The Power of the Spiritual Works of Mercy

Today is Saint Faustina's very special feast day, October 5, the day she died in 1938. By the accounts of those who were with her, she died in the radiant peace of God. She suffered a great deal in life and at death, but death could not bind her love of God, nor lessen the power and grace given to her through the Almighty, that her life was a sacrifice of mercy for each of us. Read these passages from her diary about a year before her death. These are Jesus' words to us on the importance of being merciful. As we are merciful to others, that is how God is merciful to us. So be generous with your mercy even when it's hard.

October 1, 1937. Daughter, I need sacrifice lovingly accomplished, because that alone has meaning for Me. Enormous indeed are the debts of the world which are due to Me; pure souls can pay them by their sacrifice, exercising mercy in spirit. (Diary entry 1316)

I understand Your words, Lord, and the magnitude of the mercy that ought to shine in my soul. Jesus: I know, My daughter, that you understand it and that you do everything within your power. But write this for the many souls who are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permission nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul. If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy. (Diary entry 1317)

So what can we do? It's not too hard. PRACTICE THE CORPORAL AND SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY. Jesus tells Saint Faustina that spiritual mercy carries more merit and can be achieved by everyone.