Reading St. Faustina's Diary

[RPRPsych]

Entry 1: “You command Your Sacred Image to be painted / And reveal to us the inconceivable fount of mercy…”

Hasn’t this, God’s mercy, been revealed in the Gospels, indeed, the entire Bible? Can a painting do this – capture the Sacred Image?

“Reveal” here does not mean Revelation (as in Scripture and Tradition) but the more prosaic sense of “show” or “display”. For example, when I put up a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in my home, I reveal (to those who see it) Our Lady’s message of repentance and penance.

Entry 7: “an invitation to a more perfect life”

Philosophical question: how does one improve on “perfect?” What is “more” perfect?

The trouble here is that we are looking at pre-V2 writings through a post-V2 lens. Read books by old-school theologians such as Garrigou-Lagrange and you will find excruciatingly detailed discussions of how Mary’s perfection exceeded that of the Saints, and so on. (This isn’t mathematically impossible either: some infinities are bigger than others! )

Entry 48: “[Jesus:] I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death.”

I’ve never heard this before. The preceding comments suggest that St. Faustina’s diary is full of theology and I am not a theologian and have not studied it. I’ve read the Catechism and it didn’t say that veneration of the image of Divine Mercy will bring salvation (i.e. “not perish” ).

I have a Divine Mercy picture in my bedroom. A sister who was from the same order as St. Faustina gave it to my mom years ago. Yes, “Jesus, I trust in Thee” are words that I have often prayed. Is this now a new church doctrine, that venerating the image of Divine Mercy is some assurance of salvation? I never knew that.

It’s not an “assurance of salvation”; rather it is merely one of many channels of grace that Our Saviour, in his mercy, opens to us. Similar statements have been made about other devotions, for example…

“Devotion to the Rosary is a sign of predestination” - St. Louis de Montfort

This is why I started this thread. I know about the Kerygma, The Bible, the Church, the Sacraments…but now there’s more, I don’t know enough, I have to venerate the image of Divine Mercy… ? I guess I don’t know how to approach Christian mysticism or that I have to.

The good news is that it’s optional. Following this private devotion will do you no harm if it’s skipped, but it can do you (or anyone) a lot of good if it’s followed.

Also: w00t, 6000 posts!

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Entry 1: “You command Your Sacred Image to be painted / And reveal to us the inconceivable fount of mercy…”

Hasn’t this, God’s mercy, been revealed in the Gospels, indeed, the entire Bible? Can a painting do this – capture the Sacred Image?

The love of God was revealed in the Gospels…that did not prevent the Lord from making His manifestation to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque and the request for devotion to the Sacred Heart as an image of His Divine Love…a devotion particularly taken up by the theologians of the French School of Spirituality. Of course, a theologian versed in mystical and ascetical theology would be able to trace the imagery to Saint Margaret Mary from Saint John the Evangelist and through the trajectory of Saint Gertrude the Great and Saint Catherine of Siena

Entry 7: “an invitation to a more perfect life”
Philosophical question: how does one improve on “perfect?” What is “more” perfect?

A Religious, by their very vocation, belongs to a state of perfection as defined by the Church. Canonically, communities of consecrated life are referred to as “Institutes of Perfection”. No Religious would ever tell you, although they belong to a state of perfection, that they have attained perfection. Although they have professed the Evangelical Counsels, through which their consecration is effected, nevertheless they are always striving for a more perfect life.

Entry 48: “[Jesus:] I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death.”

I’ve never heard this before. The preceding comments suggest that St. Faustina’s diary is full of theology and I am not a theologian and have not studied it. I’ve read the Catechism and it didn’t say that veneration of the image of Divine Mercy will bring salvation (i.e. “not perish” ).

It’s a private devotion. You’re not obliged to venerate the image of the Divine Mercy. You’re not obliged to have a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. You’re not obliged to respond to the requests of Our Lady at Fatima. You’re not obliged to say the Rosary. You’re not obliged to wear the scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In each of those named instances, there are heavenly promises attached through private revelations. The Church, on investigating the phenomenon, have said it is credible to put human credence in the veracity of the event having happened…but no one is obliged to and the Church lets the matter stand on its own feet…except in each of the instances I have named, the Church has established a liturgical memorial in commemoration of the devotion and has endorsed at least one or more sacred sites as places of pilgrimage in response to the devotion.

I have a Divine Mercy picture in my bedroom. A sister who was from the same order as St. Faustina gave it to my mom years ago. Yes, “Jesus, I trust in Thee” are words that I have often prayed. Is this now a new church doctrine, that venerating the image of Divine Mercy is some assurance of salvation? I never knew that.

This is why I started this thread. I know about the Kerygma, The Bible, the Church, the Sacraments…but now there’s more, I don’t know enough, I have to venerate the image of Divine Mercy… ? I guess I don’t know how to approach Christian mysticism or that I have to.

The Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary

(1) "I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.

(2) I will establish peace in their homes.

(3) I will comfort them in all their afflictions.

(4) I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.

(5) I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.

(6) Sinners will find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.

(7) Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.

(8) Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.

**(9) I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed and honored. **

1. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.

(11) Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart.

**(12) I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment." **

ewtn.com/library/CHRIST/PROMISES.TXT

What I said being true, that does not mean that the Church and her Magisterium are completely silent on their thoughts about private revelation as we see, for example, in the following passage from the encyclical of Pope Leo XIII.
2. /…/ But now We have in mind a more signal form of devotion which shall be in a manner the crowning perfection of all the honors that people have been accustomed to pay to the Sacred Heart, and which We confidently trust will be most pleasing to Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. This is not the first time, however, that the design of which We speak has been mooted. Twenty-five years ago, on the approach of the solemnities of the second centenary of the Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque’s reception of the Divine command to propagate the worship of the Sacred Heart, many letters from all parts, not merely from private persons but from Bishops also were sent to Pius IX begging that he would consent to consecrate the whole human race to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. /…/ We consider that the plan is ripe for fulfillment.

ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/L13ANNUM.HTM

 

[Sirach2]

Entry 7: “an invitation to a more perfect life”

Philosophical question: how does one improve on “perfect?” What is “more” perfect?

You have taken this snippet out of context to the Saint’s meaning. Here is her exact phrase:
“From the age of seven, I experienced the definite call of God, the grace of a vocation to the religious life. It was in the seventh year of my life that, for the first time, I heard God’s voice in my soul; that is, an invitation to a more perfect life. But I was not always obedient to the call of grace. I came across no one who would have explained these things to me.”

I believe Don Ruggero explained thoroughly that a religious vocation entails a call to perfection… See USCCB on this. God invites one to enter religious life to embrace more fully the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. However, the call to perfection is also given to us by Christ, “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”

I was sorry to find that your several posts in the past have continued in challenge and disbelief regarding St. Faustina. Therefore, it is probably not going to be helpful to try using words to change your outlook. As has been said, you are under no obligation to believe in this devotion.
I am unsubscribing at this time.

 

[Sirach2]

Don Ruggero:

The Church, on investigating the phenomenon, have said it is credible to put human credence in the veracity of the event having happened…but no one is obliged to and the Church lets the matter stand on its own feet…except in each of the instances I have named, the Church has established a liturgical memorial in commemoration of the devotion and has endorsed at least one or more sacred sites as places of pilgrimage in response to the devotion.

I am in agreement with you, and in closing, I note this difference.
While nobody is strictly obligated to be devoted in a personal way, they ARE obligated to respect the Office of Peter who solemnly established these liturgical memorials,. Wisdom urges us to refrain from criticizing them in a public manner, simply due to one’s lack of personal devotion to them.

Following your mention of the Sacred Heart, I hope many of us were able to celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart celebrated June 3rd, falling within this month dedicated to the Sacred Heart.

There is yet another devotion proclaimed by other popes to the Holy Face of Jesus.

Several Marian feasts are also celebrated liturgically as memorials or feasts: Lourdes, Fatima, Mary’s Presentation, Guadeloupe, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of the Rosary, etc.

 

[MikhaelJohnPaul]

I haven’t read St. Faustina’s Diary myself yet, but it can’t be all that bad. I’m currently reading St. John Paul the Great: His Five Loves, and I came across a passage in this book from the diary: “As I was praying for Poland, I heard the words: I bear a special love for Poland, and if she will be obedient to my will, I will exalt her in might and holiness. From her will come forth the spark that will prepare the world for my final coming.” The logical connection being Pope (and now Saint) John Paul the Great. That’s a pretty accurate and amazing revelation.

 

[kdbueno]

Kowalska’s diary pre-suppose for us that divine mercy is deeply infallible.

 

[Wannabe_Monk_16]

Kowalska’s diary pre-suppose for us that divine mercy is deeply infallible.

How can something be “deeply” infallible, as opposed to just infallible?

 

[CB_Catholic]

I understand your frustration with the Diary. It is a difficult read, as are most of the writings of the mystics. I am not going to criticize your for failing to understand her or for questioning some things. Some things I found hard to swallow, like the way Jesus sometimes spoke to her. But we have to remember that everyone is different, and perhaps it is just not your time to read the mystics. I think that was my problem. The Holy Spirit is the one who enlightens our minds, and perhaps he has another form of devotion and different reading in mind for you.

It has been years since I read St. Faustina and St. Teresa of Avila, and perhaps i will try again, but who the Lord gave me a love for was St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower. She is so simple, yet so profound, and it was her writings that helped me so much spiritually. There are many other Saints to read. Find one you can relate to. The Holy Spirit speaks to all of us in a different way.

As far as the Divine Mercy Chaplet goes, it is a simple and beautiful thing to say. But it’s sentiments are not new. The Jesus Prayer is an ancient prayer in which we also ask for God’s mercy, and it is often recited on beads or knots. So the whole idea did not start with St Faustina’s private revelation, in one form or another the tradition of the Church has been to ask for God’s mercy in a repetitive form. Look how many litanies we have.

God bless you and I hope you find something that is of spiritual benefit to you, and don’t feel bad if something doesn’t resonate. The Church provides us with much to choose from.