Why Mercy Still Matters

Why Mercy Still Matters

By Colleen Dean, Contributing Writer

You may have seen the trend going around—2026 is the new 2016. People are sharing memories that capture how much life has changed in ten years, while reminiscing about the “good old days” that now feel so recent.

In keeping with this spirit, let us reflect on the year 2016 in the Catholic Church. Pope Francis declared it a Jubilee Year of Mercy, calling the Church to a deeper devotion to Divine Mercy through St. Faustina Kowalska. Holy Doors of Mercy were opened in Rome and dioceses around the world, and the Holy Father emphasized the spiritual and corporal works of mercy as acts of the highest love and the fullest expression of God’s Mercy.

St. Faustina is in many ways a modern saint, though her canonization in 2000 was presided over by a pope who has now himself been canonized. Saints like Sister Faustina, Carlo Acutis, and Pier Giorgio Frassati mark a unique era in the Church’s history by attracting an increasing number of young people to embrace the faith. Because of this, our approach to Divine Mercy must adapt to meet the needs of a new generation.

St. Faustina was a humble Polish nun, never one to think highly of herself, and certainly not feeling worthy to be the mystic chosen by God to spread the message and image of His Divine Mercy throughout the world.

But it is in our unworthiness that God enters in and reveals just how vital His Mercy is. And it begins with us.

Mercy for Oneself

In St. Faustina’s Diary, Jesus says:

My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world. Who can measure the extent of my goodness? . . . Come, then, with trust to draw graces from this fountain. I never reject a contrite heart. Your misery has disappeared in the depths of My mercy. Do not argue with Me about your wretchedness. You will give me pleasure if you hand over to me all your troubles and griefs. I shall heap upon you the treasures of My grace. (1485)

God sees the darkest parts of our hearts, the depths of our souls that we are too afraid and ashamed to show anyone. And He loves us through it all.

This self-love is a particular struggle for younger generations today, amidst a growing mental health crisis marked by anxiety, depression, isolation, not to mention disorders affirmed and uplifted by society. In a world that often misunderstands or dismisses suffering, an authentic Catholic community is more important than ever as the pathway to healing and Heaven.

When we reject God’s Mercy, we reject the possibility of union with Him. It is not enough to confess our sins. The final part of the Sacrament of Confession is to do penance—a promise to God that we accept His Merciful Love and will strive to avoid sinful habits that draw us further away from Him.

And this is important, because only once we receive His Mercy ourselves can we help others do the same.

Mercy for Others

It is easy to brush off a tense situation with someone with a phrase like, “Oh, it’s no problem” or “Don’t worry about it.”

But it’s much harder to say to a friend, “That was really hurtful” or “I’m struggling right now.”

Showing that side of vulnerability acknowledges our imperfections and reminds us that we are all God’s children, equally deserving of His Mercy. In this age of social media exploitation, many have lost what it means to sit with discomfort. Having a genuine heart-to-heart with someone sitting across from us requires patience, courage, but most of all, being present to our neighbor in their openness, no matter how uncomfortable it may feel.

As Jesus told St. Faustina:

I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. (Diary, 742)

We are called not just to share the message of mercy with others but live it out in our every deed as a witness. When we draw on the mercy God has bestowed upon us, it empowers us to pour forgiveness out to those who hurt us most. We cannot pour from an empty cup, but when we place our trust in Him, forgiveness flows more readily to our lips.

Mercy for the World

If one thing is clear today, it is that the world desperately needs God’s Mercy.

St. Faustina lived in Poland during the turbulent 1930s, often reflecting in her diary on the need for His Mercy in a world fractured by war, violence, and a loss of faith. To be Catholic in this period of history meant practicing the faith amidst political instability, not to mention the looming threat of persecution. St. Faustina, and others with her, stayed true to God, trusting that His Mercy would heal all who were most in need of it.

In 1937, Jesus spoke to her, saying:

Today I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart. I use punishment when they themselves force Me to do so; My hand is reluctant to take hold of the sword of justice. Before the Day of Justice, I am sending the Day of Mercy. (Diary 1588).

Even today, when our world continues to wrestle with polarization and violence, what we need more than justice or judgment is mercy—specifically, God’s Mercy. Only through His forgiveness does the Divine Physician heal our broken world. While anger and strife flood headlines and social media, mercy endures above all.

And when we draw upon His Mercy, Heaven rejoices as one more sinner is drawn back to the Lord in love.

Visit thedivinemercy.org to learn more about St. Faustina, discover the free Divine Mercy App and receive free daily Divine Mercy reflections from St. Faustina’s Diary.

Purchase the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska here from Ignatius Press.

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Colleen Dean is passionate about evangelizing secular culture through the written word. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Catholic Studies from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Her work has been published in The Washington Examiner, The College Fix, and Lone Conservative.

Colleen lives in Ohio with her husband and son. In her free time, she enjoys exploring nature and spending time with her family.