Jesus, Mercy Incarnate

What is this “light” which Faustina tells us was shed upon her soul by the Passion of Christ? We can best understand this “light” by dividing it into two parts: first, a more abstract theological light, and secondly (for lack of a better term) a “devotional” light, in other words, an affective appreciation of the love of Jesus for all mankind which was displayed through His sufferings. 1. Theological Lessons from the Passion of Jesus Christ Theologically, by meditating upon the Passion St. Faustina was led to appreciate the tremendous love of God for sinners manifest on the Cross. As St. Paul wrote in Romans 5:6-8: While we were yet helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man – though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. For St. Faustina as well, the Cross shows us the terrible price our Lord was willing to pay to set us free from sin – and there- fore the tremendous depth of His love for us. 5 She prayed (diary entry no. 72): O Jesus, be mindful ofYour own bitter Passion, and do not permit the loss of souls redeemed at so dear a price of Your most precious Blood. O Jesus, when I consider the great price of Your Blood, I rejoice at its immensity, for one drop alone would have been enough for the salvation of all sin- ners. Although sin is an abyss of wickedness and ingratitude, the price paid for us can never be equalled. Therefore let every soul trust in the Passion of the Lord, and place its hope in His mercy. We should notice that Sr. Faustina was not engaging in any “poetic exaggeration” here. It is, in fact, literally true that “the price paid for us can never be equalled” and that “one drop alone” of Christ’s blood would have been enough to save the world (cf. entry 43 Saint Faustina and Devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ