divine mercy icon

Divine Mercy Icon to Travel around Diocese

By Henrietta Gomes
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the Issue of 4/12/07)

After hearing about the prayer efforts to heal families implemented by Bishop Jerzy Mazur of the Diocese of Elk in Poland, Thérèse Bermpohl felt encouraged to take on a similar project. Bermpohl, director of the Office for Family Life, commissioned a painting of Divine Mercy, which will embark on a journey throughout the diocese.
The icon, as it is often referred to because of its elements of the Eastern iconoclasm, will travel to diocesan parishes where it will remain for one week. During that week, parishioners will be invited to unite their prayers for healing of families in the diocese.
The pilgrimage of the icon will start on the feast of Divine Mercy on April 15 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington where it will be blessed by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde.
The project is a labor of love and prayer, said Bermpohl, who envisioned a systematic prayer effort akin to what Bishop Mazur had done with a traveling image of Divine Mercy. She noted that the artist of the painting created for the diocese, Anna Sekowska, prayed and fasted during the process while keeping in mind all those who would look upon the image. Reiterating the words of the late Holy Father John Paul II in his encyclical “Dives in Misericordie,” Bermpohl said, “This culture is uniquely in need of the mercy of God…” She said, “Mercy can transform hearts, and people are longing for healing.” Regarding the image, she said, “Here is the Lord reaching out in Mercy to forgive.” Healing comes from forgiveness and in a time where assaults on families are so prevalent, it is important to unite prayers to achieve the healing of families, Bermpohl said.
Recounting the words of Jesus to St. Faustina Kowalska, the polish nun to whom the Lord appeared, Bermpohl said, “The picture itself will serve as a vessel of grace.” In one of the many apparitions to St. Faustina in the 1930s, Jesus asked her to have his image painted as He appeared to her. The polish nun described the image to an artist and had a painting created. According to her diary, St. Faustina wept when she saw the completed painting because the image did not depict Jesus as beautiful as she had seen Him.
In the image of Divine Mercy, rays of red and white shine forth from the heart of Jesus. The rays represent blood and water, which gushed forth from His side at the crucifixion. His face is resplendent with a bright glow, and His hands and feet show His wounds from the nails. The words “Jesus I trust in You” are found at the bottom of the image. The Divine Mercy image is a sign of hope and trust in the mercy of God, the message Jesus revealed to St. Faustina to spread to the world. The original painting is housed in the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow.
According to Bermpohl, 33 parishes have agreed to host the icon. Five smaller images of Divine Mercy will go to five families in the parish, who promise to pray one rosary and one Divine Mercy chaplet each day while the image is in their possession. The prayers are to be offered for peace and healing of families in the diocese. The parishes are encouraged to invite parishioners to pray in front of the image.
The Office for Family Life will also provide each parish with 1,000 prayer cards with the same Divine Mercy image for parishioners to encourage families to join in the pilgrimage.
The prayer effort for healing is sponsored by the Office for Family Life and is in accord with John Paul II’s desire to pray for peace in families, said Bermpohl. Stressing the importance of unified prayers, Bermpohl said while action is needed, the faithful should not disregard the profound impact of prayer.
For more information call 703/841-2550.

Henrietta Gomes can be reached at hgomes@catholicherald.com