THE MERCY OF GOD

What is mercy? There is only one answer--mercy is God! God's entire being is mercy. There is not one sin that we commit that cannot be forgiven if from the depths of our hearts we repent. God rejoices in our recognition of our sins and is more than willing to forgive us. His mercy is shown clearly when He sent His only son into the world knowing that His beloved son would suffer and die for those who to this day reject Him. His mercy showers us with graces. Wonderful graces of conversion even to the most hardened sinner.

One such example of a hardened sinner that was converted by God's pure mercy is found in the book "The Life of St. Gemma Galgani." St. Gemma was graced to have Jesus appear to her daily. Every day she would beg the conversion of a sinner who was on her heart. On one such occasion St. Gemma's new spiritual director (Fr. Germanus, C.P.) was visiting the house where Gemma stayed and he wrote of his experience with a particular sinner that was in St. Gemma's prayers. St. Gemma was praying and begging God as usual for him to send graces of conversion to a hardened sinner. Jesus appeared and began to tell St. Gemma how the sinner she was praying for had abandoned Him.

The following is some of the dialog between St. Gemma and Jesus (as transcribed by her spiritual director) Jesus spoke to her of his Divine Justice, however Gemma pleaded even more stating, "I am not seeking Your Justice. I am imploring Your Mercy. Then Jesus, go in search of that poor sinner. Press him to your Heart and You will see that he will be converted. At least try it. Listen, Jesus, You said that you have made many forcible attempts to convince him, but You have not called him son. Try that now, and tell him that You are his Father and that he is Your child. You will find that on hearing this sweet name of Father, his hardened heart will soften". It is at this point that the Lord begins to show St. Gemma the time and place of each of her sinner's evil deeds. The sins were so enormous that St. Gemma is left in sadness. Gemma was worn out from pleading for this sinner because it seemed as if Jesus was not listening. Gemma regained her courage and continued, "I know, Jesus," she said, "I know it, that he has offended You grievously. But I have done worse and, for all that, You have shown me Mercy. I know, I know, O Jesus, that he has made You weep. But now Jesus--You must not think of his sins. You must think of the Blood You have shed, what immense Charity, O Jesus, have you not lavished on me! Use with my sinner, I implore of You, all those delicacies of Infinite Love that You have used towards me. Remember Jesus, that I want his salvation. Triumph, triumph, I ask him of You in Charity,"

Gemma continued "Well, I am a sinner. You Yourself have told me so, that worse than me You could not find. Yes, I confess it, I am unworthy that You should listen to me. But look, I present You another advocate for my sinner, it is Your own Mother who asks You to forgive him. Oh! Imagine saying no Your Mother. Surely You cannot say no to her. And now answer me, Jesus, say that You have saved my sinner."

After all her pleading Gemma finally obtained her victory for this hardened sinner. Fr. Germanus continues with the story that confirmed Gemma's sinner was indeed saved.

Fr. Germanus, who was present during Gemma's conversations with Jesus, relates: "A strange gentleman, father, has called and wishes to see you." I bade him come in. He threw himself at my feet sobbing and said: "Father, hear my confession." Good God! I thought my heart would burst. It was Gemma's sinner, converted that same hour. He accused himself of all that I heard repeated by her in the exctasy. He had forgotten one thing only and I was able to remind him of it. I consoled him, told him what just happened, got his leave to narrate these wonders of the Lord, and after a mutual embrace we parted." ("The Life of St. Gemma Galgani" by Her Spiritual Director Venerable Fr. Germanus, C.P., NOTE : the "old English" style of writing was modified for this excerpt)

There have been many saints and many spiritual writers who have proclaimed God's Mercy but there was one saint in particular who is well known as the instrument of God's Mercy. That saint is St. Sister Faustina. St. Fausina went through many mystical experiences and visions of Christ. Jesus made know to St. Faustina that He wanted His mercy to be known to all of mankind. Jesus told St. Faustina that he wanted a "Feast of Mercy" to be officially established in the Church. He declared: "This Feast emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of My tender mercies (420)…It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter…I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fountain of My mercy. (690). (Mercy My Mission - by Sister Sophia Michalenko, C.M.G.T.)

Jesus also told St. Faustina that He wanted an image to be painted that would have a special place of honor on the Feast of Mercy. The image is a reflection of what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. Through this image He wants us to trust in Him and in turn by merciful to others. "I want the image to be solemnly blessed the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it. (341) (Mercy My Mission - by Sister Sophia Michalenko, C.M.G.T.)

Jesus relayed to St. Faustina that He promises to grant complete forgiveness of sins. "I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy." (1109.) b (300). (Mercy My Mission - by Sister Sophia Michalenko, C.M.G.T.)

 

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