Saint Faustina in Prayer
In the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska when speaking of the image of Divine Mercy, Jesus tells her, “My image already is in your soul.” (Diary 49) The image of God was present in man from the beginning when God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,” (Gen. 1:26) and as the author relates, “In the divine image He created him.” (Gen. 1:27) Furthermore, the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that “The divine image is present in every man.” (1702)
The Catechism explains that the divine image of God manifests itself in our souls, “…he is most especially in God’s image: [in the] “soul” [which] signifies the spiritual principle in man.” (363) and furthermore, “The human body shares in the dignity of “the image of God”: [as] it is a human body precisely because it is animated by a spiritual soul,…” (364) Similarly, St Faustina writes at the beginning of her diary, “May praise and glory for this Image never cease to stream from man’s soul.” (1)
Our Lady with Divine Mercy Child
The divine image of God is not just in the body and soul, but also in the person’s will, intellect, and freedom, “By virtue of his soul and his spiritual powers of intellect and will, man is endowed with freedom, an ‘outstanding manifestation of the divine image.'” (CCC 1705) The Vatican II document Gaudium Et Spes also concurs, “For its part, authentic freedom is an exceptional sign of the divine image within man. (17) Understanding that the divine image of God is present in each person, St. Faustina helps anyone who comes to the door, “I love all people because I see the image of God in them.” (Diary 373)
The divine image of God was distorted when Adam and Eve committed original sin. In God’s mercy, the divine image of God in our souls has been repaired and healed to its full loveliness. This occurred when Jesus died for us on the cross making us adopted sons and daughters of God. Or, as the Catechism explains, “the divine image, disfigured in man by the first sin, has been restored to its original beauty and ennobled by the grace of God.” (1701) More specifically the divine image of God in each of us is restored at the “sacrament of regeneration” (CCC 1213) as the Rite of Baptism explains, “May all who are buried with Christ in the death of baptism rise also with Him to newness of life.” (Rom 6:3-4; cf. Col 2:12)
Icon of Divine Mercy and St Faustina
St. Faustina’s spiritual director Blessed Michael Sopocko discerns that the “real” image of Divine Mercy is in her soul, and says, “Certainly, paint God’s image in your soul.” (Diary 49) The future Pope Benedict XVI says something similar about painting the interior vision, “The sacredness of the image consists precisely in the fact that it comes from an interior vision and thus leads us to such an interior vision.” (Spirit of the Liturgy) In other words, St. Faustina has a new kind of seeing in which she perceives the mystery of the Invisible God become visible. She is able to see the that we bear within us the image and message of the Resurrection through the “real” image of divine mercy. The “real” image of divine mercy reminds us that, “The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ.” (CCC 638)
Saint Faustina
Finally, as mankind searches for love and identity through engraved tattoos, body piercings, and gender changes, “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,” (Eph.1:18) that “we are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus.” (Eph.2:10) The “real” image of divine mercy in our souls reminds us of our true dignity, and through it He lets us know that He loves us and claims us as His own as when a child is born with a precious family birth mark. More importantly, “The risen Christ lives in the hearts of his faithful,” (CCC 655) so we are to always see His “real” image of divine mercy in everyone as St. Faustina writes, “O God, give me a deeper faith that I may always see in every sister Your Holy Image which has been engraved in her soul.” (Diary 1522) ST. FAUSTINA PRAY FOR US.
Divine Mercy Images
Very nice. I have piercings and tattoos though. I would just like to point out that they are OK with the Church (within reason, and with the usual moral considerations of course.) Just so nobody worries otherwise. <3 Beautiful piece, Deacon Guadalupe.
Deacon Guadalupe- what a great reflection and a profound way of seeing our dignity as sons and daughters of God. The only thing I struggle with is what happens to the divine image inside of us when we sin or have attachments to sin? Does it erase the Divine Image or just obscure it? I would appreciate your thoughts on this.
Dear Steve,
This is a great question. Thank you. 🙂 “Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law…” (CCC 1855) and Mortal sin, “results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace.” (CCC 1861) As far as the three indelible marks that occur at baptism, confirmation, and holy orders, “No sin can erase this mark.” (CCC 1272) St. Faustina says something similar about chosen souls, “In hell, it will suffer more profoundly than other souls, because it knows more fully whom it has lost. This indelible mark of God‟s exclusive love, in the [soul], will not be obliterated.” (Diary 1556)
Is His image in our soul an indelible image? The catechism says that His image, “has been RESTORED to its original beauty and ENNOBLED by the grace of God” (1701). St. Faustina says, “Your Holy Image which has been ENGRAVED…” (Diary 1522) so it appears to be an indelible image that cannot be erased.
I would like to quote Pope Benedict XVI in VERBUM DOMINI when he explains the value of private revelation because I think Jesus is bringing something new to light, “The criterion for judging the truth of a private revelation is its orientation to Christ himself. If it leads us away from him, then it certainly does not come from the Holy Spirit, who guides us more deeply into the Gospel, and not away from it. Private revelation is an aid to this faith, and it demonstrates its credibility precisely because it refers back to the one public revelation. Ecclesiastical approval of a private revelation essentially means that its message contains NOTHING CONTRARY TO FAITH AND MORALS; it is licit to make it public and the faithful are authorized to give to it their prudent adhesion. A PRIVATE REVELATION CAN INTRODUCE NEW EMPHASES, GIVE NEW FORMS OF PIETY, OR DEEPEN OLDER ONES. IT CAN HAVE A CERTAIN PROPHETIC CHARACTER. (cf. 1 Th 5:19-21) and can be a VALUABLE AID for better understanding and living the Gospel at a certain time; CONSEQUENTLY IT SHOULD NOT BE TREATED LIGHTLY. It is a help which is proffered, but its use is not obligatory. In any event, IT MUST BE A MATTER OF NOURISHING THE FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE, which are for everyone the permanent path of salvation. (14) Steve, I hope this helps. Blessings.
Deacon Guadalupe- great explanation- thanks! These articles have been really helpful and have made me want to dive deeper into the Diary of Sister Faustina. I also appreciate what your shared on private revelation – as I am finding it valuable in illuminating and illustrating what is already in Scripture (and in some ways making the truths seem more “personal” and “timely” – if that makes any sense). In your article I especially liked the analogy of the “precious family birthmark”- as I think that’s a great expression of divine filiation which I also think is key to growing in our relationship with God. Very much looking forward to future articles.
Dear Steve,
Yesterday, before going to bed I pulled a book from my library to put myself to sleep, and inside the book was a book mark with the approved devotion to the Holy Face. I think He was trying to speak to me. Jesus says to Sister Maria of St. Peter, “My Face is the Seal of the Divinity, which has the virtue of reproducing in souls the image of God.” http://www.holyfacedevotion.com/revelations.htm
St. Therese’s prayer to the Holy Face says, “…I implore Thee to fix deep within me Thy divine image…” To Blessed Maria Pierina de Micheli, another Holy Face visionary, Jesus says, “I will reprint on it My Image, and render it as beautiful as it was on leaving the Baptismal Font. “http://www.holyface.org.uk/content/srpierina.htm In another passage Jesus tells her, “Who ever gazes upon Me already consoles Me.” http://www.mysticsofthechurch.com/2011/10/maria-pierina-de-micheli-holy-face-of.html
Beautiful. What a great follow-up to the Divine Image discussion and what an amazing devotion! There are so many insights here to be explored and I think this is really going help my interior life. Thank you so much, Deacon.