Mercy

Mercy is the loving compassion of God toward sinners and the suffering — his willingness to forgive, to restore, and to draw the broken back to himself. It is not weakness but the expression of God's love confronting human misery. "His mercy endures forever" (Psalm 136; CCC 1846).

Mercy as a Divine Attribute

Mercy is one of God's most characteristic attributes in Scripture. The Hebrew word hesed — covenant love, steadfast mercy — describes God's faithfulness to his people despite their sin. The New Testament reveals the fullness of mercy in Christ: "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16). The entire history of salvation is the history of God's mercy triumphing over human sin (CCC 1846).

Mercy and Justice

Divine mercy does not contradict divine justice — it fulfills it. In the cross, God's mercy and justice meet perfectly: the full weight of sin's consequences falls on Christ, and the full gift of God's forgiveness is extended to humanity. Mercy does not excuse sin; it redeems it (CCC 1992).

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Jesus's parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32) is the supreme portrait of divine mercy — the Father who runs to meet the returning son, who restores his dignity without a word of reproach, who throws a feast at his return. This is the face of God that Jesus reveals (CCC 1439).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Divine Mercy devotion? The Divine Mercy devotion, revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s and approved by the Church, centers on trust in God's mercy and the image of Christ with rays of light flowing from his heart. The Feast of Divine Mercy is celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter. The devotion does not add new revelation but deepens the Church's meditation on Scripture's teaching on mercy (CCC 2447).