Quote for Thought: Snuggle Close to Jesus’ Merciful Heart
Courtesy of the Oblates of Divine Mercy
At mass a few weeks ago, we had a guest speaker who leads an organization that helps women heal after an abortion. She quoted from the Diary of St. Faustina, to whom Jesus appeared and spoke of his infinite love and “divine mercy.” This is where the image of divine mercy (with prisms of light radiating from Jesus’ heart) originates, as well as the Church’s Feast of Divine Mercy, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, etc. This quote really stuck with me, and it’s an image I keep bringing to mind again and again as I gaze upon Jesus on the cross.
From Jesus: “Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it -with peace. Tell [all people], My daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls.” — Diary of St. Faustina, p. 1074.
The word “snuggle” is what gets me! The idea of “snuggling” close to Jesus’ merciful heart really touches me and has opened the floodgates of love for our Lord. I encourage you to meditate on it today and see how it speaks to you. Let me know!
I love St. Faustina and her message of divine mercy! Being able to “snuggle” close to our Lord makes Him seem that much closer to us.
I wholeheartedly agree! Thanks for your comment!
Thank you for sharing Jesus’ beautiful message of his Divine Mercy. May He bless you!
Just the thought of Jesus telling us to “snuggle” close to his heart sounds so loving and inspires trust. This may sound critical and I don’t mean it as such, but I was brought up in the Catholic Church, and Catholic school education. The severity of sin and the punishment sin would bring was driven home to me more than the love of God has for us. As an adult I am learning the tremendous sacrificial love Jesus has for all of us. We all know that Jesus died for us. We can’t save ourselves. But when I think of the most hideous crime you ever heard of…well Jesus died for that person as well. He died for the soldiers spitting in his face, pushing a crown of thorns into his head For child molestors, every disgusting sin you can think of. Sin is sin to Him. And we need his sacrifice. The beautiful thought to ponder is that he did this before we were even born,He did this when we were unrepentant. It is incomprehensible a love of that magnitude. And all he asks of us is to accept it. To “snuggle” up to his heart and He will fill us with peace.
Hi Angie, Thanks so much for your comment. And I think a lot of people experienced what you did growing up – that focus on the negative. I know Pope Francis always says to lead with the “yes” and not the “no” when talking about the Church and bringing people to the faith. I do think this is one area where teachers of the Catholic faith can improve: really focusing on our relationship with Jesus in addition to the information we need to know. It’s that relationship that will keep them in the Church :). That’s what I really tried to drive home when teaching religious education at our parish, and now in RCIA, we bring in parishioners to share their faith story to help our new Catholics understand that personal relationship Jesus and not just the teachings of the Church. God bless!