In relation to Divine Mercy, I've been to one last year, organised by a little church in surburb called Caufield. The participants were people who were totally devoted to try and be "good people" or those who need something - if you are in pain or have problems.
The person in-charge, she was a lady, she said that one year, an elderly lady asked for a new car although she's already got like 2 cars. Something bad happened to that elderly lady, she was involved in a car accident, god bless her soul.
The point is, there was a lot of veneration during divine mercy, kising of the picture, touching the promotion of that picture of Jesus.
I just did not turn up or attend any after that.
The whole point of the divine mercy, the main message was somehow lost in that picture.
From WIKI:
The devotion places EMPHASIS on the veneration of the Divine Mercy image which Faustina reported as a vision of Jesus while she was in her cell in the convent.[5] The image is displayed and venerated by Catholics on its own, and is solemnly blessed during Divine Mercy Sunday.[7] The devotion includes specific prayers such as the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
God does not want to venerate an image, and call me traditional, if it aint in the bible or gospel, I don't think I will believe in it.
Question: Do we have a relationship with God or do we have a heart for our lord Jesus through veneration of a poster? Is that how it works?
Did Jesus not say, blessed are those of the pure hearted for they shall see God.
If in our heart, all we think about is an image, how is the heart pure, and how do we see god?
What defines purity of the heart?
God Bless.