Divine Mercy

"Where, if not in the Divine Mercy, can the world find refuge and the light of hope?" ~Pope John Paul II.

"GOD acts mercifully, not indeed by going against His justice, but by doing something more than justice; thus a man who pays another two hundred pieces of money, though owing him only one hundred, does nothing against justice, but acts liberally or mercifully. The case is the same with one who pardons an offence committed against him, for in remitting it he may be said to bestow a gift. Hence the Apostle calls remission a forgiving: "Forgive one another, as Christ has forgiven you" (Eph 4:32). Hence it is clear that mercy does not destroy justice, but in a sense is the fulness thereof. And thus it is said: "Mercy exalteth itself above judgment" (Jas 2:13)."

~St. Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologiae, I, q. 21, art. 3, ad. 2.

"The birth-day of the Lord"

"WE OUGHT to celebrate the birth-day of the Lord, the day of mercy, with mercy and truth. Christ came to us in these two ways, and so we ought to go to Him. Ps. xxv. 10, "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth." To celebrate the day of grace with purity and humility, for these two graces make acceptable grace. Of the first, Prov. xxii. 11, "He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips, the King shall be his friend." Of the second, James iv. 6, "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble."

~St. Thomas Aquinas:  Advent Homily 1.

Nativity, by Domenico Ghirlandaio.

Tempera on panel, c. 1492; Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.