A Painting and A Purpose

This weekend this year reminds me of a painting.
The story behind this painting (an oil painting, I might add) begins sometime back in the 1960's or maybe even earlier. My Aunt Agnes and Uncle Bill became aware of a devotion at that time unfamiliar to very many. It was Devotion to the Mercy of Jesus. They felt it to be very important, so much so that they began doing whatever they could to introduce others to it.
Want a Divine Mercy holy card? Here, have this one!
Want a pamphlet explaining the devotion and its history and meaning? Here, have this one!
A pamphlet with appropriate prayers? Here you go!
They became "missionaries for Mercy."
Aunt Agnes passed away in the mid 1970's. To honor her memory and also to further her dedication to that Mission of Mercy, Uncle Bill commissioned a New York artist to do an oil painting of the Mercy of Jesus.
That work is splendid!
When it was finished, Uncle Bill took it to his parish church. The plan was for it to be displayed in the place where the two of them prayed and worshipped and to encourage others to discover this movement.
The gift was turned down. No place for it! No need for it!
The painting went back with Uncle Bill.
Eventually he sold his house and moved into a condo and the painting went with him.
He joined a parish nearby and again offered the painting as gift there.
Again the rejection! No place for it! No need for it!
It went back with him to the condo where for years it hung on a wall opposite his front door. Anyone coming to that front door would be greeted by the image of Divine Mercy.
The years passed.
In 2002 I became pastor of St. Aidan Parish in Livonia.
A while after, some of us gathered to celebrate Uncle Bill's birthday. At that gathering I spoke with him privately, asking if he might consider loaning me the painting for Lent/Easter to introduce the devotion to the parish.
Needless to say, he was thrilled!
When I journeyed across town to pick up the painting, it was ready, all carefully wrapped for the journey to St. Aidan.
I assured my uncle that it would be returned after the Easter Season ended.
When Pentecost arrived, the painting came down and was packed for its journey back to its home of many years. We had a family gathering a few days later and Uncle Bill was there. He asked to see the church and specifically the place where the painting had hung.
I showed him and as I did, I could see a glow on his face.
"Put it back," he told me!
"Let it stay."
But he added that he was not giving it to the parish. He was giving it to me as a trust for my care. One stipulation was added. It should never end up in an attic or a basement!
When I retired, the painting came with me. However, I just knew it was not meant to be on some wall in my residence. Its very purpose was to draw others to the Mercy of Jesus. I needed to find a proper home.
Soon after retiring I began almost weekly trips to Oxford to stay for a few days and serve as a sort of part-time chaplain to a group of Dominican Sisters there.
Our family had longstanding ties with this community. They ministered in the parish where I grew up and taught in our parish school. I, my siblings and most cousins were taught by them. Even some of my mother's younger sisters were taught by them. As family and parish community we made  trips to Oxford for pilgrimages, for festivals and for retreats.
Oxford would make a fitting "home" for the painting and so it was placed there where it still occupies a place of honor drawing others to know Divine Mercy.
And on the Easter of the year that this painting found its "home," the Oxford Dominicans joined with several other Dominican communities to become the Dominican Sisters of Peace!
They are now a community dedicated to building true Peace.
The tale of this painting reflects the story of the growth of this devotion.
For years it was hidden, obscure save for people like Aunt Agnes and Uncle Bill.
Then the Spirit blessed us with a Cardinal from Poland who became Bishop of Rome.
He knew first hand of this devotion. The name "Faustina" was a familiar one to him
He eye-witnessed war and the ugliness it holds. He knew of oppression and persecution and genocide.
He knew the ugliness of hate.
And that told him of our need for Mercy and for being a People of Mercy.
And so we now have a great feast, a solemnity, the Solemnity of the Divine Mercy.
This Feast, like that certain oil painting, calls us to be a people who long to replace hate and vengeance with mercy and healing.
And in our lives, as followers of the Merciful One, we work to embody mercy.
"Peace be with you!"was the Risen Lord's Easter greeting!
This is God's intent for all of us.