The Image of the Merciful Jesus is the distinctive sign of Divine Mercy. Through this image, Jesus Christ wishes to make the infinite Divine Mercy visible, present and ever current for us. The image represents the infinite Mercy of the One and Triune God, revealed through Jesus Christ. For this reason, it may be referred to interchangeably as the Image of “Divine Mercy”, “the Merciful Jesus”, or “Jesus Divine Mercy”.

The Lord desired to be portrayed and to bestow special graces through this representation of Himself. The image is the result of an explicit request from the Lord, contains promises for those who venerate it, and has a profound connection with the Feast of Divine Mercy.

Jesus’ request to Sister Faustina to have an image painted took place during a vision on 22 February 1931, in the cell of the Polish religious sister during her time at the convent in Plock, Poland.

“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. In silence I kept my gaze fixed on the Lord; my soul was struck with awe, but also with great joy. 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.” (Saint Faustina Diary, 47).

There, Jesus also told her: “I want this image […] to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy” (Diary, 49). Jesus requested that the words “Jesus, I trust in You” should be clearly placed on the image (cf. Diary, 47 and 327).

Later, the Lord explained to Sister Faustina the meaning of the rays:

“These two rays issued forth from the very depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. These rays shield souls from the wrath of My Father. Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him.” (Saint Faustina Diary, 299).

The first image was painted in the city of Vilnius in 1934 by the artist Eugene Kazimirowski. After seeing that the painting failed to fully express the beauty of Christ through the artist’s brush, Sister Faustina became distressed and wept. However, Jesus told her:

“Not in the beauty of the colour, nor of the brush lies the greatness of this image, but in My grace.” (Saint Faustina Diary, 313).

Our Lord Jesus Christ also desired that the image be publicly venerated and that all people would have access to it (cf. Diary, 341 and 570). Since then, many versions of the image have spread throughout the world, based on the vision Sister Faustina received in Plock.

The image is both a sign and a visual summary of the entire message of God’s Mercy, as the Lord wished to communicate it through Saint Faustina. On the one hand, it reminds us of the mystery revealed in Sacred Scripture: God’s merciful love towards humanity. On the other hand, it calls us to trust in God and to practise works of mercy towards others. It is also like a vessel through which we may obtain the graces that Jesus promised to grant.

Promises and Requirements

The Lord promises great gifts to the devotees of this image:

“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.” (Saint Faustina Diary, 48).

“By means of this Image I shall be granting many graces to souls; so let every soul have access to it.” (Saint Faustina Diary, 570).

“…Through the veneration of the image which is painted. By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works.” (Saint Faustina Diary, 742).

For those who correctly venerate the image — with trust in God and through works of mercy — the Lord promises great progress on the path towards Christian perfection, the granting of all the graces and temporal benefits that people ask of God, the grace of a good death, and eternal salvation.

The phrase may be written either as “Jesus, I trust in You” or “Jesus, I trust in Thee”, with or without a comma after “Jesus”. The essential point is to preserve what the Lord requested: fidelity to the message entrusted to Saint Faustina and unity with the Church, which has approved this new external form of devotion to Divine Mercy.