The Commission
In 1931 Our Lord appeared to St Faustina in a vision. He instructed her to paint the Divine Mercy image according to how He appeared to her.
She recorded the vision in her diary:
“In the evening, when I was in my cell, I saw the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand [was] raised in the gesture of blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From beneath the garment, slightly drawn aside at the breast, there were emanating two large rays, one red, the other pale… After a while, Jesus said to me, “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 then throughout the world.” (Diary 47)
What does the Image mean?
When St Faustina asked what the rays meant, Christ replied:
“The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls… Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter.” (Diary 299)
The words on the image, Jesus I Trust in You, remind us to trust completely in Him and to show mercy to others. Jesus said:
“[The image] is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy,because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works.” (Diary 742)
My gaze from this image is like My gaze from the cross.” (Diary 326) “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)
Promises of the Image
Christ revealed to St Faustina special graces He wished to grant through this image. He said:
“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)
Devotion to the Divine Mercy image joins confident prayer with acts of mercy. Jesus attached the to this devotion several promises. He promised the grace of salvation, growth in Christian perfection, and the grace of a happy death. Christ also promised temporal blessings and other graces to those who ask with trust while practicing mercy.
Different Versions of the Image
The Original Image
Eugene Kazimirowski painted the original image. Today, it hangs in the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Divine Mercy Shrine in Vilnius.
In 1937 the image was installed in the Church of St. Michael, Vilnius. When Soviet authorities occupied Lithuania in 1938, they closed the church. The image remained inside until 1951. Two women purchased it from a guard and kept it in their attic for several years. Later they gave it to the parish priest of the Dominican Church of the Holy Spirit. He stored it in the church but never displayed it.
Fr Sopoćko, St Faustina’s spiritual director, heard about this and requested that his friend, Józef Grasewicz, obtain the image. He did and placed it in his parish church in Nova Ruda, Belarus. In 1970, the Soviets closed this church and used it as a storage warehouse. The image was left hanging, where it was venerated by locals in secret. By 1986 Józef Grasewicz arranged for the image to be replaced with a replica. In this way he secretly transported to the Church of the Holy Spirit in Vilnius.
The Hyła Image
In 1943, five years after St. Faustina’s death, people lost track of the original image. Around this time, painter Adolf Hyła visited the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. He wished to paint a gift in thanksgiving for his family’s survival of World War II. The sisters suggested he paint an image of Divine Mercy. They gave him St. Faustina’s description and a replica of the original. Under the guidance of Józef Andrasz, another of St. Faustina’s spiritual directors, Hyła painted not a replica but a new version. In 1944 he completed the painting. The sisters installed it in their Kraków chapel, where people still venerate it today.
Which Image is the Best?
Since this time there have been many versions of the image created. Christ revealed, however, that the painting itself was not the most important aspect. When St. Faustina first saw the original image she wept in disappointment. She complained to Jesus saying “Who will paint You as beautiful as You are?” (Diary 313).
In answer, she heard these words: “Not in the beauty of the colour, nor of the brush lies the greatness of this image, but in My grace” (Diary 313).
We believe that the image of Divine Mercy should be displayed in every home. You can find a variety of Divine Mercy images to purchase on our site. If you have a version that you like that is not on our site, please reach out. Also if you would like a larger size please send us an email and we would love to assist you.