Divine Mercy: The Heart of the Gospel

The Sacred Heart and The Divine Mercy 69 more brilliant than the sun and transparent as crystal. It has its adorable wound and was encircled with a crown o f thorns, which signified the pricks our sins caused Him. It was surmounted by a cross... He made me understand that the ardent desire He had o f being loved by men and o f drawing them from the path o f perdition into which Satan was hurrying them in great numbers, had caused Him to fix upon this plan of manifesting His Heart to men, together with all Its treasures o f love, mercy, grace, sanctification and sal­ vation... It must be honored under the symbol o f this Heart of flesh, whose image He wished to be publicly exposed. He wanted me to carry it on my person, over my heart, that He might imprint His love there, fill my heart with all the gifts with which his own is filled, and destroy all inordinate affection. Wherever this sacred image would be exposed for veneration He would pour forth His graces and blessings.29 To those familiar with her writings, it will be immediately apparent that our Lord made very similar promises to Bl. Faustina, and to those who venerate the Image o f The Divine Mercy: 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 o f death. I myself will defend it as My own glory... I am offer­ ing people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain o f mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: Jesus I trust in You... I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and (then) throughout the world.30 Not only did Jesus make similar promises to those who venerate these two images, but also, the movements inspired by His Spirit to pro­ mote such veneration seem remarkably similar. For example, early in the 20th century our Lord inspired Fr. Mateo Crawley-Boevey, a priest from Peru, to initiate the movement for the solemn enthronement o f the image o f the Sacred Heart in families. Pope St. Pius X, when asked for his approval o f this mission, answered Fr. Mateo, “I not only approve; I