What Does mercy Mean
Mercy is a term that comes from Latin and refers to a virtue of spirit that leads human beings to feel sorry for the miseries of others. It is a kind attitude that, in general, a wealthy person can show towards someone who has more needs than they, or a subject who has been offended towards their offender.
For Christianity, mercy is a divine attribute understood as synonymous with consideration, kindness and forgiveness, which the faithful ask of God so that he may have mercy for their sins and disobedience. It is a term deeply linked to Christian precepts, present both in numerous passages in the Bible and in liturgical songs, as well as in the names of monuments and cathedrals.
According to the words of Jesus , man must be merciful to those around him if he expects to be treated in the same way. Some concepts that express opposite ideas are resentment, revenge and contempt, among other attitudes and feelings considered negative.
It is important to point out that mercy can be expressed in various ways, both through material and spiritual means ; In other words, offering food, shelter, or clothing to those in need is a work of mercy, just as it is teaching those who do not have access to formal education, comforting a grieving person, or forgiving other people's mistakes. Other actions that respond to this attitude, although perhaps less evident, are the prayers and the burial of the deceased.
The mistake is often made of confusing mercy with pity, even if it is two very different concepts. Feeling sorry for another person is not a persistent attitude of the personality, but a fleeting sensation; Furthermore, it does not entail a kind action to end the problems of others, but rather remains in reflection about them.
Other uses of the term mercy are linked to a piece present in the seats of the choirs of the churches that allow to rest concealed and to the dagger that the knights of the Middle Ages used to kill their enemies.
Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy is in principle the devotion that Christians feel for God's mercy, trusting that he sacrificed himself for the sins of his followers. Through this delivery, the Church guarantees the faithful that their faults will be forgiven by Jesus, not through a trial, but as a gesture that symbolizes salvation .
It is also about the lifestyle proposed by Christianity, expressed through interior actions (such as faith in God and his promises) and exterior actions : the worship of religious symbols , the repetition of certain prayers (such as the so-called crown ), merciful and compassionate acts towards others and the performance of certain celebrations (such as the feast of Divine Mercy).
Regarding this feast , which is among the list of celebrations of the liturgy declared official by the Catholic Church, it is celebrated on the Sunday that follows Easter and recalls the promise that Jesus made to Saint Faustina Kowalska , a nun from Polish origin, to be merciful to her. On the same day, he assured that he would forgive all sinners who decided to approach him for confession and communion.
This Christian devotion stems from Faustina's own experiences, which she recorded in her private diary. These are stories about their encounters with Jesus, in which they spoke of very deep and revealing themes. Its pages were rescued and propagated as a result of the various exiles that took place in the middle of the Second World War.