MyCatholicSource.com - 'Quick Help' Page: Objections To Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' Feast

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To answer your question: While we wouldn't object to some future legitimate feast honoring God's mercy (especially if other attributes of God received similar honor – and, of course, presuming all elements of the feast were dogmatically sound and had proper balance & focus and were not tied to questionable apparitions), Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast is more complicated than a simple feast honoring God's mercy. Regarding other new feasts throughout history, it isn't surprising if there was some initial resistance. It is traditional (and appropriate) for Catholics to reject novelties. Things must be proved/tested...

"But prove all things: hold fast that which is good." (St. Paul, 1 Thes. 5:21) [DR]

Also translated as...

"Test everything; retain what is good." (St. Paul, 1 Thes. 5:21) [NAB]

As a footnote to the above passage explains, "Prove all things. That is, examine prophecies whether they be true, and the doctrine which you hear from new preachers..."

In Faustina's case, she made various prophecies that did NOT come true. She, in fact, attributed these false prophecies to the Lord – but obviously they were NOT from Him as they did not come true. A feast tied to false apparitions or mistaken 'private revelations' is clearly undesirable, to say the very least (IMHO, harmful is a better word). Furthermore, her feast is associated with her writings which are problematic on their own (e.g. due to errors, contradictions, novelties, etc.). And, IMHO, rightly-thinking Catholics should be concerned from the beginning by alleged apparitions reported by a supposed 'mystic' who believed she heard voices 'in her soul' but was unable to differentiate her imagination from reality. Note that Faustina's 'greatest supporter'* admitted that Faustina "frequently" could not distinguish between what she imagined and what was real (see Fr. Sopocko's memoirs). Not a great basis for this (post-Vatican II) Church feast! [Note: For more information on Faustina's contradictions, errors, false prophecies, etc., try the resources here & try here.]

* Fr. Sopocko was Faustina's 'greatest supporter'. He was also the person who dressed and posed for her dark, heartless 'Divine Mercy' image (that was first painted by a Freemason – an individual who later painted himself as Judas Iscariot). Faustina had claimed the Lord told her that the priest, Fr. Sopocko, would suffer martyrdom, but her alleged 'Jesus' was mistaken, as the priest instead died a natural death. Fr. Sopocko was also the priest who tried, but failed, to make Faustina's vision come true regarding the location of a future religious community that the (erring) Faustina had "unshakable certitude" about based on supposed 'words in her soul'.

In addition, Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast is associated with her troubling image (again, the dark, heartless image painted by a Freemason). One might argue that Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast & the 'Divine Mercy' image are inseparable. Rather than repeating the many concerns about Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' image on this page, please see the following link for more information on this topic: http://MyCatholicSource.com/FDMI

Furthermore, there are a number of other objections one might have concerning Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast. For example...

* The date of the feast presents an issue. As the esteemed Dom Gueranger noted (emphasis added)...

"This Sunday, commonly called with us, Low Sunday, has two names assigned to it in the Liturgy: Quasimodo, from the first word of the Introit; and Sunday in albis (or, more explicitly, in albis depositis,) because it was on this day, that the neophytes assisted at the Church services attired in their ordinary dress. In the Middle-Ages, it was called Close-Pasch, no doubt in allusion to its being the last day of the Easter Octave. Such is the solemnity of this Sunday, that not only is it of a Greater Double rite, but no Feast, however great, can ever be kept upon it."

In fact, for 'divine mercy cult' enthusiasts, Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast – on Low Sunday! – may overshadow Easter, the greatest of all feasts.

* There are troubling aspects to Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast, such as supposed divine 'floodgates' being open only on Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' Sunday and closed for the rest of the year (see illustrative image here). This, of course, is not aligned with true Catholic doctrine in which God is merciful every day of the year.

* Despite the hoopla, there is nothing present on Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' Sunday that is not available on other days. It is equivalent to obtaining a plenary indulgence. One may obtain a plenary indulgence at any time (try here for more information). With Faustina's hyped-up 'Divine Mercy' Feast, there is a real danger that Catholics will fail to seek plenary indulgences on other days, thinking her mercy feast somehow 'outshines' run-of-the-mill plenary indulgences.

* Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast is centered on her questionable alleged visions/voices, rather than on the definitive means of obtaining mercy – particularly note Faustina's almost total lack of emphasis on the Sacrament of Penance for obtaining mercy. Therefore, her mercy feast is deficient as it lacks focus on the actual means provided by God for us to obtain His mercy.

* Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast is associated with her novel – even Protestant – emphasis on 'trusting in mercy' rather than on obtaining mercy from God's priest in the Sacrament of Penance.

* In our age saturated with contraception, abortion, divorce, etc., an 'easy' feast centered on mercy rather than on the consequences of sin may seem ill-advised. Focusing on mercy rather than on repentance & punishment may result in sinners being less likely to make necessary changes in their lives. We need to hear more about repentance, justice & punishment at this time rather than mercy! Remember that our Lord instructs us to enter "through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." (Mt. 7:13-14) And, like it or not, Jesus clearly warns that unrepentant sinners will go into the "unquenchable fire." (see Mk. 9:43)

* Focusing on mercy may foster presumption. Especially since – unlike what we find in Holy Scripture – Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast is NOT focused on repentance or amendment. Her feast instead essentially pretends there is 'free' (repentant-less) mercy that sinners are entitled to.

* Contrary to Scripture, Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast may discourage fear of the Lord as she specifically tells sinners (apparently unrepentant sinners too) not to fear, and she speaks of a 'previously unheard of right to mercy'. In contrast, the Lord Jesus often preached on difficult topics (e.g. hell, sin – try here for some examples) and warns that "whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him" (Jn. 3:36), while St. Peter instructs to "fear God" (1 Pt. 2:17) and St. Paul says to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12) and warns that "If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries." (Heb. 10:26-27)

* Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast also seems contrary to the apparitions at Fatima, where Our Lady warned of chastisements and gave no instruction to preach on 'mercy', even though Faustina lived during the time that the Fatima apparitions occurred.

* Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast may tend to 'caricature' God's mercy, highly over-emphasizing His mercy while highly de-emphasizing His justice/judgment. This is dangerous. As Scripture warns...

"Great as his mercy is his punishment; he judges men, each according to his deeds." (Sirach 16:12)

"Of forgiveness be not overconfident, adding sin upon sin. Say not: 'Great is his mercy; my many sins he will forgive.' For mercy and anger alike are with him; upon the wicked alights his wrath. Delay not your conversion to the LORD, put it not off from day to day; For suddenly his wrath flames forth; at the time of vengeance, you will be destroyed." (Sirach 5:5-9)

"Do not plot to repeat a sin; not even for one will you go unpunished." (Sirach 7:8)

"The LORD is slow to anger, yet great in power, and the LORD never leaves the guilty unpunished." (Nahum 1:3)

"Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt. 7:19)

* Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast is based on Faustina's version of Jesus – a version of Jesus that is 'quite different' than the actual, real Jesus (try here for examples). And her writings are quite unlike those of other female mystics (try here for examples).

* Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' devotion conveniently props up the revolutionary Second Vatican Council that emphasized a supposed 'medicine of mercy' (which, statistically speaking, gravely harmed the Church – try here for some examples). [Note: Also try here for a relevant user-submitted article entitled 'Toxic Mercy'.] Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' devotion was actually (properly!) rejected by the Church prior to the Council (NOT due to translation errors).

* The premise that Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast is "the last hope of salvation", as Faustina claims it is (see her diary, paragraph #965), is ludicrous. If anything, it would seem that our last hope would be to encourage sinners to repent and obtain forgiveness through the Sacrament of Penance. Unfortunately, Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast encourages neither.

* The claims by Faustina that...

- the Lord demands that we worship His mercy through the celebration of her 'Divine Mercy' feast (see her diary, paragraph #742), and...

- that no soul will be justified until it turns with confidence to His mercy (see her diary, paragraph #570), and Faustina further claims that...

- if we don't adore His mercy we will be damned (see her diary, paragraph #965)

...are highly disturbing as the Church is unable to add to the deposit of faith after the death of the Apostles. The supposed 'mystic' who 'frequently' couldn't distinguish between her imagination and reality cannot invent a mortal sin or change the requirements for justification. These are just more examples of false information in Faustina's writings. Along with her contradictions, false prophecies, dogmatic errors... Not to mention the irony of threatening damnation for a brand new 'mortal sin' in a devotion promoting mercy.

* Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast is, regrettably, often foisted on tradition-minded Catholics, but it is (thankfully) not on the traditional calendar. Remember that prior to Vatican II, Faustina's novel writings were (rightly) rejected by the Church (again, NOT due to translation issues). Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast aligns well with the revolutionary Second Vatican Council, but it does NOT fit very well with Catholic tradition. It has no proper place in the traditional calendar.

Ultimately, there is a huge distinction between Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast and other feasts that were introduced throughout the history of the Church. They should not be lumped together as if they were all equivalent. This is a simple logical fallacy. Faustina's feast is NOT a mere feast honoring God's mercy, but rather a feast that fosters the propagation of false information & errors – a feast which therefore can be dangerous, and which may lead Catholics towards presumption and favoring Protestantism. And, furthermore, perhaps it might seem a bit disingenuous / misleading when some compare Faustina's feast & her canonization to other feasts & canonized saints. Faustina's alleged 'revelations' aren't really similar to other saints as hers focus so much on herself. For example, consider these passages in Faustina's diary in which the Lord supposedly lavished her with exceptional praises & benefits...

- the Lord supposedly called Faustina "a sweet grape in a chosen cluster" and He supposedly said that He wants "others to have a share in the juice that is flowing within [her]" (Faustina's Diary, #393)

- the Lord supposedly said that Faustina has "first place among the virgins" (Faustina's Diary, #282)

- the Lord supposedly said that His gaze rests kindly upon Faustina "before any other creature" (Faustina's Diary, #1700)

- the Lord supposedly united Himself "so intimately [with Faustina] as with no other creature" (Faustina's Diary, #707)

- Faustina even says God granted her "the grace of [His] omnipotence [!]" (Faustina's Diary, #2)

- And Faustina claims that "...in one moment, I come to know the entire essence [!] of God." (Faustina's Diary, #770)

...yet she 'frequently' was not able to distinguish between her imagination and reality and often claims to hear voices 'in her soul'. Clearly there is no real way to authenticate her extraordinary statements (some of which are obviously false) or any way to verify that the 'voices' in her head were heavenly (demonstrably many could NOT have been divinely inspired since God cannot err).

In truth, this particular feast is not like the others and it deserves – for many good reasons – to be objected to. It seems that many who so strongly adhere to this devotion are the ones who may be resistant to facts (try here for more on this topic). It is not those who perceive obvious problems with Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast that are the unenlightened ones. Those knowing the particulars about Faustina's writings and who take issue with this feast are neither ignorant nor improperly resistant. This feast is simply NOT like other feasts. Lumping this feast together with others throughout history as if they were equivalent is patently unacceptable. Doing so might be an easy/lazy way for some people to avoid an uncomfortable reality-based discussion, but it can't change the truth or make Faustina's problematic claims authentic.

And in closing, remember that Faustina's 'Divine Mercy' feast/devotion and her alleged apparitions are NOT matters of infallibility (try here for more on this topic) and, arguably, neither is canonization (try here for more on this subject).

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching." (St. Paul, Heb. 13:8-9)

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