October 4, 2026 Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time National Shrine of The Divine Mercy A Ministry of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary National Shrine of The Divine Mercy PO Box 951 2 Prospect Hill Road Stockbridge, MA 01262 (GPS: 11 Pine Street, Stockbridge, MA) Fr. David Gunter, MIC: Rector Fr. Robert Vennetti, MIC: Vice Rector Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC: Vice Rector Shrine Reception: 413-298-3931 Bus Pilgrimages: 413-298-1119 Gift Shop: 888-484-1112 National Shrine: www.shrineofdivinemercy.org Divine Mercy: www.thedivinemercy.org Marians: www.marian.org Livestream from the National Shrine Daily Devotions Daily Mass 9:00 am Chaplet of Divine Mercy 3:00 pm Rosary for Life 5:00 pm Divine Mercy (Official) Divine Mercy Videos posted on our website daily: shrineofdivinemercy.org Dear Pilgrims, We welcome you to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Please join us for any upcoming events at the Shrine along with doing a personal pilgrimage during this year. Feel free to visit our Gift Shop and stroll our beautiful grounds during your visit here. May God bless you. Sincerely in Jesus and Mary Immaculate, Fr. David Gunter, MIC Shrine Rector Monday- Saturday 8:00am, 9:00am & 2:00pm Sunday 9:00am, 10:30am & 2:00pm Please note: 2pm Mass on Saturday does NOT fulfill Sunday obligation Confessions Available Monday thru Friday 1:00pm - 2:00pm Saturdays and Sundays 1:00pm – 2:00pm 3:30pm – 4:15pm Daily Schedule
Upcoming Events For more information please visit the Shrine Calendar found on our website: https: www.shrineofdivinemercy.org October 10/5 Memorial of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska • See flyer on page 11 for more information 10/7 Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary • For more information: https://thedivinemercy.org/videos/what -are-our-lady-rosary-and-our-lady-victory-and-who-else-savedworld 10/9 Outdoor Stations of The Cross at 11am • See flyer on page 8 for more information 10/10 Marian Teaching at 11am • Topic and Speaker TBD 10/16 Outdoor Stations of The Cross at 11am • See flyer on page 8 for more information 10/17 Marian Teaching at 11am • Topic and Speaker TBD 10/21 Anniversary of the Death of Venerable Servant of God Casimir Wyszynski, MIC • See flyer on page 8 for more information 10/22 Memorial of St. John Paul II • See flyer on page 8 for more information 10/23 Outdoor Stations of The Cross at 11am
A MESSAGE FROM ARCHBISHOP HENNING, BISHOP MCMANUS, BISHOP DA CUNHA, AND BISHOP BYRNE FOR THE CLERGY, RELIGIOUS, AND LAY FAITHFUL OF MASSACHUSETTS In June during his Apostolic Visit to Spain, our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV delivered an appeal to defend human dignity and protect life from conception to its natural end. “Every legislative task,” he said, “ultimately confronts a decisive question: what conception of the human person inspires laws, and what kind of society do those laws build?” Just two months after the Holy Father’s address, Massachusetts passed one of the most expansive and permissive abortion laws in the nation, telling us what kind of society they desire for Massachusetts: one which leaves its most vulnerable citizens—children in the womb and their pregnant mothers—at perilous risk. This law is a tragedy, and the Catholic legislators who helped to enact it have caused grave scandal. The Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act permits abortion throughout pregnancy for any reason, and it allows these grisly procedures—dangerous to mothers and cruel to their unborn children—to be performed in non-hospital settings. Laws function as teachers. This new law falsely teaches that human beings who are ill or inconvenient are not worthy of life; that motherhood can be incompatible with women’s freedom, well-being, and flourishing; and that no viable alternatives to abortion exist in the face of difficult diagnoses. Alternatives do exist. A 2023 peer-reviewed article published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science found that 60% of women considering an abortion would choose life if they had more material and emotional support. We want to help women and families to choose life! We invite every expectant mother in distress to ask us for help. We ask that elected officials and healthcare providers—especially those whose consciences are rightly troubled by the new law—work to ensure that life-sustaining care for vulnerable children in utero and that mothers and fathers who feel alone and overwhelmed have all they need to welcome and raise their children with confidence. The Lord Jesus Christ saw the forgotten and reached out to the neglected. As Bishops, we call upon all to see the dignity of the poor, the unborn, the sick and the elderly. No one is expendable, no one is a burden. All have a sacred God-given dignity. The foundation of social justice is this inviolable dignity of the human person. The Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act unjustly condemns to death our most vulnerable children and pits a mother against her own child.
In his Encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo teaches: “Human dignity does not depend on a person’s abilities, wealth or position in life, nor on the right or wrong choices made; instead, it is a gift that precedes and transcends each person, endowed by God as an expression of his unfailing love,” There is no stage of development or characteristic which would render a child unworthy of life—even if that life will be short or require palliative care. May Our Lord Jesus Christ protect us all from harm, may He inspire us with self-giving love, and may He guide our civil leaders to enact laws which protect and promote the dignity of every person from conception to natural death. WHAT CAN WE DO? Each year, Respect Life Month offers the opportunity to renew our reverence for life and take concrete actions to witness to the beauty and sanctity of this foundational gift of the Lord. Here are some of the concrete actions you might consider this year: We Pray. First and foremost, we pray. With the passage of this bill our leaders and our Commonwealth have failed in the duty to uphold the sacred dignity of every human life. In prayer, we seek the mercy of a loving God for our failures and for this sin against His Law of Love. We pray for our civil leaders that the Lord will give them wisdom and strength to do their duty to protect life and uphold the common good. We Witness. As disciples, we are also called to give witness. We urge you to contact your representatives and make known your desire for just laws which protect every person in this state. We speak up There is also an effort underway to pause and even possibly overturn this immoral law. We encourage you to take part in this effort and raise your own voice in opposition to the law and in favor of life. We walk with families Scripture commands us “Choose life that you may live” (Deut. 30:19) A culture of life requires families, parishes, and schools to live that reverence for life. We need families who form their sons and daughters in the summons to promote and defend life. We need ministries that accompany and support women and families in crisis. In our state with such a radical law, it is more important than ever for us to make clear our desire to welcome and nurture the gift of life. FOR A LISTING OF LOCAL RESPECT LIFE MATERIALS AND CONTACTS VISIT WWW.DIOSPRINGFIELD.ORG/RESPECT-LIFE-OFFICE
GENERAL AUDIENCE Pope Leo XIV SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 The Apostolic Journey in France and visit to UNESCO Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! Today I would like to talk to you about the Apostolic Journey I made to France in recent days. It was a great gift for me and for the people of God in that country, and I give thanks to the Lord for it. I wish to express once again my gratitude to all those who welcomed me, the civil authorities and the Pastors of the Church, and to the many people who wished to meet the Pope or even just to greet him in the streets, as an apostle of Christ and a messenger of peace. Thank you to everyone! I would like to gather my thoughts and impressions – still very vivid – of this pastoral Visit centred on a single great symbol: the Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Paris. There, in the afternoon of the first day, we celebrated Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a solemn yet at the same time joyful liturgy, in which music, song and the beauty of the temple stirred the hearts of those united in prayer. It is precisely Notre-Dame, with the tragedy it has endured, that can symbolically shed light on this entire Apostolic Journey, offering a perspective that I would summarize in one word: rebirth. The Cathedral of Paris, which just seven years ago seemed mortally wounded by a devastating fire, has now been rebuilt and is more splendid than ever. That disaster sparked a positive reaction at every level, some more visible and practical, others more hidden and of a spiritual nature. Its restoration was a test of the possible collaboration between the Church, the State, public institutions and civil society. This approach made it possible to make the most of both the generosity of benefactors and the expertise of professionals and skilled workers. The synergy for the common good should be the norm for institutions, political and social forces, and all those with civil and economic responsibilities. This is the message I wished to convey to the French authorities, as well as to the members of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which has its headquarters in Paris, highlighting the fundamental criterion upon which such collaboration must be based: the dignity of the human person. But above all, Notre-Dame is the image of the Church made up of living stones, of the holy people of God. It is interesting to draw a parallel between the celebration of Vespers in the Cathedral with the vigil of young people which took place the same evening in the huge Stade de France in Paris. Two completely different locations, yet two complememtary events, almost united spiritually. What united them? The Church, which is not made up of stones or cement, but of people who love Jesus Christ because they have been loved by Him. At Notre-Dame there were priests and deacons, consecrated persons, and pastoral workers; at the stadium there was the new French generation. PAPAL CORNER ● WISDOM OF POPE LEO XIV
generation. New, I would say, not only in terms of age, but even more so in spirit, in the freedom of heart and faith. Young people who sang and shouted, but who also remained silent, listening. Attentive and emotional faces, which revealed hearts yearning for truth and love. To them I said with joy: “You are the saints of France!”. The Vigil was a great sign of hope. The same was true – in the smallness that God favours – of the meeting at the Maison Bakhita, a shelter for various people in need: one of the many places, fruits of the Gospel, where people commit themselves every day to serving the dignity of the human person with love. There is, however, a sign of renewal within the Church in France that has been evident for some years now, namely the remarkable and growing number of young people and adults seeking Baptism. In response to this beautiful “surprise” from God, a provincial synodal assembly is currently underway in Paris, at which I was able to speak, encouraging the journey of the catechumens and neophytes, together with the communities to which they belong. The climax of my visit to the Capital was the Mass in Place de la Concorde. There, the sign of rebirth appeared in a surprising way: the liturgical assembly, which in the vast Square brought together the priests, the choir and a remarkable crowd, extended all the way along the Avenue des Champs Élysées up to the Arc de Triomphe and beyond. At the moment of Communion, everyone was able to receive the Eucharist, which was distributed everywhere. This is the true reconstruction, the restoration of the Church that only God can bring about, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary. And so it was natural and proper that, after Paris, I should make a pilgrimage to Lourdes to venerate the Mother of the Church, Mary, she who, in the hour of passion and death, keeps alight the lamp of faith and hope. In Lourdes, the Lord, through the maternal care of the Virgin Mary, conveys to everyone, pilgrims and especially those who are sick in body and spirit, a message of hope and rebirth. A message that I wished to openly reaffirm: every human life, in whatever condition, even in the most extreme frailty, retains its inviolable dignity and deserves to be cared for, accompanied and relieved of suffering with human compassion and with the aid of the means offered by science. For this reason, Lourdes represents for the entire world a sanctuary of the civilization of love. In this context I met some people who were victims of abuse, and I asked them to help me express to other victims too my own wish, and that of the whole Church, to listen to them and walk alongside them as they seek healing, acknowledging the pain inflicted upon their lives and working to prevent abuse. The third and final stage of the Apostolic Journey was the city of Metz, in a region of France and Europe ravaged by the Second World War. It was there that Robert Schuman, one of the principal inspirers of the process of European unification, carried out his work. Contemporary Europe was indeed born as a project for peace in the wake of the destruction wrought by war. We might say that what happened to Notre-Dame in Paris with the fire was what had happened to Europe during the Second World War. And Europe was reborn, founded on those principles of democracy, solidarity and fraternity amongst peoples, which owe much to its Christian roots. Even today, it is on these foundations and with this vital “lifeblood” that the European project can be renewed, in a far more globalized world, where interreligious dialogue plays a role of primary importance. For this reason, at Metz, I met with the representatives of various religious traditions, who read and signed in my presence the “Metz Appeal” for dialogue and peace. Dear friends, the theme of my pastoral Visit to France was “Pour que le mode ait la vie”, “That the world may have life” (cf. Jn 6:51). They are Jesus’ words, which encapsulate His entire mission of salvation and which, during the Journey, fully expressed the Gospel meaning of every encounter. May they now inspire our prayer, as we ask God that this event of grace may bear abundant and lasting fruit. Picture of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV from Welcome, Pope Leo XIV: https://marian.org/articles/welcome-pope-leo-xiv Excerpt of General Audience of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on September 30, 2026::https://www.vatican.va/content/leoxiv/en/audiences/2026/documents/20260930-udienza-generale.html
Get to know the Diary of… Saint Faustina Kowalska “Mercy has moved You to deign to descend among us and lift us up from our misery. “ + The Infinite Goodness of God in Sending Us His Only-Begotten Son. God, You did not destroy man after his fall, but in Your mercy You forgave him, You forgave in a divine way; that is, not only have You absolved him from guilt, but You have bestowed upon him every grace. Mercy has moved You to deign to descend among us and lift us up from our misery. God will descend to earth; the Immortal Lord of lords will abase Himself. But where will You descend, Lord; will it be to the temple of Solomon? Or will You have a new tabernacle built for Yourself? Where do You intend to come down? O Lord, what kind of tabernacle shall we prepare for You, since the whole earth is Your footstool? March 21, 1937. Palm Sunday. During Mass, my soul was steeped in the bitterness and suffering of Jesus. Jesus gave me to understand how much He had suffered in that triumphal procession. “Hosanna” was reverberating in Jesus’ heart as an echo of “Crucify.” Jesus allowed me to feel this in a special way. February 2, 1937. Today, from early morning, Divine absorption penetrates my soul. During Mass, I thought I would see the little Jesus, as I often do; however, today during Holy Mass I saw the Crucified Jesus. Jesus was nailed to the cross and was in great agony. His suffering pierced me, soul and body, in a manner which was invisible, but nevertheless most painful. A sudden recollection of spirit, the senses quiet down, and God’s presence pervades my soul. I know only this: that it is Jesus and I. I saw Him just as He had appeared to me in that instant after my perpetual vows, when I was likewise making a Holy Hour. Jesus was suddenly standing before me, stripped of His clothes, His body completely covered with wounds, His eyes flooded with tears and blood, His face disfigured and covered with spittle. The Lord then said to me, The bride must resemble her Betrothed. I understood these words to their very depth. There is no room for doubt here. My likeness to Jesus must be through suffering and humility. See what love of human souls has done to Me. During one of the adorations, Jesus promised me that: With souls that have recourse to My mercy and with those that glorify and proclaim My great mercy to others, I will deal according to My infinite mercy at the hour of their death. My Heart is sorrowful, Jesus said, because even chosen souls do not understand the greatness of
My mercy. Their relationship [with Me] is, in certain ways, imbued with mistrust. Oh, how much that wounds My Heart! Remember My Passion, and if you do not believe My words, at least believe My wounds. Once I was summoned to the judgment [seat] of God. I stood alone before the Lord. Jesus appeared such as we know Him during His Passion. After a moment, His wounds disappeared except for five, those in His hands, His feet and His side. Suddenly I saw the complete condition of my soul as God sees it. I could clearly see all that is displeasing to God. I did not know that even the smallest transgressions will have to be accounted for. What a moment! Who can describe it? To stand before the Thrice Holy God! Jesus asked me, Who are you? I answered, “I am Your servant, Lord.” You are guilty of one day of fire in purgatory. I wanted to throw myself immediately into the flames of purgatory, but Jesus stopped me and said, Which do you prefer, suffer now for one day in purgatory or for a short while on earth? I replied, “Jesus, I want to suffer in purgatory, and I want to suffer also the greatest pains on earth, even if it were until the end of the world.” Jesus said, One [of the two] is enough; you will go back to earth, and there you will suffer much, but not for long; you will accomplish My will and My desires, and a faithful servant of Mine will help you to do this. Now, rest your head on My bosom, on My heart, and draw from it strength and power for these sufferings because you will find neither relief nor help nor comfort anywhere else. Know that you will have much, much to suffer, but don’t let this frighten you; I am with you. + Jesus. — From all My wounds, like from streams, mercy flows for souls, but the wound in My Heart is the fountain of unfathomable mercy. From this fountain spring all graces for souls. The flames of compassion burn Me. I desire greatly to pour them out upon souls. Speak to the whole world about My mercy. You have indeed prepared a tabernacle for Yourself: the Blessed Virgin. Her Immaculate Womb is Your dwelling place, and the inconceivable miracle of Your mercy takes place, O Lord. The Word becomes flesh; God dwells among us, the Word of God, Mercy Incarnate. By Your descent, You have lifted us up to Your divinity. Such is the excess of Your love, the abyss of Your mercy. Heaven is amazed at the superabundance of Your love. No one fears to approach You now. You are the God of mercy. You have compassion on misery. You are our God, and we are Your people. You are our Father, and we are Your children by grace. Praise be to Your mercy, that You have deigned to descend among us. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. Today I saw the Crucified Lord Jesus. Precious pearls and diamonds were pouring forth from the wound in His Heart. I saw how a multitude of souls was gathering these gifts, but there was one soul who was closest to His Heart and she, knowing the greatness of these gifts, was gathering them with liberality, not only for herself, but for others as well. The Savior said to me, Behold, the treasures of grace that flow down upon souls, but not all souls know how to take advantage of My generosity. +The Resurrection. Today, during the [Mass of the] Resurrection, I saw the Lord Jesus in the midst of a great light. He approached me and said, Peace be to you, My children, and He lifted up His hand and gave His blessing. The wounds in His hands, feet and side were indelible and shining. When He looked at me with such kindness and love, my whole soul drowned itself in Him. And He said to me, You have taken a great part in My Passion; therefore I now give you a great share in My joy and glory. The whole time of the Resurrection [Mass] seemed like only a minute to me. A wondrous recollection filled my soul and lasted throughout the whole festal season. The kindness of Jesus is so great that I cannot express it. Diary excerpt 1745; 1028, 913, excerpt 268; 379, 36, 1190, excertps 1745 & 1215; 1687, 205
LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, Mother of Life The Response is: Mary, pray for us. Mary, Mother of Life, Help us to respect human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death R. Mary , Mother of Compassion, You showed us how valuable a single life can be; Help us to guard and protect the lives of all people entrusted to our care. R. Mary, Mother of the Child Jesus, with St. Joseph you formed the Holy Family. Guard and protect all families in this earthly life. R. Mary, Mother Most Holy, you sanctified the vocation of motherhood; pour out your heavenly aid on all mothers and help them to be holy. R. Mary, Mother of Sorrows, Simeon’s prophecy foretold that a sword o f suffering would pierce your heart; bring comfort and hope to all mothers who suffer over their children. R. Mary, Full of Grace, you had a choice in responding to God’s call; help us always to say “Yes” to the Will of God in our lives, and strive always to do whatever he tells us. R. Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted, gather within your motherly mantle all who are in need of God’s healing, especially those who have been involved in abortion; help them to experience the love and mercy of Christ, your Son. R. Mary, Intercessor and Advocate, we lift up the poor, the displaced, the marginalized and vulnerable members of society; help them to never abandon hope, but to place their trust in the God who gave them life. R. Mary, Mother of The Word Incarnate, you bore in your womb Him whom the heavens cannot contain; help us to bear witness to Christ by the example of our lives, and show the world the extravagant Love of God. R. All: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercessions was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To you we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of The Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen.
The Gift Shop is open daily 9:30am – 4:30pm Find us at: www.divinemercy Shrine Bulletin Board Oil blessed in honor of St. Faustina is available at the Shrine Reception desk. A suggested donation of $5.00 which would go to support Shrine Ministries. www.shrineofdivinemercy. org/get-involved/ Volunteering is a wonderful way to share your gifts and God’s Mercy with our pilgrims. Please follow the link below to learn more about volunteering at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy.
Do you feel called to a religious vocation? VOCATION DIRECTOR ‘”I’m so glad you’re here.” Father Donald Calloway, MIC, welcomes you to the Marian Vocation Office in the Marian House of Studies, Steubenville, Ohio. Just by coming to this page, you’ve shown that you are open to wherever our Lord is calling you. Whether or not your vocation is as a religious—and whether or not you’re called to the Marians of the Immaculate Conception—I’m here to help you. Please look through the information we have prepared for you in the Vocation section. If you would like to glad to send you printed information on the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. From my own experience, I can tell you that my Congregation is totally consecrated to Mary Immaculate, faithful to authentic Church teaching, obedient to the Pope and Magisterium, and intensely Eucharistic. Please feel free to call or email me. You also might want to come to a Vocation Retreat. You may ask or tell me anything in confidence. You will not receive any phone calls or materials without your request. Discerning a vocation takes prayer, time, and guidance. Please use this prayer to help you consider where God is calling you. Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC Vocation Director Write :Vocation Director ● Marians of the Immaculate Conception ● 350 Belleview Blvd. ● Steubenville, OH 43952 Email: [email protected] May our Merciful Savior bless you and guide you. In the love of Mary Immaculate. Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC Vocation Director https://marian.org/vocations VOCATION PRAYER Hail Mary, full of grace; all generations call you blessed. Hail Mother of God, when asked by the angel to bear the Son of the Most High, filled with faith, you responded: “Let it be done unto me.” Holy Mother of Jesus, at the wedding feast at Cana, you prompted your Son to perform His first sign. Be with us as we discern our life’s work and guide us in the way we are called to follow in the footsteps of your Son. Holy Mother of the Savior, at the foot of the Cross you mourned the death of your only Son. Bless and embrace the loving parents of all priests, deacons, brothers and sisters. Holy Mother of the Good Shepherd, turn your motherly care to this nation. Interceded for us to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers to the harvest in this land dedicated to your honor. Queen of Peace, Mirror of Justice, Health of the Sick inspire vocations in our time. Let the word of your Son be made flesh anew in the lives of persons anxious to proclaim the good news of everlasting life. Amen. Prayer from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
MARIANS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Yes, I want to Help! How to help Please visit www.marian.org/ukraine/ to make a donation for Ukraine relief. One-hundred percent of funds received are sent directly to Ukraine and used to purchase humanitarian aid and medical supplies. Please do not mail medical supplies to Ukraine! Instead, please contact the Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy: 1-877-380-0727 or e-mail [email protected] to answer any of your questions. Because shipping via container is more cost effective, we prefer whatever monetary donations you can give rather than you sending medical supplies. Please know that boxes previously sent to the Marians or the EADM office were sent to Project C.U.R.E. and will be on fu-ture containers.
IT’S TIME TO SPEAK OUT AGAIN IN OPPOSITION TO PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE The Massachusetts Catholic Conference has been following two bills that would legalize Physician Assisted Suicide in Massachusetts. House Bill 2505 and Senate Bill 1486, “An Act relative to End-of-Life Options.” At present HB 2505 is in the Joint Committee on Healthcare Finance and SB 1486 is in Senate Ways and Means. However, the bills may come to the floor for a vote at any time. Working together, we can join health care professionals, disability groups, senior citizens, the infirmed and countless individuals in saying NO to assisted suicide and to stop the legislation from moving forward this session. Here are some troubling facts to consider before you contact your elected officials: 1.) A DEADLY PRESCRIPTION - The bill would allow a physician to provide a lethal drug mixture to an individual diagnosed with less than 6 months to live that, when consumed, would cause death. NOTE - The diagnosis could be wrong. Countless individuals have outlived that 6-month diagnosis and enjoyed many more precious months and years with family and friends. 2.) NO REAL SAFEGUARDS - A vulnerable individual who is physically disabled, depressed, or fears being a “burden” may be subject to undue influence by others to make the choice of PAS. 3.) MISPLACED PRIORITIES -The primary focus of elected officials should be dedicated to legislation providing quality health care, mental health care and palliative care to the sick and dying – particularly in the underserved, poor and minority communities that suffer the most at the time of need. Your Voice Matters – Please call today! Please call or email your elected State Senator and State Representative to voice your opposition. They represent you and should know your views on this topic. You can do this by logging onto HTTPS://MACATHOLIC.ORG or scan QR code below. Follow the links to find contact information for your individual State Senator and State Representative via address and zip code link. Stay informed by signing up to receive alerts. For individuals without internet access, plea e call the Massachusetts Catholic Conference at 617746-5630. We will provide you the legislative contact information.
The Image of Divine Mercy I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I myself will defend it as my own glory. (Diary 48) In 1931, our Lord appeared to St. Faustina in a vision. She saw Jesus clothed in a white garment with His right hand raised in blessing. His left hand was touching His garment in the area of the Heart, from where two large rays came forth, one red and the other pale. She gazed intently at the Lord in silence, her soul filled with awe, but also with great joy. Jesus said to her: Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory (Diary, 47, 48). I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You (327). I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world (47). At the request of her spiritual director, St. Faustina asked the Lord about the meaning of the rays in the image. She heard these words in reply: The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him (299). 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 (742). These words indicate that the Image represents the graces of Divine Mercy poured out upon the world, especially through Baptism and the Eucharist. Many different versions of this image have been painted, but our Lord made it clear that the painting itself is not what is important. When St. Faustina first saw the original image that was being painted under her direction, she wept in disappointment and complained to Jesus: "Who will paint You as beautiful as You are?" (313). In answer, she heard these words: "Not in the beauty of the color, nor of the brush lies the greatness of this image, but in My grace" (313). From The Image of The Divine Mercy www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/image
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