God's Love is the Flower - Mercy the Fruit.

This is part five of the series 'God's Love is the Flower - Mercy the Fruit.' View part four.

In her Diary, on Feb. 12, 1937, St. Faustina wrote a beautiful poem entitled "God's Love is the flower - Mercy the fruit." Saint Faustina wrote, "Let the doubting soul read these considerations on Divine Mercy and become trusting" (949). Let's consider this poem line by line that we might become more trusting of Jesus, the Divine Mercy.

Divine Mercy, shielding us from the fire of hell, I trust in You.

You may recall that Jesus dictated to St. Faustina the intentions for each day of the Divine Mercy Novena. He asked that on the seventh day she pray for souls who venerate and glorify His mercy. He said, "They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. ... Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death" (Diary, 1224).

Yes, hell is a real place. While our Lord is all merciful, souls can choose to turn away from Him, even for all eternity. As we place our trust in Him and His mercy, He shields us from the powers of hell and will usher us into eternal life with Him in Heaven.

Divine Mercy, in the conversion of hardened sinners, I trust in You.

Many promises from our Lord are attached to praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and placing our trust in His Divine Mercy. He told St. Faustina, "My daughter, encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given to you. It pleases Me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet. When hardened sinners say it, I will fill their souls with peace, and the hour of their death will be a happy one" (Diary, 1541).

Even the most hardened of sinners are not outside of God's mercy. In fact, "the greater the sinner, the greater his right to God's mercy" (Diary, 423). Implore God's mercy for sinners, especially those whose hearts have been hardened by pain and sin throughout their lives.

Divine Mercy, astonishment for Angels, incomprehensible to Saints, I trust in You.

Saint Faustina wrote in her Diary, "O Incomprehensible God, how great is Your mercy! It surpasses the combined understanding of all men and angels. All the angels and all humans have emerged from the very depths of Your tender mercy" (651). "No mind, either of angel or of man, will ever fathom the mysteries of Your mercy, O God. The angels are lost in amazement before the mystery of divine mercy, but cannot comprehend it" (1553).

How great is our God! The very fact that we are created, Divine Mercy expert Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, notes, is the very first act of God's mercy. The angels are astonished that an all-powerful, all-knowing God would have such mercy upon us poor sinners. The saints are in awe of this mercy that has brought them home to Heaven where they will ponder and worship His mercy for all eternity.

Divine Mercy, unfathomed in all the mysteries of God, I trust in You.

The word "mystery" comes from the Greek musterion, meaning the hidden depths of God. Divine Mercy is a mystery coming from the very inner depths of God. God so loved the world that He sent His Only Begotten Son (see Jn 3:16).

Saint Faustina enumerates how unfathomable and incomprehensible God's mercy is precisely because it cannot ever be exhausted. Trust in God can also never be exhausted. It can only go deeper as we continue to contemplate and worship God in His great mercy.

Divine Mercy, lifting us out of every misery, I trust in You.

Mercy is where God meets us in our misery. He loves us in our misery, in our brokenness, and so wants to lift us out of our misery into His very Heart. Every pain, every sin, every place where you feel you are inadequate or too broken, God loves. He loves you in every area of your life that you believe you could never be loved.

He wants to forgive every sin. He wants to heal every wound. He wants to comfort and console every sorrow. Trust in Him. He will never abandon you. Trust in Him. He will never leave you in your misery. He will lift you up and set you on high. Call upon Him and He will be with you in times of distress (see Ps 91).

We will conclude this series next month.

BCBB

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