6 SAINTS WHO LEAD A LIFE OF THE APOSTLESHIP OF DIVINE MERCY

Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Teresa of Lisieux, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, Saint John Paul II and Saint Faustina Kowalska / Credits - ACI Prensa

The devotion to Divine Mercy, whose feast we celebrate on the first Sunday after Easter, brings thousands of Catholics together from all over the world, who, in addition to entrusting themselves to the merciful love of God, strive like the saints to imitate this virtue with the neighbor.

In a recent National Catholic Register article, Joseph Pronechen, a Catholic writer and author of the book Fruits of Fatima - Century of Signs and Wonders,

"The saints teach us that we can all follow Jesus' directives to practice mercy: among the poor, in hospitals and among the afflicted, in the confessional, in a cloister or at the door of a convent," he said.

Here are six saints who embodied mercy and who can help you on your path to holiness:

1. Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska
Pronechen recalled that Christ revealed himself in visions to Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, called the "Messenger of Mercy", and asked her to show the world his Divine Mercy for the salvation of souls.

She narrated in her diary that Christ, "disguised as a poor young man", revealed himself to her and after asking for and eating a bowl of soup, revealed to her "that he was the Lord of heaven and earth" and disappeared. Later, the saint wrote that she heard the following words of Jesus in her heart:
“My daughter, the blessings of the poor who bless me as I leave this door have reached my ears. And your compassion, within the bounds of obedience, has pleased me, and that is why I came down from my throne: to taste the fruits of your mercy,” she wrote.
Pronechen said that the saint mercifully served her neighbor from the simplest activity: being a porter at the door of the convent; and that Jesus taught him that "you can do good always and everywhere and at all times" through three concrete ways: with deeds, words and prayer.

“The fullness of mercy is contained in these three degrees, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul is glorified and makes reverence for my mercy”, said Jesus to Saint Faustina.

2. Pope Saint John Paul II
Pronechen noted that in recent decades, along with Saint Faustina Kowalska, Pope Saint John Paul II is one of "the two great lights spreading the fire of Divine Mercy throughout the world."

Saint John Paul II, who was very devoted to Divine Mercy, published in 1980 his encyclical letter entitled "Dives in Misericordia", where he encourages the faithful to return their gaze to the mystery of God's merciful love. In addition, he beatified and canonized Saint Faustina Kowalska and instituted Divine Mercy Sunday.

In the homily for the canonization of Saint Faustina, on April 30, 2000, Saint John Paul II said that Christ "bowed down over all kinds of human, material and spiritual poverty" and that his example "led to the 'works of mercy 'spiritual and corporal', which is “a concrete way of being 'neighbor' to the most needy brothers and sisters”.

Christ taught that "man not only receives and experiences God's mercy, but is also called to practice mercy towards others: 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,'" said the saint.

3.  Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Pronechen said that Saint Teresa of Calcutta lived the mercy of Jesus in her service to the world's poorest, for example, she used to “pick up the dying and the poor literally from the sewers” ​​and did everything with joy.

The saint used to call “Jesus in disguise” all the poor she served; she always "treated them with great kindness and dignity, she fed them and nursed them as they lay dying, and she truly put into action the corporal works of mercy," Pronechen said.

Also, he used to encourage others to do the same in his own way. “Calcutta is everywhere, if only we had eyes to see. Find your Calcutta,” she said. “Speak to them tenderly. May there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Always have a cheerful smile. Give not only your care, but also your heart,” she noted.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta used to say that “Jesus made it very clear: everything you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me. You give a glass of water and you give it to me. You receive a small child, and you receive me.”

4.  Saint Catherine of Siena
Pronechen said that Saint Catherine of Siena , declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Saint Paul VI, served the poor with great mercy at 33, the same age that Saint Faustina Kowalska died.

She used to patiently give advice and pray "for endless queues of troubled people." Her fame was so great that "three priests were assigned full time to hear the confessions of those she advised", and she was even "adviser to Popes".

Like other saints, Saint Catherine cared for the sick and fed the elderly. She fearlessly cared for those struck by a plague in 1374, "consoling the dying and burying the dead," Pronechen said. "Many times her acts of mercy included the miraculous: God multiplied the food in her hands," she added.

Pronechen recounted that the saint once cared for a leprous woman who had been “banished from the city” because of her illness, and who was later “converted through the prayer and patient assistance of Catherine.” Like her, "many others were converted" because of her prayers and sacrifices, she added.

5.  Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
Pronechen said that St. Pio of Pietrelcina was an example of “mercy in forgiveness”, as he relentlessly confessed countless repentant sinners who came to him. The saint absolved penitents in the confessional "for 12 hours" every day, he said.

On the day of Saint Pio's canonization on June 16, 2002, Saint John Paul II said in his homily that "Padre Pio was a generous dispenser of divine mercy", while at the same time he knew he needed the mercy of Christ . He used to say: Jesus "has forgotten my sins, and I would say that he only remembers his own mercy," Pronechen said.

6.  Saint Therese of Lisieux
Pronechen recalled that Saint Teresa of Lisieux liked the mercy of Christ and practiced this virtue in small daily tasks. "How happy I am to see myself imperfect and in need of God's mercy," the young nun used to say.

In the book "History of a soul", written by the saint, she said that she dedicated herself to practicing "small acts of virtue that are quite hidden", for example, she said that she liked "folding the cloaks forgotten by the sisters, and she was looking for a thousand opportunities to serve them.

“I must seek the company of those sisters whom according to nature I like least. I must fulfill with them the office of the Good Samaritan,” she wrote. "A word, a kind smile, will often be enough to gladden a wounded and grieving heart," she added.

The saint promised that from heaven she would let fall "a shower of roses on earth" and so it was, because today "she continues to perform acts of mercy for countless souls," said Pronechen.