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The mystery of evil and suffering are not readily understandable. Still, these do not have
the ultimate say; but the Sovereign Lord God does, as the Old Testament affirms (Prov 19:21, Is
46:10, Lam 3:37). xxxiv The New Testament also affirms God’s sovereignty over evil and
suffering. St. Paul declares that the eternal power of God’s grace towers above all of the output
of sin or evil (Rom 5:20); xxxv while St. John, the Evangelist also assures that all evil, sin, or
suffering shall “pass away,” as all finite things were meant to be (Rev 21:4; Diary, # 423). xxxvi
In her Diary, Sr. Faustina had recourse to God’s mercy, His “greatest attribute (Ps 136:1;
Diary, # 949), xxxvii which He extends to everyone (Rom 11:32). 85xxxviii Sr. Faustina wrote,
“Everything will pass, but His mercy is without limit or end. And although evil will attain its
measure, in mercy there is no measure” (Diary, # 423). And Jesus assures those who seek His
mercy, “I Myself will defend as My own glory, during their lifetime, and especially at the hour of
their death, those souls who will venerate My fathomless mercy” (Diary, # 1225).
Sr. Faustina added a historical setting to God’s great mercy. Also, a worst offender he
may be; the humble and rueful sinner, who approaches the God of mercy, already has reason to
celebrate the great blessings that await him:
O merciful God, You do not despise us, but lavish Your graces on us
continuously. You make us fit to enter Your kingdom, and in Your goodness, You
grant that human beings may fill the places vacated by the ungrateful angels. O
God of great mercy, who turned Your sacred gaze away from the rebellious
angels and turned it upon contrite man, praise, and glory, be to Your
unfathomable mercy, O God who does not despise the lowly heart (Diary, #
1339).
Praise the Lord, my soul, for everything, and glorify His mercy, for His goodness
is without end. Everything will pass, but His mercy is without limit or end. And
although evil will attain its measure, in mercy there is no measure. O my God,
even in the punishments You send down upon the earth I see the abyss of Your
mercy, for by punishing us here on earth You free us from eternal punishment.
Rejoice all you creatures, for you are closer to God in His infinite mercy than a
baby to its mother’s heart. O God, You are compassion itself for the greatest
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Ibid., Faustina, Diary, # 301, 522, 949, 951, 1225.
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