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St. Faustina's mission had already begun in 1931 when our Lord appeared to her in a vision. She saw Jesus clothed in a white garment. His right hand raised in blessing, while the left was touching his garment at the breast, where two large rays came forth, one red, the other pale.
The Image of Divine Mercy
Sister gazed intently at the Lord in silence, her soul filled with fear, but also with great joy, Jesus said to her:
Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscription: JESUS I TRUST IN YOU. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I myself will defend it as My own glory... I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the inscription: JESUS I TRUST IN YOU. I desire that this image be venerated first in your chapel and [then] throughout the world. (I, 18, 138)
At the request of her spiritual director, St. Faustina asked the Lord about the meaning of the rays on the image. She heard these words in reply:
The two rays denote Blood and Water - the pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous; the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays are issued forth from the depths of My most tender mercy when My agonizing heart was opened by a lance on the cross... Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him.
The very first image painted under St. Faustina's personal direction is believed to be kept in a little church behind the Iron Curtain, and so, practically inaccessible.
When the Holy Shroud of Turin was overlayed with the Oringinal Image of The Divine Mercy, they realized the two images were an exact match. The Scientist conducting the testing on the two images converted from being an Atheist to Catholicism.
The Hour of Divine Mercy: 3:00 O' Clock
"Our Lord asked for special prayer at the hour that recalls His death:
"At three o'clock implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion. This is the hour of great mercy. In this hour I will refuse nothing of the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion." (Diary, 1320)
Short prayers for use at the Hour of Great Mercy:
"You expired Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fountain of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us." (Diary, 1319)
"O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us, I trust in You." (Diary, 73)