dead. A priest and a Levite later passed by the injured guy, but neither offered assistance (Lk. 10:29–32).

Then a Good Samaritan came by and showed him compassion. He dressed the man’s wounds, mounted his own steed, transported him to an inn, and paid for his accommodation (vv. 33–35).

Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? Jesus questioned after He had finished the parable. (v. 36).

He who showed him mercy, the guy replied. Jesus then instructed him to “go and do likewise” (v. 37).

Jesus proclaimed:

Woe to you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees! Because you have overlooked the more important aspects of the law, such as justice, mercy, and faith, you pay tithe of mint, anise, and cumin. You should have completed these instead of leaving the others undone (Mt. 23:23).

Therefore, practice mercy, just as your heavenly Father does (Lk. 6:36).

“Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded,” the apostle Paul urged the Philippian believers (Phil. 2:1–2)

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on gentle mercies, compassion, humility, meekness, and longsuffering,” he wrote to the Colossian Christians (Col. 3:12).

In his parable, Jesus described a monarch who want to settle things with his servants. One of the servants owed the king 10,000 talents but couldn’t afford to do so. The servant, his wife, kids, and assets were ordered to be auctioned in order to settle the debt by the monarch. The servant bowed before the king, pleaded for his patience, and pledged to pay in full. The monarch was so moved by compassion that he cancelled the debt owed by the servant and humanely released him.

The servant then went in search of another employee who owed him a considerably smaller debt. He took hold of his throat and demanded payment. The other servant bowed before the one who had been pardoned, pleaded for time, and pledged to make good on his commitment to pay in full. But rather than returning the favor the monarch had shown to the other servant, the king had the man imprisoned until the debt was paid. He had no compassionate mercy for his debtor.

Other servants were upset and informed the king of everything when they saw what had been done.

The monarch was so up in arms that he demanded the pardoned servant come to him. You filthy servant, the king cried. “Because you pleaded with me, I erased all of your debt. Shouldn’t you have shown sympathy for your fellow servant in the same way that I did for you? Because the servant owed the monarch money, the king became so furious that he handed the man over to torturers (Mt. 18:23–34).

Jesus then made the following application after presenting this parable: “So My heavenly Father likewise will do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother his transgressions from the bottom of his heart,” he said (v. 35).

Finally

The idea in James 2:13 is beautifully illustrated by Jesus’ story: “For judgment is without mercy to him who has offered no mercy. Mercy wins out over justice. Triumphs is a term that conveys “comparative supremacy.” 2 As a result, the phrase “mercy prevails over judgment” conveys the idea that extending mercy to a person is preferable to passing judgment on him.

According to the apostle Paul, those who “do not like to retain God in their understanding” turn against God and are “unmerciful” to others (Rom. 1:28, 30–31).

He added that mercy should be extended “with gladness” (12:8). The word “cheerfulness” is used to describe an attitude that “reflects a good heart” and is marked by “generosity.” 3 In other words, mercy should not be shown reluctantly. Paul also said, “Let each give as his or her heart desires, not grudgingly or out of necessity; for God loves a happy giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).

Accordingly, the apostle John wrote,

But how can the love of God abide in someone who has the possessions of this world, sees their needy brother, and keeps their heart closed to him? My little ones, let us love in truth and deed rather than in word or mouth (1 Jn. 3:17–18).