Divine Mercy: The Heart of the Gospel

The Mercy of God and Modern Medicine 157 this truth is an essential element in the Church’s reflections on her mis­ sion to evangelize human suffering and human death. In Salvifici Dolores the Pope wrote, The Redeemer suffered in place of man and for man. Every man has his own share in the redemption. Each one is also called to share in that suffering through which the redemption was accom­ plished. He is called to share in that suffering through which all human suffering has also been redeemed. In bringing about the redemption through suffering, Christ has also raised human suffer­ ing to the level of the redemption. Thus, each man in his suffering can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering o f Christ. Since loving union with Christ in each moment o f human life, and particularly in the moments of human dying is the means of the Church’s mission o f eternal life, the Charter, and the Holy Father, emphasize the patient’s ability to pray and give oneself generously to the plan o f God. That is what we see in the life o f Sister Faustina. Furthermore, it is known in mystical theology that the founder o f a new work, or one who brings to the Church a new gift o f the Spirit, whether it is the foundation o f a religious order or the vocation to be the secre­ tary o f Divine Mercy, often carries a special burden o f suffering and purification and an increased identification with the sufferings and Passion o f Christ in order to engage graces for his work, for his succes­ sors, for those who will carry on. So when a case is examined, for exam­ ple in the process o f beatification, we expect that a founder or a foundress will have experienced tremendous moral and physical and spiritual sufferings. It is a sign o f the stability o f the work. If they have passed through such things, it means that the work is going to be stable for the future. Let us examine briefly Sister Faustina’s attitude about telling the truth to a dying person in Diary, entry no. 1679: “How Doctors Should Talk to Their Patients.” Again, the fact that Sister Faustina notes this is important. After the first examination, she writes, “Doctor (Doctor Silva) found that my condition is g rave :4We suspect, Sister, that you do have the illness about which you spoke to me. But, Almighty God can do all things!” ’ What a beautiful example of faith. Doctor Silva was a recent convert and, if you read Maria Tamowska’s biography of Sister Faustina, you will see in the recollections o f the other Sisters how much he enjoyed