Between 1930 and 1938 Christ appeared to Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska of Poland to ensure us of His love even unto death, and His disappointment in us because of our distrust in His Mercy and goodness. The first apparition of the Merciful Christ occurred on the 22nd of February, 1931 in Plotzk, Poland. As Sister Faustina recalls: "It happened in the evening. I was in my cell, when I saw Jesus dressed in a white garment. He held one hand raised in blessing and with the other He was touching the garment at the breast. From under the garment came two rays of light, one red the other pale. In silence I contemplated the Lord. My soul was filled with fear and, at the same time, with great joy. After a moment Jesus said to me: 'Paint a picture according to the vision you see and with the inscription: ? Jesus, I Trust in Thee ? I desire that the picture be venerated first in your chapel and then throughout the whole world'." "These rays (red and pale, symbolizing the Blood and Water that gushed forth from the Sacred Heart) shield the soul before the wrath of My Father. Fortunate is he who lives in Their shelter for the just hand of God will never reach him."
On September 13, 1935, Sister Faustina saw an angel, depicted to her as the executor of God's Wrath. In his hands were lightning bolts and thunder. She understood the angel was about to visit a certain place on earth and mete out punishment to its inhabitants. Our Divine Savior had made Sister Faustina's heart after His own merciful one, and she was sorrowful and begged the angel for mercy. But somehow she realized that her poor prayers were without power to appease the wrath of God. Then suddenly the Holy Trinity was manifested, and at the same time the sister heard these words: "Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Thy Most Beloved Son and Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world." Wonder of wonders, as she repeated the words over and over, the angel was powerless to mete out the punishment. The next day while going into chapel she heard once again: "As many times as you enter the chapel, immediately recite the prayer I taught you yesterday." She recited it at once and the voice spoke again: "This prayer is given to appease the Wrath of God. You will recite it for nine days on the usual part of the Rosary (five decades) in the following manner: First you will say the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Creed. Then on the larger beads you will recite the prayer, 'Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Thy Most Beloved Son and Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world,' and the smaller beads, 'Through His most sorrowful passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.' In conclusion you will say three times: 'Holy God, Holy Omnipotent, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us and on the world.'"
As Sister Faustina predicted, a time would come where her visions and Christ?s message would not be accepted. On the 6th March 1959, the Vatican prohibited "the spreading of images and writings advocating devotion to the Divine Mercy in the form proposed by Sister Faustina," because of incoherent translation of her diary and inaccurately presented testimony. For nearly twenty years the Church remained silent on Sister Faustina?s revelations until one day when the Archbishop of her home diocese in Poland set out to conduct a thorough investigation of the matter and on April 15, 1978 convinced the Holy See to reverse their ban on veneration of Sister Faustina?s proclamation of Christ?s Divine Mercy. Six months later on October 16, 1978, that very same Archbishop was proclaimed the new Vicar of Christ and leader of the entire Catholic Church.
On April 18, 1993, the Holy Father beatified Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska. During his general audience that following day, Pope John Paul II said, "God has spoken to us through the spiritual wealth of Blessed Sister Faustina Kowalska. She left to the world the great message of Divine Mercy and an incentive to complete self-surrender to the Creator. God endowed her with a singular grace that enabled her to experience His mercy through mystical encounter and by a special gift of contemplative prayer. Blessed Sister Faustina, thank you for reminding the world of that great mystery of Divine Mercy; that 'startling mystery', that inexpressive mystery of the Father, which today every individual and the whole world need so very much." On April 30, 2000, the first Sunday following Easter in St. Peter's Square in Rome, Pope John Paul II canonized Sister Faustina, elevating her to Sainthood.
Today, being the first Sunday following Easter, Catholics around the world celebrate the Feast of Christ?s Divine Mercy. With the passing of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II on the eve of this blessed day of celebration, I believe it would honor him greatly if today we remember to recite the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy.
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