The shrine is a ministry of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to the DivineMercy.org web site, the Shrine was commissioned to be built in 1950. The work crew consisted of local Eden Hill residents, seminarians, and WWII refugees. The shrine was dedicated in 1960 by Bishop Christopher Weldon, bishop of Springfield, MA.

According to an article posted by the Colorado Catholic Herald, “The Divine Mercy devotion hails from a call St. Faustina Kowalska received from Christ in a vision on Feb. 22, 1931, in Poland to bring the world the message of his divine mercy.” The article quoted a column by Bishop Sheridan who wrote, "When Jesus appeared to his followers, who were cowering behind locked doors, the sight of the wounds of the Lord’s passion must surely have aroused sentiments of guilt and shame. But Jesus had not appeared to shame his disciples even more. He had come to announce peace and forgiveness. It was on that Easter day that Jesus breathed on his apostles for the reception of the Holy Spirit and, at the same time, gave the apostles the power to forgive sins. At that moment Jesus instituted the sacrament of penance for the outpouring of the Divine Mercy until the end of time.”

In an article posted by the Catholic Globe, “The message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercy is based on the writings of Saint Faustina.” The article noted that The Divine Mercy had begun to spread before the death of Saint Faustina in 1938. Divine Mercy Sunday was established as a universal feast day by the late Pope John Paul II when he canonized St. Faustina Kowalska as the first saint of the new millennium in 2000.

The article cited a quote from the diary of Saint Faustina's where Jesus said, “The Feast of Mercy emerged from my very depths of tenderness. It is my desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of my mercy.” The article went on to say, “In that same passage from the diary, Christ stated that those who participate in Divine Mercy Sunday shall receive special graces. Christ said, 'The soul that will go to confession and receive holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.'”

In an EWTN story, it was related, that the devotion of Divine Mercy began to spread world wide in the 1930s. The story stated, “The message is nothing new, but is a reminder of what the Church has always taught through scripture and tradition: that God is merciful and forgiving and that we, too, must
show mercy and forgiveness.” The story continues, “But in the Divine Mercy devotion, the message takes on a powerful new focus, calling people to a deeper understanding that God’s love is unlimited and available to everyone — especially the greatest sinners.”

The article stated that the message can be remembered by the acronym ABC, (A)sk of his mercy; (B)e merciful and (C)ompletely trust in Jesus. On the “Hour of Great Mercy” page of the EWTN site, a section of Saint Faustina's diary was printed where Christ said to her, “At three o'clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners;” In another section of the site which explains, “The Feast of Mercy,” Saint Faustina records in her diary that she heard these words, “My daughter, tell the whole world about My Inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy.” Saint Faustina further records in her diary, “Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.”

BostonHerald.com (10 Apr 10)

DivineMercy.org (Not Dated)

Marians of the Immaculate Conception (Not Dated)

The Catholic Globe (Not Dated)

EWTN (Not Dated)

EWTN (Not Dated)

Colorado Catholic Herald (Not Dated)