The image of the Merciful Jesus with the inscription “Jesus, I trust in You” is found in many churches and homes. It goes back to the Polish nun Faustina Kowalska. The Merciful Jesus is not a saint in his own right but a form of devotion to Christ.
What is the Divine Mercy devotion about?
Helena Kowalska was born in Poland in 1905 and in 1925 entered the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, taking the religious name Maria Faustina. She died in Kraków in 1938, aged only 33. In her diary she recorded that Jesus had appeared to her with two rays, one red and one pale. At her request, the first image was painted in 1934 following her description.
Pope John Paul II canonised Faustina in 2000. At the same time, he introduced Divine Mercy Sunday for the whole Church, on the Sunday after Easter.
Legend and tradition
The apparitions are private revelations, which are not binding for Catholics. The Church has recognised the message of mercy, but has not established every detail of the visions as an article of faith.
Feast day
The feast celebrated is Divine Mercy Sunday, always the Sunday after Easter. The feast day of St Faustina Kowalska is 5 October. Regional and denominational calendars may differ.
Meaning in the Church
- Devotion to the divine mercy
- A feast of the whole Church since 2000
- Image and prayer of trust for the sick, the dying and people burdened by guilt
The Merciful Jesus is not a patron saint in the narrower sense but Christ himself. The image invites us to entrust ourselves to God; it is not a promise of protection.
Attributes and depiction
The image shows the risen Christ in a white robe. Two rays come from his breast, one red and one pale, and beneath it are the words “Jesus, I trust in You” (Polish: Jezu, ufam Tobie). The rays are interpreted as a sign of blood and water, as a source of grace.
A short prayer
Jesus, I trust in You. You know my worries and my faults. Accept me as I am, and let me pass on the mercy that I myself receive. Amen.
A simple prayer in our own words, to pray along.
Customs
Besides Divine Mercy Sunday, there is the meditation at 3 p.m., the hour of Jesus’ death, and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Many parishes hold Divine Mercy devotions with veneration of the image.
The image is often chosen for a house blessing, for a visit to the sick or as a gift for First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
Matching items at LUNEXUS
- Divine Mercy wooden wall picture – blessed, with certificate
- Jesus car medal, oval, 3.6 cm – blessed medal & magnet
- Jesus olive wood keyring 10 cm – blessed
- Jesus as the Good Shepherd – hand-carved wooden statue from South Tyrol
The wooden statues from our woodcarving workshop are hand-carved in Val Gardena (South Tyrol) and come directly from the workshop: delivery time approx. 3–4 weeks, insured shipping to Germany and Austria only (€6.90). The statues are not blessed in our warehouse, and the 14-day statutory right of withdrawal applies to them.
Many, but not all, of our items are blessed in our own warehouse by a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Fulda. A business-card-sized certificate card showing the date of the blessing is then enclosed; whether an item is blessed is stated in its title or description. Shipped via Amazon's logistics network – free within Germany, €5.90 to Austria and France; Italy €6.90, Spain €6.90. Returns are possible within 30 days.
More to choose from: all items with Jesus Christ and all patron saints. Parishes and groups will find an offer on request on the quantity discount page (does not apply to wooden statues from the woodcarving workshop).
Keep reading in the magazine: House blessing: meaning and how to hang one
Frequently asked questions
When is Divine Mercy Sunday?
Always on the Sunday after Easter, eight days after the Easter feast. The date changes every year.
What does “Jesus, I trust in You” mean?
The phrase is the inscription on the image and a short prayer of trust. It goes back to the writings of St Faustina.
Is the Merciful Jesus a saint?
No. The Merciful Jesus is Christ himself in a particular form of devotion. The person who was canonised is Sister Faustina, who commissioned the image.
Sources: General Roman Calendar, Martyrologium Romanum and Church reference works. We flag legends as such; prayers are, unless stated otherwise, our own simple wording. Compiled by Denis & Belinda, as of October 2026.
