The Divine Mercy

In 1931 Our Lord appeared to Sister M.Faustina Kowalska (1905 - 1938) 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 was 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 enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory... 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" ... I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and throughout the world."

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 the 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 the souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by the 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... 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 of faith is of no avail without works." UPDATE: Blessed Faustina became Saint Faustina on April 30, 2000.

The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy

The Chaplet of The Divine Mercy is said on regular rosary beads. It is prayed in the following order:
1) Our Father
2) Hail Mary
3) Apostle's Creed
4) On Large Bead before each Decade -- Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the world.
5) Once on each of the Ten Small Beads - For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
6) Concluding Doxology (after five decades repeat three times) - Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and the whole world.