Today is the Feast day of St. John Paul II, whose final moments of life were spent celebrating the Mass of Divine Mercy.
In 1997, where the relics of Blessed Faustina are kept, John Paul II addressed the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy with these words:
"At no time and in no historical period - especially at a moment as critical as our own - can the Church forget the prayer that is a cry for the mercy of God amid the many forms of evil which weigh upon humanity and threaten it. The more the human conscience succumbs to secularization, loses its sense of the very meaning of the word mercy, moves away from God, and distances itself from the mystery of mercy, the more the Church has the right and the duty to appeal to the God of mercy with loud cries."
For those of you may not know, it was Pope John Paul, II who instituted the Feast and his 25th anniversary was marked by a Holy Card made to commemorate it. The card depicted the Holy Father praying in front of the image of Divine Mercy. I have no doubt that the PJPII is looking down today with joy at those proclaiming the mercy that the Lord has for each one of us, despite our failings and sins, even because of them!
There is a beautiful Eucharistic Prayer of Reconciliation in our faith that goes like this, “God of love and mercy you are always ready to forgive, we are sinners and you invite us to trust in your mercy." He does not force us. He invites us. He tells us His mercy and love are there for us and all we need to do is trust.
Anyone who is familiar with my healing story knows that The Divine Mercy devotion played a huge part in it along with Our Lady of Czestochowa and that the “Entering Canaan” post abortion ministry has been based on both of these devotions. This was in the 1980’s when Divine Mercy was still pretty unknown. At the time when I was going through my healing, I had no idea that Pope John Paul II held these as his main devotions as well.
I remember when I found out, I was certain that I had been drawn to them because of his prayers. That he surely must have entrusted his flock to those devotions he loved. Later, I also learned that when he was Bishop in Poland, he would counsel women who had had abortions. How God’s grace touches us and moves without us even knowing it!
It is no secret that humanity in our time is threatened. You cannot turn on the TV or radio without hearing about war, immorality in all forms, violence, etc. It is hard at times not to get discouraged, but we remember the words of Pope John Paul, II, “Be not afraid." We place our trust in our Merciful Savior who is a personal savior, because it is our faith and trust in Him that saves us from despair, from not only the sins of the world but, our personal sins.
As we celebrate the feast of St. John Paul the II, let us recall these words of his to us., “A simple act of abandonment is enough to overcome the barriers of darkness and sorrow, of doubt and desperation. The rays of Your Divine Mercy restore hope, in a special way, to those who feel overwhelmed by the burden of sin."
Mary, Mother of Mercy, help us always to have this trust in your Son, our Redeemer. Help us too, St. Faustina, whom we remember today with special affection. Fixing our weak gaze on the divine Savior's face, we would like to repeat with you, "Jesus, I trust in You!" Now and forever. Amen.
