The Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotion to the merciful love of God and the desire to let that love and mercy flow through one's own heart towards those in need of it. The devotion is due to Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), who is known as the Apostle of Mercy.
Faustina Kowalska reported a number of visions of Jesus and conversations with him which she wrote in her diary, later published as the book Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul. The three main themes of the devotion are to ask for and obtain the mercy of God, to trust in Christ's abundant mercy, and finally to show mercy to others and act as a conduit for God's mercy towards them.
The devotion places emphasis on the veneration of the Divine Mercy image which Faustina reported as a vision of Jesus while she was in her cell in the convent. The image is displayed and venerated by Catholics on its own, and is solemnly blessed during Divine Mercy Sunday. The devotion includes specific prayers such as the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
The Divine Mercy devotion is followed by over 100 million Catholics. It is also recognized and celebrated by the Universal Anglican Church.
Read more about Divine Mercy: The Devotion, The Image, Chaplet and Novena, Hour of Divine Mercy, Divine Mercy Sunday, Churches and Shrines, Orders and Institutions
Famous quotes containing the words divine and/or mercy:
“I think of no news to tell you. It is a serene summer day here, all above the snow. The hens steal their nests, and I steal their eggs still, as formerly. This is what I do with the hands. Ah, labor,—it is a divine institution, and conversation with many men and hens.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“God is not Love in the East. He is Power, although Mercy may temper it.”
—E.M. (Edward Morgan)