Mercy

“Three things are necessary to everyone: truth of faith which brings understanding, love of Christ which brings compassion, and endurance of hope which brings perseverance.” (Saint Bonaventure).

Annunciation (Unknown)

The Divine Mercy was revealed in a special way to Saint Faustina.  This unremarkable nun was the chosen soul who God called His “Secretary of My Divine Mercy”.  This Saint lived a relatively unremarkable life.  She was not well known.  She was not famous.  She was not even liked or believed within her own Religious Community.  Many of her fellow religious considered her a trouble maker and a faker who was more concerned with seeking attention than with contributing to her fair share of activities within the convent.

The Dairy of Saint Faustina is a very long and dense text to read.  It contains thousands of words explaining the experience of this Saint as she explains the various visions that she witnessed in following the express orders of Christ who commanded her to document her visions during the course of her life.

Christ wanted it to be known that He has GREAT MERCY for sinners…

“My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especially for poor sinners. If only they could understand that I am the best of Fathers to them and that it is for them that the Blood and Water flowed from My Heart as from a fount overflowing with mercy. For them I dwell in the tabernacle as King of Mercy. I desire to bestow My graces upon souls, but they do not want to accept them. You, at least, come to Me as often as possible and take these graces they do not want to accept. In this way you will console My Heart. Oh, how indifferent are souls to so much goodness, to so many proofs of love! My Heart drinks only of the ingratitude and forgetfulness of souls living in the world. They have time for everything, but they have no time to come to Me for graces.” (Jesus to Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Diary Entry 367).

And I have been reflecting on these revelations…  you see, Christ very specifically did not say that He came to offer Mercy to souls full of Grace.  He came to offer mercy for souls such as mine – full of sin.  He offers mercy to the most ungrateful souls who have spent their lifetime rejecting His goodness by choosing to follow my own selfish whims rather than the Holy Will of God.

Saint Bonaventure said, “Three things are necessary to everyone: truth of faith which brings understanding, love of Christ which brings compassion, and endurance of hope which brings perseverance.”

And it is the perseverance that allows us to take hope in God and trust in Him…  “But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:14-16).

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.