Divine Mercy Image

The Divine Mercy image is a depiction of Jesus based on the devotion initiated by Saint Faustina Kowalska.

Jesus is shown in most versions as raising his right hand in blessing, and pointing with his left hand on his chest from which flow forth two rays: one red and one white (translucent). The depictions often contains the message "Jesus, I trust in You!" (Polish: Jezu ufam Tobie). The rays streaming out have symbolic meaning: red for the blood of Jesus (which is the Life of Souls), and pale for the water (which justify souls) (from Diary - 299). The whole image is symbolic of charity, forgiveness and love of God, referred to as the "Fountain of Mercy". According to the diary of St Faustina, the image is based on her 1931 vision of Jesus.

A number of artistic renditions of the image have appeared since Faustina directed the painting of the first image in Poland. These are widely venerated by Catholics worldwide, and are used in the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday.

Famous quotes containing the words divine, mercy and/or image:

    “Now I am terrified at the Earth, it is that calm and patient,
    It grows such sweet things out of such corruptions,
    It turns harmless and stainless on its axis, with such endless
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    It gives such divine materials to men, and accepts such leavings
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    —Walt Whitman (1819–1892)

    “With Major Lawrence, mercy is a passion. With me, it is merely good manners. You may judge which motive is the more reliable.”
    —Robert Bolt (1924–1995)

    “That myth—that image of the madonna-mother—has disabled us from knowing that, just as men are more than fathers, women are more than mothers. It has kept us from hearing their voices when they try to tell us their aspirations . . . kept us from believing that they share with men the desire for achievement, mastery, competence—the desire to do something for themselves.”
    —Lillian Breslow Rubin (20th century)