Łagiewniki – the School of Hope
Fr. IRENEUSZ SKUBIŚ
Our thoughts and heartfelt interest have been directed towards Łagiewniki in Krakow recently, where the Second World Congress of Divine Mercy was held and attended by about 2 thousand representatives of 68 countries in the world. For, Łagiewniki is a place marked with a great truth about Divine Mercy by Jesus Christ who passed it to the humble sister Faustyna Kowalska. Blessed priest Michał Sopoćko, a confessor of s. Faustyna, understood it well and did not allow for blurring the truth. And then Blessed Polish Pope showed it again to the world in our times. So, it comes from Kraków what we say, ‘the spark of Divine Mercy’ which kindles the whole world with hope. And it has just been a theme of the congress this year – ‘Divine Mercy – the source of hope’. Today Divine Mercy becomes a leading theme not only in the Catholic theology in the world but also a purpose of great pastoral aspirations. Therefore, we should resort to Divine Mercy, finding it as a medicament for complicated human problems.
‘Dives in misericordia’ – ‘Rich in Mercy’ – as John Paul II said – ‘God is extremely close to the man. His mercy is a base to understand the whole mission of Jesus Christ, His life, death and Resurrection’, as Cardinal Christoph Schonborn from Vienna emphasized in one of the congress lectures. For, mercy is the love which transcends any differences and conditions. It is rescue for those who got lost on their life paths and even turned away from God. It is a belief that although evil is present all over the world – the last word will not belong to it. John Paul II confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions of s. Faustyna, and he also showed the contemporary world the God whose love to the man is boundless. And he orders us to look at the face of Jesus Christ – a real man and a real God who gives us an example how we should live in order to become similar to Him. And Jesus shows his disciples his hurt Heart from which an abundant stream of mercy flows out, and he orders them to act similarly. This mercy is a feature which distinguishes the community of Church among other communities which makes us open to another man although we differ from each other. For, we know that not education, or money or welfare redeem the world but love, unconditional love. Each of us is capable of this love but we must wake it up in ourselves and we must realize its necessity and importance. The purpose of the congress in Krakow is to help everybody in better understanding the essence of Divine Mercy and achieving more excellence in showing our mercy. This great virtue should be kindled in human hearts to cure divisions, put out destructive jealousy and criticism. God does not accuse anybody. It is the man who gives a suitable opinion about himself for his own behaviour. However, as long as he lives, he can change it into the better one. But he must understand it.
‘Jesus, I trust you’ – is a gift whose purpose is to prepare the mankind for the re-coming of the Lord Jesus. This is what s. Faustyna wanted to tell us through Fr. Michał Sopoćko and later John Paul II – great apostles of Divine Mercy. This message, as we can see, is universal, reaches to people of different culture and causes a stir, because it strikes at the very essence of humanity. Here we are not divided.
(AA)
"Niedziela" 42/2011