Divine Mercy Image Question

[boatofcar]

I’m sorry for asking another question about this subject, but I never saw my particular question answered in those threads. This question is in reference to

“I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish.”

I’m having a problem with this, because it seems to fly in the face of church teaching. Why would Jesus promise anyone that venerating an image would grant salvation? How does the church reconcile that with its teachings on repentance of sin?

Thank you!

 

[victorbuhagiar]

St. Faustina was not an educated person. She wrote as only she knew how although it was always inspired. Now I my personal opinion venerating the image of Jesus the Divine Mercy does not mean adoring a piece of painting. That would be idolatry. You have to ask: what Jesus wants from us, how does He wants us to venerate his image. If you venerate the image of the Divine Mercy, you mast enter into meditation and ask yourself what Jesus wants from you. Consider how many people knee down before a cross and pray. Are they praying to the cross or to Him who repents Him? This is well explained in the Novena to the Divine Mercy, seventh day. Let the image inspire you on His sufferings, which were plenty.

**Today bring to Me the Souls who especially venerate and glorify My Mercy, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.
**

The underlined sentence is very important. If you want to venerate Jesus in the image that shows the rays coming out of His heart you must meditate on His Passion.
You can find the whole novena here: ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm

 

[boatofcar]

Again, how does venerating an image guarantee your salvation? How can private revelation contradict church teaching on repentance of mortal sin?

 

[victorbuhagiar]

Do you not think that meditating on the meaning of the image is not enough to lead you to heaven? The image by itself will not help you. You must venerate it and that means meditating a lot on Him who saved you. Believe I never go to sleep without meditating on the suffering of Jesus. It leads me away from sin which is after all what Jesus wants of you.

 

[fatimaoligist]

It"s not just an image, it"s that of Jesus, opening up his mercy for all. The church is continuing the work left of by the apostles, to continue to proclaim Jesus as lord to all people.

 

[SonCatcher]

Again, how does venerating an image guarantee your salvation? How can private revelation contradict church teaching on repentance of mortal sin?

“Image” does not have to be a portrait.

Jesus Christ “is the image of the invisible God.” (Col 1:15) The reverence St. Faustina writes of is to Jesus, not a painted portrait.

The portrait you ask about was painted for her own personal devotional purposes (to help her direct her devotion to Jesus).

 

[capablanca911]

Who is the Divine Mercy message to? Catholics.

Cafeteria Catholics? No. They’re not gonna pray for 15 solid minutes every day (that’s how long it takes for most people probably to do the Divine Mercy Chaplette). That’s for ‘true believers’* who want to meditate on Christ’s sacrifice. The image is of the blood and water that came out of Christ’s heart on the cross. The Chaplette is focused on the passion. “For the sake of thy sorrowful passion…” “Eternal Father, I offer you the body and blood of your only begotten son…”

The message is that if you stay focused on the passion continuely, then you will have a humble and loving heart, and its implied you will immerse yourself in the sacraments.

The sacraments combined with a loving heart guarantees salvation.

*at minimum, a true believer in my estimation would be someone who says “I believe, Lord help my unbelief.”

 

[boatofcar]

Do you not think that meditating on the meaning of the image is not enough to lead you to heaven? The image by itself will not help you. You must venerate it and that means meditating a lot on Him who saved you. Believe I never go to sleep without meditating on the suffering of Jesus. It leads me away from sin which is after all what Jesus wants of you.

Thank you for your responses. What you all seem to be saying is that those of you who pray the divine mercy chaplet no longer mortally sin? Or that any mortal sins are somehow negated by this chaplet allowing you to achieve salvation?

 

[SonCatcher]

Thank you for your responses. What you all seem to be saying is that those of you who pray the divine mercy chaplet no longer mortally sin? Or that any mortal sins are somehow negated by this chaplet allowing you to achieve salvation?

It doesn’t mean that sin becomes impossible. As with any true devotion, it must be persevered in and propensity to sin struggled against.

Concupiscence does not go away but turning our attention toward God and away from sin does make it an easier struggle.

 

[Lifesong]

The way I have always interpreted this is that those who meditate on what the Lord has done for us and spend time in prayer are the ones more likely to be persevering in their faith. One way of doing that would be venerating the image and meditating on the meaning. We are to renew our minds daily and venerating the Divine Mercy image would certainly bring about the correct mindset- we become what we gaze upon.

Blessings,

Val