A Theological Analysis of the Veneration of the Divine Mercy by St. Faustina Kowalska

U povodu godine Izvanrednog jubileja milosrđa donosimo članak u kojem se sustavno obrađuje nauk prve kanonizirane svetice u trećem tisućljeću, koja je svojim privatnim proročkim objavama odlučujuće utjecala na pobožni puk u razvoju štovanja Božjeg milosrđa. U razradi njezina nauka služili smo se relevantnom literaturom koja je sabrala plodnu teološku raspravu vođenu, osobito u Poljskoj, u drugoj polovici XX. stoljeća. Teološki se vrednovala mogućnost, važnost i značaj privatnih proročkih objava u Crkvi, kao pojašnjivanje i aktualizacija zapostavljenih vidova javne objave. U najkraćim crtama iznesen je povijesni razvoj štovanja Božjeg milosrđa, s posebnim osvrtom na životni put i povijesni kontekst vremena u kojem je svetica živjela. Kritički su valorizirane teološke rasprave vođene oko pitanja materijalnog i formalnog objekta štovanja Božjeg milosrđa te je ponuđen vlastiti stav o tim pitanjima. Iz članka je razvidno da je središnji element štovanja Božjeg milosrđa probuditi i razviti u vjerniku stav pouzdanja, koji nije tek aktualizacija kreposti nade, niti se ograničava na određene čine, nego je ponajprije teologalni stav koji uključuje sve tri teologalne kreposti. Riječ je o »habitusu« vjernika oblikovanog trima teologalnim krepostima, uključujući poniznost i skrušenost. Posebni oblici štovanja samo su vanjska sredstva koja trebaju omogućiti vjerniku da taj »habitus« razvije, jer bez njega oni gube svoju duhovnu vrijednost. Drugi bitan element štovanja jesu djela milosrđa. Na temelju svetičina opusa jasno je da se ona ne ograničava samo na tzv. »duhovna« i »tjelesna« djela milosrđa nego uključuje i molitvu, riječ te zadovoljštinu.On the occasion of the year of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy this article will systematically analyse the teaching of the first canonised saint in the third millennium, who had a decisive influence on pious people in the development of the veneration of the Divine mercy via her private prophetic revelations. In the analysis of her teaching we used relevant literature that managed to gather the fruits of a fertile theological debate that took place in the second half of the twentieth century, especially in Poland. The article evaluates theologically the possibility, importance, and relevance of private prophetic revelations in the Church, as a means of clarifying and actualising those aspects of the public revelation that have fallen out of favour. The article, thus, presents the historical development of the veneration of the Divine mercy, with a special review of the life of and the historical context in which the saint lived. Next, it critically evaluates theological debates on the issue of material and formal object of the venerationof the Divine mercy and it offers the authors´ own position on this issue. The article makes it clear that the central element of the veneration of the Divine mercy is to awaken and develop the attitude of trust in a believer, which does not only consist in the actualisation of the virtue of hope, nor is it limited in terms of some specific acts, but is, primarily, a theological attitude that incorporates all three theological virtues. This is the habitus of believers, formed by three theological virtues, including humility and contrition. Special forms of veneration are, in that sense, merely external means that ought to help a believer to develop that habitus, because without it this external means lose their spiritual value. The second important element of the veneration is the works of mercy. On the basis the saint´s opus it becomes clear that she is not satisfied with only spiritual and physical acts of mercy, but extends the works of mercy in order to include prayer, word, and satisfaction