"MADONNA OF THE TEAR" (painting attached here) and devotion to The Divine Mercy

Theme of this painting:

"Your own heart a sword shall pierce."

Angel Gabriel to Mary: "You will be covered by the Power of The
Most High, and you will bear a Son, whom you will name Jesus."

Prophesy of St. Simeon, at time of the Presentation of Jesus in
the temple: "He will be cause for the rise and fall of many, and
will be a sign that will be opposed. And your own heart a sword
shall pierce."

I had obtained post card size copies (magazine page glossy
quality) many years back from a group called "Catholics United
for Life" based in New Hope, Kentucky.   Parallel to their work
is a small group founded by one Father Klyber (very elderly, I
am sure he is now deceased.  Fr. Klyber was a religious Jew,
later converted to Catholicism and Catholic priesthood.  He made
it a life mission to try and convert Jews into practicing,
devoted Catholics.  How this painting fits in scripturally?
Well, when Christ came into the world, the Jews received him
not.  And with this Epiphany, it was instead the Gentiles who
brought His message throughout the world to total strangers.

Here in America, where we see the dearth of Catholic religious
vocations, the above scene strikes a tender chord.  Christ was a
sign that was opposed, both by His own people, the Jewish
clerics, and by the political authorities.

In theory, anyway, the Jews still await the God-inspired
"Messiah."  But let's face it, the Messiah could land here right
in front of everybody's eyes and still they would not recognize
Him.  They would consider it to be all a hoax, or "high tech"
film and camera tricks, even when emerging down to earth from
the clear blue skies.

As Christ said, when the mob taunted him to come down from His
Cross and save Himself, "Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do."   And He told the weeping, holy women of
Jerusalem who were present at the cruel and ghastly scene, "Do
not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."

And during the final scene on the Cross before He gave up His
spirit to death, he forgave the criminal on the cross next to
Him, assuring him that he would be with Him in Paradise, free at
last from all earthly sufferings and persecutions, and in the
eternal presence of His Savior, to worry no more about his
social status.

This is where we turn to St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy
devotion.  When a centurion pierced the side of Jesus with a
lance to make certain that He was dead, there gushed forth both
blood and water, symbolizing the life and cleansing that He
brought to our souls through His infinite Sacrifice.

And how repeatedly, through the course of His earthly life, was
the heart of His mother Mary pierced with sorrow.  Yet she
persevered in faith and fortitude, becoming the spiritual mother
of the entire Christian Church, the spiritual mother of all
mankind, Queen of Heaven and earth, Queen of all the angels and
Saints, Mother of Perpetual Help, Seat of Wisdom, and known to
all nations under many different titles.

Take notice, and by all means "Take Heart."

From
John A. Renshaw

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