Mother Susan explains to us the connection between the Sisters of the Visitation and the film The Image of the Divine Mercy. Thank you, Mother Susan, for speaking with us and helping us to see the hand of God in our rich Visitation history and in our present.
On behalf of Mother Susan and the Sisters of the Visitation, we cordially invite you to join us on November 20 to watch the film, meet the director, and ask him more questions about history, tradition and inspiration.
What prompted you to research the history of the original painting and its connection to the Sisters of the Visitation?
A young Lithuanian woman named Juste discovered our American Visitation and came to stay for 3 months with our Minneapolis community. While there Juste asked if we had a community in Lithuania. In researching this I discovered we had one in Vilnius, Lithuania until World War II. It was on this Visitation Monastery’s premises that the original picture of the Divine Mercy was painted.
What did you discover that furthers the connection between St. Faustina’s experiences and the global history of the Order of the Visitation?
St. Faustina used to come to the Visitation Monastery cottage where the artist was painting the Divine Mercy picture. After it was completed her spiritual director Fr. Sopocko showed it to the Visitation Sisters. I believe it was the delicacy of our Lord Himself who connected His revelations of the Sacred Heart to Visitation Sister St Margaret Mary to His contemporary revelation of the Heart of His Mercy to St Faustina.
Is there a connection between the way in which the Lord is depicted in the painting and the Sacred Heart, which is so important to the Visitation?
There is a similarity but the intent seems to be slightly different; He asked for reparation to the Sacred Heart from the Visitation Nuns but emphasizes Mercy to St Faustina. The two revelations can be seen as two sides to the same coin, so to speak.
As the head of the Visitation Sisters in Brooklyn, what is the main reason you want friends and neighbors to attend the film screening on November 20?
The Providence of God has led us to this screening and understanding of the history of this painting. This is the Year of Mercy and we wish to share that Mercy with our friends and neighbors as the Year draws to a close.