The Healing Waters of His Divine Mercy

Liesl Schiavone reflects on the beauty of Jesus in His Divine Mercy and the impact of the beautiful feast in her own life. 

Divine Mercy Sunday holds a special place in my heart as it is the day my husband came into full communion with the Catholic Church. He was baptized and raised in a Christian home and the grace of his Baptism was evident. He was a well catechized Christian. We knew quickly that we were being called to the vocation of marriage equally yoked in faith — we had dated for less than a year when he decided to come into full communion with the Church.  

As we’ve journeyed through life these last 15 years, we’ve learned a thing or two about mercy, about Jesus’ and our own. We’ve begun to learn what it means to love well and be loved and to do it by showing mercy and asking for mercy. 

Saint Faustina and the Divine Mercy 

The Feast of the Divine Mercy was officially designated as the Second Sunday of Easter in 2000 with the canonization of Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. She came from humble means and had only limited education, but the Lord used Sister Faustina in a profound way. On February 22, 1931, Faustina was visited by Jesus. She writes, 

In the evening, when I was in my cell, I became aware of the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand was raised in blessing the other was touching the garment at the breast. From the opening of the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one red and the other pale. In silence I gazed intently at the Lord; my soul overwhelmed with fear, but also with great joy. After a while Jesus said to me, "Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You.” (Diary No. 47) 

Over the next seven years until Faustina’s death, she would record her visits with the Lord in notebooks which are now compiled into the Diary of Saint Faustina. The words Jesus shared give us a glimpse into the profound depths of His mercy and offered instruction for our devotion to this feast. 

The ABCs of Divine Mercy

The message of Divine Mercy can be summarized into three distinct aspects for our prayer. 

Ask for Mercy 

Jesus does not withhold His mercy, but we need to ask. We must seek Him in prayer, repent our sins, and ask Him to pour His mercy on us. 

Be Merciful 

In receiving Jesus’ mercy, we must also be merciful to others, extending love and forgiveness to all those we encounter. 

Completely Trust in Jesus 

The inscription Jesus requested on the image of the Divine Mercy is “Jesus, I trust in You.” We must believe fully in the power of Jesus’ Divine Mercy in our lives so we can receive it. 

How to Honor Jesus' Request to Pray for His Mercy  

Jesus gave us many ways by which to venerate and pray for His mercy. 

Feast 

I want the image solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it. (Diary No. 341) 

Image 

I demand the worship of My mercy through the solemn celebration of the Feast and through the veneration of the image which is painted. By means of this image, I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works. (Diary No. 742) 

Novena 

By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls. (Diary No. 796) 

Chaplet 

Say unceasingly the chaplet that I have taught you. Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from my infinite mercy. I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy. (Diary No. 687) 

Hour 

At three o clock, implore My mercy, especially for poor sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to enter into My mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of my passion. (Diary No. 1320) 

And so, on this Sunday's Feast of Divine Mercy, may we venerate and pray as Jesus Himself asked. 

May we know the flood of mercy that washes us clean, so that we may live forever with Him. 

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Copyright 2025 Liesl Schiavone
Images: (top), all others iStockPhoto.com, licensed for use by Holy Cross Family Ministries