The Origins of Divine Mercy

What is Divine Mercy? You may have heard mention of Divine Mercy Sunday or perhaps you have prayed the chaplet. But where does the devotion to Divine Mercy come from? Fr. Josh answers this question and shares about the saint who established it.

Snippet from the Show
There is no excuse for anyone not to become a saint. God is offering his love and mercy to everyone until the very end.

Glory Story (1:05)

Listener Question (6:15)

What is Divine Mercy Sunday?

Saint Story: St. Faustina

St. Faustina was born to a poor and religious family in Poland in 1905. After spending time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament at the young age of 7, St. Faustina knew she was called to religious life. However, her parents refused to allow her to join the convent after she finished her schooling, so she worked as a housekeeper to support her family.

In 1924, while attending a school dance with her sister, St. Faustina received a vision of the suffering Jesus and immediately went to the Cathedral to pray. When she arrived, Jesus instructed her to travel to Warsaw and join the convent.

When she arrived, she was turned away by many convents because of her appearance and poverty. Finally, the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy agreed to allow her to join on the condition that she pay for her own habit.

In 1931, Jesus appeared again to St. Faustina as the “King of Divine Mercy” that we see depicted in Divine Mercy images today. For the remaining years of her life, Jesus continued to appear to her with messages of mercy that make up her diary. He implored her to spread this message, which eventually established the Feast of Divine Mercy to be celebrated every year on the Sunday following Easter.

St. Faustina died on October 5, 1938 and was canonized on April 30, 2000. Her feast day is October 5.

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