You may recall on the First Sunday of Advent we had unveiled an image of the Divine Mercy Icon and placed it on the side of the Baptismal Font in the Sanctuary of our Church for this Year of Mercy.

I am pleased to introduce this special Icon entitled “the Fountain of Divine Mercy Icon” in honor of this Extraordinary Jubilee Year in the life of the church. It draws one into the message that Pope Francis hopes to bring to the world. God is a merciful Father. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who will lead the 99 sheep to go in search of the one lost soul. If you take a closer look at this Icon you will discover various symbols associated with what the Divine Mercy is all about.

The Cross

 “Then the sign of the cross will be seen in the sky, and from the openings where the hands and feet of the Savior were nailed will come forth great lights which will light up the earth for a period of time, this will take place shortly before the last day.”  (St. Faustina’s Diary, 83)

First we see the symbol of Mother Mary’s virginity, the eight-point star, placing it on the points of Christ’s wounds where He was nailed to the cross. It seemed fitting to me that through Blessed Mary’s fiat our Lord was made flesh and therefore, vulnerable to pain for our sakes and for our salvation. The eight point star is also the symbol for eternity. Jesus brought this forth for us through His sacrificial death.

 The World

 Jesus is standing upon the world with His hand in the gesture of absolution (Diary, 309). His mercy is flowing forth from His wounded heart, in the form of Blood and Water pouring from the flesh in His side where the soldier pierced Him as He hung on the cross.

 “These rays of mercy…Will go out through all the world”. (St. Faustina’s Diary, 441)

 Because of the Rays denoting Blood and Water, which symbolize the Church emerging from the side of Jesus Christ with sacraments that cleanse the soul (Baptism and Penance) and give life (the Eucharist and others), can be considered an excellent exposition on the liturgy of the first Sunday after Easter.

 Jesus is depicted wearing a white robe.

“Like a doctor in hospital; He is walking the earth, healing sick mankind.”

Jesus I trust in you (‘Jezu ufam Tobie). (St. Faustina’s Diary, 327)

 The Blood and Water

In the Divine Mercy Icon, the Blood and the Waters of Baptism flow out for the whole world to experience. (St. Faustina’s Diary, 344)

 The two rays pass through the body of Jesus (The Eucharist) out and over into the chalice. The pale rays represent the water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the blood which is the life of souls .(St. Faustina’s Diary, 299)

 The Eucharist has the orthodox inscription written on it.

 

 The Chaplet

 You will find an Orthodox Cross on the Chaplet Medal. It reveals that we have received through prayer the importance of respecting one another’s traditions and supporting each other in our walk of faith.