Autom

On Sunday, May 1st, 2011, join Autom as we will celebrate God’s amazing love as revealed this past century in two unexpected ways: the Divine Mercy devotion and the gift of Blessed John Paul II.

Pope John Paul (Karol Wojtyla) was born in Wadowice, Poland, and later moved to Krakow. Five years after his birth, Helena Kowalska, a fellow Pole, was accepted into religious life, where she took the name Sister Mary Faustina.

During the next decade, Our Lord Jesus revealed to Sister Faustina that He greatly desired her to promote devotion to His Divine Mercy throughout the world. This devotion included an image depicting His appearance, which she had painted. The Divine Mercy image is both an instrument through which God gives His graces, as well as a reminder that Jesus summons us to do acts of mercy, through our deeds, words, and prayers.

Jesus also gave Sister Faustina the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. He promised that those who venerated the image would greatly advance in holiness and gain victory in this life over the enemies of our souls. He further promised a happy and holy death with the assurance of His personal defense at its hour. Jesus avowed, “I wish to grant unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy.”

As a Cardinal, Karol Wojtyla had believed in the Divine Mercy Devotion, and as Pope he authorized the publication of Sister Faustina’s diaries and promotion of the devotion. On April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, surprising the entire world by establishing Divine Mercy Sunday as a feast day for the entire Church. He declared, “This is the happiest day of my life.” In 2002, Pope John Paul entrusted the whole world to God’s Mercy when he consecrated the International Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Lagniewniki, Poland— burial site of Saint Faustina.

Pope John Paul II himself died April 2, 2005, the Vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday. Many believe that his greatest mission was to place the indescribable Mercy of God in hands of needy sinners like us. This year, on May 1st, the feast of Divine Mercy, Pope Benedict XVI will beatify Pope John Paul II, as another sign of God’s abundant mercy on His beloved children.