A Visit to the Shrine of Divine Mercy
Pastors Column
Mercy Sunday, 2012
Sunday April 15, 2012
Since most of us will never have a chance to visit the Shine of Divine Mercy in Poland, for this Pastor Column we will travel there together in words and pictures and see what we can discover about the Mercy of Our Lord.
Six years ago a group of Saint Eds pilgrims came to Krakow Poland, where the international shrine is located. Krakow is the town where Pope John Paul II was archbishop, and his presence is everywhere, including this enormous statue of him blessing the shrine (from the back) taken from the bell tower.
Most real pilgrimages, whether to shrines or in life itself, involve some suffering, and the Lord tested us here. We tired pilgrims discovered on arrival that the bus driver had reached his maximum hours and had to return after only one hour or so. Most
decided to return to the hotel, but five of us adventurous souls stayed the day and returned by public transportation. You know which group the pastor stayed with! Who wants to leave a place like this early? Not this pilgrim.
One place of great grace there was this beautiful adoration chapel on the grounds. It is not a place for quiet prayer! The chaplet of mercy seemed to be recited constantly here, and no wonder, since from
the convent in this place, Sr Faustina made known the message of Gods mercy to the world!
St Faustinas Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul is, in my opinion, a masterpiece. I am certain she will one day be a doctor of the church. There are few books filled with such incredible and practical wisdom from God, and all this from a nun who never got past the fourth grade! But she faithfully transmitted what Jesus said to her about his mercy. Being as she is a saint-friend of mine, we were thrilled to have celebrated Mass in this chapel dedicated in her honor.
Saint Faustinas convent, which you can see in this picture, is where
she had her visions, and where she suffered so much. Many of the sisters thought she was crazy, or simply not holy enough to be having visions from Our Lord! St. Faustina teaches constantly about the need for silence.
When one goes in the convent chapel, one discovers that photographs are not allowed (so I dont have any), but here one finds the original Picture of Divine Mercy that Our Lord instructed the saint to paint. This is located on the left side aisle, and below this is a reliquary containing St Faustinas bones. One can kneel here before the image and kiss or touch this reliquary as an act of veneration and contemplate the powerful message of mercy that has emanated from this place and the humble nun through which God chose to speak.
This
picture of the shine basilica itself shows how immense it really is. It is quite beautiful, and recently constructed (our mass was in a side chapel more appropriate for a group of 45). The picture of Jesus of Mercy in the center is exceptionally beautiful.
The Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul itself was actually placed on the banned list for a number of years after the saints death, primarily due to a mis-translation of the Polish. Fortunately, John Paul II re-read these writings in their original language, realized the problem, and set us on the road that has led to Mercy Sunday today.
One of the most comforting teachings in her writings, now confirmed as accurate by the church, is that each soul at the moment of death and before the individual judgment is offered an opportunity to accept Gods Mercy. Of course, the soul must recognize and say yes to God at this last and crucial moment, but what a comfort to those who have lost a loved one who seemed to be away from God! Even Jesus himself indicated that some sins are forgiven in the next world (Mt 12:31). Praise God for his infinite mercy!
Father Gary