The idea of mercy in selected texts by Faustyna Kowalska, John Paul II and Joseph Ratzinger

Abstract

The article presents contemporary ways of understanding God’s mercy, referring both to the Christian tradition, as well as to secular thought. It emphasizes that idea of God’s mercy is of interest not only to theology, but also to most humanities. This idea, on the one hand, is located at the center of Church’s teaching, dominates the entire pontificate of John Paul II (it is the main idea of Dives in misericordia), and is also confirmed in publications and commentaries on the texts of Christian mystic. On the other hand, it is present in post-secular reflection, more or less distant from the official interpretation of the Catholic Church. The idea of God’s mercy, manifested in contemporary culture, allows to look at man – his spiritual condition, values and relationship with God – in a new light. Mercy is a unique discovery of Christianity, appearing as a multidimensional phenomenon of Christian culture.