In 1931, our 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.
The message St Faustina received was simple.
Jesus love us – all of us.
Jesus wants us to recognise that His Mercy is greater than our sins.
Jesus wants us to call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy and let it flow through our hearts to others.
On April 30, 2000, Saint Pope John Paul II canonised Sister Faustina as a Saint of the Church. The Holy Father also announced during his homily that the Second Sunday of Easter would now be celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday throughout the universal Church.
The Divine Mercy message is one that can be called to mind simply by remembering ABC.
- A – Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.
- B – Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.
- C – Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.