“Everything that exists is enclosed in the bowels of My mercy, more deeply than an infant in its mother’s womb. How painfully distrust of My goodness wounds Me! Sins of distrust wound Me most painfully.”
Jesus to St. Faustina in n. 1076 Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska
This coming week, we will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, a feast established by Pope St. John Paul II in recognition of Jesus’ request to St. Faustina Kowalska that the first Sunday after Easter honor His Divine Mercy. Divine Mercy has been referred to as the defining characteristic of our time in salvation history. We live in a time of Mercy in which Christ desires His Mercy be adored and venerated above all other attributes. But what does Divine Mercy have to do with our health and wellness? How is it vital for our whole health?
“I desire that there be a Feast of Mercy. I want this image, which you will paint with a brush, to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy.”
Jesus to St. Faustina in n. 49 Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska
Our Own Resurrections
The salvation our Lord won for us on Easter, encompasses not only our souls but our totality in spirit, mind, and body. When Jesus Himself rose from the dead, He did so in Spirit, Mind, and Body, the whole of His humanity. As Catholics we believe in the resurrection of the body, that just as Christ rose from the dead, so will all the faithful who chose Him in this life. We believe that Jesus will redeem our whole selves. Our spirits, minds, and bodies will follow us into eternity as they compose our totality and make us whole persons. Christ came to redeem us wholly!
It follows, we must honor and take care of our whole health in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice and in recognition that we are temples of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies will worship God throughout eternity in union with our spirits and minds, just as they prepare to do so in union with each other on Earth.
We Need Mercy to Live Fully Alive
“Souls who spread the honor of My mercy I shield through their entire lives as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior. At that last hour, a soul has nothing with which to defend itself except My mercy. Happy is the soul that during its lifetime immersed itself in the Fountain of Mercy, because justice will have no hold on it.” —Diary 1075
Jesus to St. Faustina in n. 1075 Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska
Through proper care for our physical bodies we gain greater clarity of mind and control of our human nature. When our physical and mental natures are functioning well, it is much easier to know how to care for our souls. The better we care for ourselves, through sleep, diet, exercise, and prayer, the easier it will be for us to choose the good in all circumstances and choose Christ in this life. Just as caring for the earthly aspects of ourselves will better prepare us for eternity with our Lord, so will disposing ourselves to Divine Mercy allow us to prepare our souls for the moment of death. When our souls are healthy, we are on the path to spend eternity with Love and Mercy Himself!
This week, I encourage you to prayerfully consider Christ’s plea for all to meet Him in the confessional and receive the Eucharist in honor of His Divine Mercy! If you are looking for a community to help encourage you in your whole health journey with Divine Mercy, consider joining the CURO Community!
