Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org 13 In all times sacred images were venerated in the Church, and its history points out that already in Christian antiquity it pleased God to shower special graces upon the faithful on occasion of the cult of images. In the first centuries of Christianity, Syria had a famous statue of the Savior in Paneas. In France, the representation of the Blessed Virgin in Reims; in Italy, her statue in Loreto; in Switzerland, her picture in Einsiedeln; in Poland, the picture in Czestoçhowa, one of the three attributed by tradition to St. Luke; and many others have been famous for centuries on account of the miracles. ‘Peace be with you’ To such images belongs also the picture of the Most Merciful Savior. It represents Our Lord as He appeared in the Cenacle on the day of His Resurrection and instituted the Sacrament of Penance in the following words: “‘Peace be with you’ ... He therefore said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.’ When He said this, He breathed upon them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they shall be forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained’” (Jn 20:19-23). The picture represents Christ in a walking position clothed in a long white garment, girted with a girdle. The gaze of Our Lord’s eyes is somewhat lowered (as on the Cross). With His left hand He slightly draws aside the garment in the vicinity of His Heart, from Which spring forth two rays, the red ray on the left (of the person looking at the picture), the pale (color of water) on the right. These rays signify the Blood and Water which flowed from the opened side of Jesus on the Cross. From that time on they gush forth from the Divine Heart of the Savior in the form of graces purifying the soul from the stains of sin (in the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance) and of lifegiving graces (in the Sacrament of the Altar [Eucharist] and all other remaining). They shield the soul from the just anger of the Heavenly Father. Whoever lives in their light; that is, whoever duly avails himself of the benefits of the Christ-instituted Sacraments, particularly the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance (which are symbolized by the pale ray), and that of the Altar (the red ray), him the just hand of God will not touch. His Mercy endures forever This picture is a perfect illustration of the Holy Gospel for Low Sunday [the Second Sunday of Easter, or Divine Mercy Sunday] and a visible commentary on the liturgy of that day. It explains the anthem sung by the Church during Eastertime as the priest sprinkles the congregation with holy water before solemn Mass: “Vidi aquam — I saw water coming forth from the right side of the temple, alleluia: and all to whom it came were saved and said: alleluia, alleluia. Give praise to the Lord, for He is good: for His Mercy endureth for ever.” This temple is Christ from Whose open side flows the water of inexhaustible graces purifying the soul from sins in the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance. The picture explains also the Introit and the Epistle of the Low Sunday Mass. The Introit tells us that man must be born in the waters of Baptism to a new supernatural life, and reborn again by the Sacrament of Penance. The Epistle relates to us the testimony of the Three in heaven (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) and of the three on earth (the spirit, water, and Blood which left the dead Body of Christ on the Cross). Sacramental reminders Thus, as we gaze upon the picture, we are reminded of Holy Baptism with all its salutary effects, and of the Sacrament of Penance and the words of absolution which proclaim to us God’s reconciling Mercy. It also recalls to our mind indulgences which are an extra-sacramental remission of the temporal punishment, and likewise it reminds us of the Sacrament of Holy Orders instituted during the last Supper and completed by Our Lord after His Resurrection when He appeared to the Apostles in the Cenacle and granted them the power of absolution to be exercised in the Sacrament of Penance. Therefore, this picture represents to us the deepest mysteries of Easter: imparting to the Apostles the Holy Spirit Who henceforth will operate in the Church, rule it, regenerate sinners to a new life, anoint prophets, and apply the merits of Christ’s sufferings and death to individual souls. The picture represents the infinite Divine Mercy and arouses the faithful to its imitation by personal works of mercy. The ejaculatory prayer inserted beneath the picture: “Jesus, I Trust in Thee!” instills into our souls trust in God in difficulties, hope and courage amidst dangers, and renders the soul magnanimous in its service to God. ‘The picture represents the infinite Divine Mercy and arouses the faithful to its imitation by personal works of mercy. “Jesus, I Trust in Thee!” instills into our souls trust in God in difficulties, hope and courage amidst dangers, and renders the soul magnanimous in its service to God.’
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