On the Eve of Divine Mercy
Mark S. Roberti, Director of Stewardship
Heartland Parishes of
Shortly after becoming Pope, Benedict XVI is quoter
as saying, "
Some might consider Pope John Paul II’s death on the eve of the feast he championed a "coincidence." I don’t. Like Pope Benedict XVI, I believe it is a message within a message. The symbolism is clear. We are on the eve of Divine Mercy. We must do everything we can to live and promote the Divine Mercy message.
Living the message means fulfilling the corporal and spiritual works of Mercy: We are being called to feed the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; clothe the naked; shelter the homeless; comfort the imprisoned; visit the sick; bury the dead; admonish sinners; instruct the uninformed; counsel the doubtful; comfort the sorrowful; be patient with those in error; forgive offenses; pray for the living and the dead. We’re being called to truly be Catholic.
Living the message is only half of the Divine Mercy emphasis. We are also being challenged to promote the message. When Sister Faustina Kowalska received her revelations from Jesus, those messages were not always particularly well received. In fact, not too long afterwards, the Divine Mercy revelations fell into disfavor. For a while, the whole devotion was even banned from being promoted.
After Sr. Faustina died, Karol Wojitya, Archbishop of Krakow, saw something
in those messages and championed the cause of the Divine Mercy with
In her diary, Sr. Faustina relates that Jesus said, “Before the Day of Justice, I am sending the Day of Mercy (#1588). I am prolonging the time of Mercy for the sake of sinners. But woe to them if they do not recognize this time of my visitation" (#160).
In other messages from Jesus, Sr. Faustina writes: “Speak to the world about My mercy.... It is a sign for the end times; after it will come the Day of Justice (#848). You will prepare the world for My final coming (#429). [T]ell souls about this great mercy of Mine, because the awful day, the day of my justice is near" (#965).”
Again, according to Sr. Faustina’s diary, Jesus says, "I demand from you deeds of mercy. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse yourself from it" (Diary #742).
In truth, the end times began with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Not one of us knows when the final culmination of all things will take place. And the Divine Mercy message does not differ from the Gospel message. It echoes the Gospel message. "Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test” (Mt 26:41); "The kingdom of God is at hand" (Mt 4:17); "Repent, and believe in the Gospel” (Mk 1:15); For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).
So what are the ABC’s of Divine Mercy? According to The Divine Mercy Message and Devotion booklet, they are: “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 the whole world. Be merciful to others. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. Completely trust in Jesus. God want 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. ’’
We don’t know when the time of Divine Justice will come. But it is clear, at least to me, that we are on the eve of Divine Mercy. Money, conveniences, and securities, need to be de-emphasized. The way we are using them, they are not vehicles to get us to heaven, but impediments separating us from God.
We must respond in kind. We must -- individually and collaboratively -- share in the work of Divine Mercy. It’s good stewardship. It’s evangelization. It’s true discipleship. Contact me at 785-625-7356 or stjstewardship@eaglecom.net if you want to put up highway billboards up in your area, if you want a Divine Mercy yard sign, or if you want to help with solar lighting to illuminate the signs already in place. I can also get you in touch with Donetta Robben if you want to help to make Divine Mercy Radio happen.
Your ideas are also welcome. Those of us trying to make this happen don’t remotely think we have the corner on good ideas. There are probably thousands of creative ideas waiting to be conceived. We’re just trying to keep the ball rolling. If we can, we’ll be happy to help you put legs under any ideas you may have.