1929 AD
In 1931, Jesus appeared to St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, in a series of private revelations about Divine Mercy. Over the course of several years, Jesus revealed to Faustina the message of God's infinite mercy, asking her to promote devotion to His Divine Mercy through an image, a chaplet (prayer), and a feast day. Jesus told Faustina: 'I desire to grant enormous graces to souls through this treasury of My Mercy. Through you, I pour out the ocean of My mercy upon the whole world' (Diary 367).
The Image of Divine Mercy, painted by the artist Eugeniusz Kazimirowski under Faustina's direction, depicts Jesus with two rays emanating from His heartβone red (blood) and one pale (water)βsymbolizing the sacraments of the Eucharist and Baptism. The Divine Mercy Chaplet, a form of prayer using rosary beads, was also revealed to Faustina. Jesus promised extraordinary mercies to those who receive the sacraments on Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter): 'On this day the entire treasury of My mercy is open. All graces flow out like streams from the fountain of My mercy' (Diary 699).
Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faustina in 2000 and established the Feast of Divine Mercy Sunday in the universal calendar of the Catholic Church. Key Scripture: Luke 6:36; John 3:16-17; 1 John 4:9-10; CCC 225, 266, 1089