When her beloved newlywed husband Nathan was shockingly murdered while taking his morning walk, Jennifer confronted the greatest trial of her life. Her decision to embrace mercy and forgiveness in the face of unimaginable personal tragedy is a powerful display of the trust in God’s Mercy.
Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC recounts his remarkable journey from a youth filled with sex, drugs and crime to a dramatic encounter with Our Lady and a life transformed through the grace of God’s mercy.
Pope John Paul II famously said, “In the designs of providence, there are no mere coincidences.” This truth is clearly revealed in both the timing and content of Jesus’s revelations to St. Faustina. The message of Divine Mercy played a providential role in 20th century Polish history, setting the stage for a global reawakening as to God’s infinite mercy.
The earliest revelation of Divine Mercy revealed to St. Faustina was the Iconic 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. This image, containing rich symbolism, has helped inspire millions of people to embrace God’s Mercy, Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Divine Mercy Shrine.
Throughout the world Auschwitz has come to symbolize evil, genocide, and the Holocaust. Over 1.1 million men, women and children lost their lives here. Sisters Gaudia and Emanuela of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy travel through these hallowed grounds and view the legacy of Auschwitz through the prism of the Divine Mercy Message.
9/11: A Reflection from Sisters Gaudia and Emanuela – YouTube
In the year 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized Sister Faustina Kowalska. This humble and simple Polish Nun was lifted to the altars, becoming the first Saint of the New Millennium. Her life and witness has reshaped modern history and led millions to discover the power of God’s Merciful love.
Today, Divine Mercy is the fastest growing devotion in the Catholic Church. So what exactly is Divine Mercy? You may know it as an image revealed to St. Faustina. Or a special form of prayer, or perhaps as a new feast day instituted by Pope John Paul II. While all of those are true, Divine Mercy is even greater.
Pope John Paul II reflected the message of Divine Mercy both in his life’s witness, and through his many writings. He canonized Sister Faustina in 2000, and designated the Sunday after Easter as the Feast of Divine Mercy, finally fulfilling a request Jesus had made to Sister Faustina. For John Paul, it was also a fulfillment of a life-long mission.
Devotees of St. Faustina and Divine Mercy come by the tens thousands to El Salvador, Mindanao in order to pray and marvel at the 75-foot Shrine of the Divine Mercy, said to be the tallest of its kind in the world. The stunning statue, resting 500 feet above sea, looks out to Macalajar Bay and a view of the embattled villages in the mountains of Lanao. Many believe the Shrine was destined to be a center for dialogue and healing for the people of Mindanao.