DIVINE MERCY Second Sunday of Easter: He is Risen, Alleluia!
10.30am. Ordinariate Sung Mass celebrated by Fr Jeff at St. Pius X.
"Who will paint You as
beautiful as You are?"
In 1931, our Blessed Lord appeared to St. Faustina in a
vision. She saw Jesus clothed in a white garment with His right hand raised in
blessing. His left hand was touching His garment in the area of the Heart, from
where two large rays came forth, one red and the other pale. She gazed intently
at the Lord in silence, her soul filled with awe, but also with great joy.
Jesus said to her:
Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the
signature: Jesus, I trust in You. 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. 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 . I desire that
this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world
.
At the request of her
spiritual director, St. Faustina asked the Lord about the meaning of the rays
in the image. She heard these words in reply:
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 depths of My tender
mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. Happy is the
one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay
hold of him . 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 .
These words indicate that the Image represents the graces of
Divine Mercy poured out upon the world, especially through Baptism and the
Eucharist.
Many different versions of this image have been painted, but
our Lord made it clear that the painting itself is not what is important. When
St. Faustina first saw the original image that was being painted under her
direction, she wept in disappointment and complained to Jesus: "Who will
paint You as beautiful as You are?"
In answer, she heard these words: "Not in the beauty of the colour, nor of the brush lies the
greatness of this image, but in My grace"
So, dear friends ,no matter which version of the image we
prefer, we can be assured that it is a vehicle of God’s grace if it is revered
with trust in His mercy.
May the Divine Mercy of Our Lord continue to fill our hearts
with grace and joy in this glorious Eastertide!
With my love and
prayers as ever.
Your priest and friend, Fr
Jeff.
Comments