THE DIVINE MERCY IMAGE
On February 22, 1931, Sister Faustina went to her room for the night. Suddenly, Jesus stood before her pointing to the wound in his side from which rays were emanating. St. Faustina records the Merciful Lord's words in her diary:
“Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and throughout the world.” (Diary, 47).
“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 myself will defend it as My own glory.” (Diary, 48).
"I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature 'Jesus, I trust in You.' " (Diary, 327).
St. Faustina struggled with this request. One confessor told her that the Lord meant to paint this image in her soul - instructions that the Merciful Lord quickly cleared up. Eventually the saint, with the help of her spiritual director, Fr. Michael Sopocko, was able to have an artist paint the image. St. Faustina visited and guided the artist, Eugene Kazimierowski, in 1934-1935. Yet, when the painting was finished, St. Faustina wept on viewing it and exclaimed, "Who would paint You as beautiful as You are?" Jesus replied, "Not in the beauty of the color, nor of the brush lies the greatness of this image, but in My grace." (Diary, 313)
According to Jesus' wishes, the painting was first venerated in Vilnius. Today it has spread throughout the world and initiated what Jesus called bringing the Merciful Savior face to face with souls and bringing about what Jesus called the time of mercy.