Brief History
St. Maria Faustina Kowalska
APOSTLE AND SECRETARY OF MERCY
August 25, 1905 - Helen Kowalska was born in Glogowiec, Poland. From a young age, she was known for her love of prayer, diligence, obedience, and concern for the poor. She was called to the religious life during a vision of the suffering Christ.
August 1, 1925 - She entered the Congregation of the sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and took the name Sr. Maria Faustina of the Most Blessed Sacrament; lived as member of the Congregation for 13 years residing in Cracow, Plock and Vilnius, where she worked as a cook, gardener, and porter.
Her life in the convent was filled with extraordinary gifts, such as revelations, visions, hidden stigmata, participation in the Passion of the Lord, bilocation, reading of human souls, prophecy, and the rare gift of mystical insights. The Lord chose St. Faustina as the Apostle and Secretary of Mercy, so she would share the urgent message of the Divine Mercy with our troubled modern world.
In the 1930s - St. Faustina wrote a diary of some 600 pages recording the revelations she was receiving about God's mercy. She maintained this diary at the specific request of her spiritual director and confessor, Fr. Michael Sopocko, and later at the command of the Lord Jesus Himself. In it she faithfully wrote down all of the Lord's wishes and described the encounters between her soul and HIM.
October 5, 1938 - At the age of 33, she died in Cracow after long suffering borne with great patience.
April 30, 2000 - Blessed John Paul II canonized Sr. Faustina as the first saint of the great Jubilee Year, on Mercy Sunday; declared the First Sunday of Easter, as Divine Mercy Sunday throughout the universal Church. Now, our mission is to spread the message of the Divine Mercy in the third millennium.
"God and Souls" - Motto of St. Faustina (Make it your motto too)
August 25, 1905 - Helen Kowalska was born in Glogowiec, Poland. From a young age, she was known for her love of prayer, diligence, obedience, and concern for the poor. She was called to the religious life during a vision of the suffering Christ.
August 1, 1925 - She entered the Congregation of the sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and took the name Sr. Maria Faustina of the Most Blessed Sacrament; lived as member of the Congregation for 13 years residing in Cracow, Plock and Vilnius, where she worked as a cook, gardener, and porter.
Her life in the convent was filled with extraordinary gifts, such as revelations, visions, hidden stigmata, participation in the Passion of the Lord, bilocation, reading of human souls, prophecy, and the rare gift of mystical insights. The Lord chose St. Faustina as the Apostle and Secretary of Mercy, so she would share the urgent message of the Divine Mercy with our troubled modern world.
In the 1930s - St. Faustina wrote a diary of some 600 pages recording the revelations she was receiving about God's mercy. She maintained this diary at the specific request of her spiritual director and confessor, Fr. Michael Sopocko, and later at the command of the Lord Jesus Himself. In it she faithfully wrote down all of the Lord's wishes and described the encounters between her soul and HIM.
October 5, 1938 - At the age of 33, she died in Cracow after long suffering borne with great patience.
April 30, 2000 - Blessed John Paul II canonized Sr. Faustina as the first saint of the great Jubilee Year, on Mercy Sunday; declared the First Sunday of Easter, as Divine Mercy Sunday throughout the universal Church. Now, our mission is to spread the message of the Divine Mercy in the third millennium.
"God and Souls" - Motto of St. Faustina (Make it your motto too)
7 ELEMENTS OF THE Devotion to the Divine Mercy
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"I AM OFFERING PEOPLE A VESSEL WITH WHICH THEY ARE TO KEEP COMING FOR GRACES TO THE FOUNTAIN OF MERCY. THAT VESSEL IS THIS IMAGE WITH THE SIGNATURE:
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU." (DIARY 327) 1. THE SACRED IMAGE - Jesus said to St. Faustina: "Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on Earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as my own glory." (Diary 47-48) |
2. THE CHAPLET OF THE DIVINE MERCY (To be recited on ordinary Rosary beads)
WHILE I WAS SAYING THE CHAPLET, I HEARD A VOICE WHICH SAID, "OH WHAT GREAT GRACES I WILL GRANT TO SOULS WHO SAY THIS CHAPLET; THE VERY DEPTHS OF MY TENDER MERCY ARE STIRRED FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO SAY THE CHAPLET. WRITE DOWN THESE WORDS, MY DAUGHTER. SPEAK TO THE WORLD ABOUT MY MERCY; LET ALL MANKIND RECOGNIZE MY UNFATHOMABLE MERCY. IT IS A SIGN FOR THE END TIMES; AFTER IT WILL COME THE DAY OF JUSTICE. WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME, LET THEM HAVE RECOURSE TO THE FOUND OF MY MERCY; LET THEM PROFIT FROM THE BLOOD AND WATER WHICH GUSHED FORTH FOR THEM." (DIARY 848)
BEGIN WITH
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
ON THE FIVE LARGE BEADS
Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
In atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
ON THE TEN SMALL BEADS
For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion,
Have mercy on us and on the whole world.
CONCLUDE WITH
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us and on the whole world. (3x) Amen.
WHILE I WAS SAYING THE CHAPLET, I HEARD A VOICE WHICH SAID, "OH WHAT GREAT GRACES I WILL GRANT TO SOULS WHO SAY THIS CHAPLET; THE VERY DEPTHS OF MY TENDER MERCY ARE STIRRED FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO SAY THE CHAPLET. WRITE DOWN THESE WORDS, MY DAUGHTER. SPEAK TO THE WORLD ABOUT MY MERCY; LET ALL MANKIND RECOGNIZE MY UNFATHOMABLE MERCY. IT IS A SIGN FOR THE END TIMES; AFTER IT WILL COME THE DAY OF JUSTICE. WHILE THERE IS STILL TIME, LET THEM HAVE RECOURSE TO THE FOUND OF MY MERCY; LET THEM PROFIT FROM THE BLOOD AND WATER WHICH GUSHED FORTH FOR THEM." (DIARY 848)
BEGIN WITH
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
ON THE FIVE LARGE BEADS
Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
In atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
ON THE TEN SMALL BEADS
For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion,
Have mercy on us and on the whole world.
CONCLUDE WITH
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us and on the whole world. (3x) Amen.
3. THE HOUR OF GREAT MERCY - 3 O'CLOCK PRAYER
"I REMIND YOU, MY DAUGHTER, THAT AS OFTEN AS YOU HEAR THE CLOCK STRIKE THE THIRD HOUR, IMMERSE YOURSELF COMPLETELY IN MY MERCY, ADORING AND GLORIFYING IT; INVOKE ITS OMNIPOTENCE FOR THE WHOLE WORLD, AND PARTICULARLY FOR POOR SINNERS; FOR AT THAT MOMENT MERCY WAS OPENED WIDE FOR EVERY SOUL. IN THIS HOUR YOU CAN OBTAIN EVERYTHING FOR YOURSELF AND FOR OTHERS FOR THE ASKING; IT WAS THE HOUR OF GRACE FOR THE WHOLE WORLD—MERCY TRIUMPHED OVER JUSTICE." (DIARY 1572)
"You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world.
O Fount of Life, Unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You." (3x) Amen.
"I REMIND YOU, MY DAUGHTER, THAT AS OFTEN AS YOU HEAR THE CLOCK STRIKE THE THIRD HOUR, IMMERSE YOURSELF COMPLETELY IN MY MERCY, ADORING AND GLORIFYING IT; INVOKE ITS OMNIPOTENCE FOR THE WHOLE WORLD, AND PARTICULARLY FOR POOR SINNERS; FOR AT THAT MOMENT MERCY WAS OPENED WIDE FOR EVERY SOUL. IN THIS HOUR YOU CAN OBTAIN EVERYTHING FOR YOURSELF AND FOR OTHERS FOR THE ASKING; IT WAS THE HOUR OF GRACE FOR THE WHOLE WORLD—MERCY TRIUMPHED OVER JUSTICE." (DIARY 1572)
"You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world.
O Fount of Life, Unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You." (3x) Amen.
4. NOVENA TO THE DIVINE MERCY
JESUS IS COMMANDING ME TO MAKE A NOVENA BEFORE THE FEAST OF MERCY, AND TODAY I AM TO BEGIN IT FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE WORLD AND FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE DIVINE MERCY..."SO THAT EVERY SOUL WILL PRAISE MY GOODNESS. I DESIRE TRUST FROM MY CREATURES. ENCOURAGE SOULS TO PLACE GREAT TRUST IN MY FATHOMLESS MERCY. LET THE WEAK, SINFUL SOUL HAVE NO FEAR TO APPROACH ME, FOR EVEN IF IT HAD MORE SINS THAN THERE ARE GRAINS OF SAND IN THE WORLD, ALL WOULD BE DROWNED IN THE UNMEASURABLE DEPTHS OF MY MERCY." (DIARY 1059)
It begins on Good Friday.
JESUS IS COMMANDING ME TO MAKE A NOVENA BEFORE THE FEAST OF MERCY, AND TODAY I AM TO BEGIN IT FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE WORLD AND FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE DIVINE MERCY..."SO THAT EVERY SOUL WILL PRAISE MY GOODNESS. I DESIRE TRUST FROM MY CREATURES. ENCOURAGE SOULS TO PLACE GREAT TRUST IN MY FATHOMLESS MERCY. LET THE WEAK, SINFUL SOUL HAVE NO FEAR TO APPROACH ME, FOR EVEN IF IT HAD MORE SINS THAN THERE ARE GRAINS OF SAND IN THE WORLD, ALL WOULD BE DROWNED IN THE UNMEASURABLE DEPTHS OF MY MERCY." (DIARY 1059)
It begins on Good Friday.
5. THE FEAST OF MERCY
"I DESIRE THAT THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER BE THE FEAST OF MERCY." (Diary 299)
The Feast of Mercy is celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter, that is on the Second Sunday of Easter, which is called the Divine Mercy Sunday today.
"I DESIRE THAT THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER BE THE FEAST OF MERCY." (Diary 299)
The Feast of Mercy is celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter, that is on the Second Sunday of Easter, which is called the Divine Mercy Sunday today.
6. THE TRIBUNAL OF MERCY
"DAUGHTER, WHEN YOU GO TO CONFESSION, TO THIS FOUNTAIN OF MY MERCY, THE BLOOD AND WATER WHICH CAME FORTH FROM MY HEART ALWAYS FLOWS DOWN UPON YOUR SOUL AND ENNOBLES IT. EVERY TIME YOU GO TO CONFESSION, IMMERSE YOURSELF ENTIRELY IN MY MERCY, WITH GREAT TRUST, SO THAT I MAY POUR THE BOUNTY OF MY GRACE UPON YOUR SOUL. WHEN YOU APPROACH THE CONFESSIONAL, KNOW THIS, THAT I MYSELF AM WAITING THERE FOR YOU. I AM ONLY HIDDEN BY THE PRIEST, BUT I MYSELF ACT IN YOUR SOUL. HERE THE MISERY OF THE SOUL MEETS THE GOD OF MERCY. TELL SOULS THAT FROM THIS FOUNT OF MERCY SOULS DRAW GRACES SOLELY WITH THE VESSEL OF TRUST. IF THEIR TRUST IS GREAT, THERE IS NO LIMIT TO MY GENEROSITY. THE TORRENTS OF GRACE INUNDATE HUMBLE SOULS. THE PROUD REMAIN ALWAYS IN POVERTY AND MISERY, BECAUSE MY GRACE TURNS AWAY FROM THEM TO HUMBLE SOULS." (Diary 1602)
7. PROCLAMATION OF THE DIVINE MERCY
"SOULS WHO SPREAD THE HONOR OF MY MERCY I SHIELD THROUGH THEIR ENTIRE LIVES AS A TENDER MOTHER HER INFANT, AND AT THE HOUR OF DEATH I WILL NOT BE A JUDGE FOR THEM, BUT THE MERCIFUL SAVIOR. AT THAT LAST HOUR, A SOUL HAS NOTHING WITH WHICH TO DEFEND ITSELF EXCEPT MY MERCY. HAPPY IS THE SOUL THAT DURING ITS LIFETIME IMMERSED ITSELF IN THE FOUNTAIN OF MERCY, BECAUSE JUSTICE WILL HAVE NO HOLD ON IT." (DIARY 1075)
"SOULS WHO SPREAD THE HONOR OF MY MERCY I SHIELD THROUGH THEIR ENTIRE LIVES AS A TENDER MOTHER HER INFANT, AND AT THE HOUR OF DEATH I WILL NOT BE A JUDGE FOR THEM, BUT THE MERCIFUL SAVIOR. AT THAT LAST HOUR, A SOUL HAS NOTHING WITH WHICH TO DEFEND ITSELF EXCEPT MY MERCY. HAPPY IS THE SOUL THAT DURING ITS LIFETIME IMMERSED ITSELF IN THE FOUNTAIN OF MERCY, BECAUSE JUSTICE WILL HAVE NO HOLD ON IT." (DIARY 1075)
The Essence of the Devotion
A. TRUST - "Graces drawn from (the fount of) My mercy with one vessel only, and that is - TRUST"
B. DEEDS of MERCY - "Because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works of mercy.
B. DEEDS of MERCY - "Because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works of mercy.
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The Corporal Works of Mercy
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The Spiritual Works of Mercy
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Resources
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Diary of St Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul. (A publication of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception)
13th of the Month Prayerbook. Devotional prayers consisting of Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, Mercy Hour Prayer, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and the Way of the Cross. (DMHFSC) Way of Mercy Newsletter. A bi-monthly publication covering stories about events and devotions on the grounds of the proposed shrine. Mercy in Action Special Edition. Latest edition features Life of St Faustina Kowalska. (DMHFSC) Mercy in Action Newsletters. A bi-fold quarterly publication about testimonials, Divine Mercy devotion and message, 13th of the Month photos submitted for publication. (Publication discontinued and replaced with Way of Mercy Newsletter) (DMHFSC) 100th Year Fatima Commemorative Prayer Card. Bookmark features prayers of Adoration and Reparation taught by Angel to children in Fatima, Portugal. |