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May 24 - October 15, 2020
Physically ravaged, but fully mature spiritually, she died in the opinion of sanctity, mystically united with God, on October 5, 1938, hardly 33 years old, having been a religious for 13 years. Her mortal remains were laid to rest in the common tomb in the convent’s cemetery in Cracow-Lagiewniki. In 1966, during the informative process towards Sister Faustina’s beatification, they were transferred to the convent chapel.
“Today,” He told her, “I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My merciful Heart” (Diary, 1588). “You are the secretary of My mercy; I have chosen you for that office in this and the next life” (Diary, 1605) … “to make known to souls the great mercy that I have for them, and to exhort them to trust in the bottomless depth of My mercy” (Diary, 1567).
The Divine Mercy, the practice of which is to lead to the revival of the spiritual life in the spirit of Christian trust and mercy.
‘Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You’” (Diary, 47). “I want this image … to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy” (Diary, 49).
1912 — At the age of seven, Helen hears for the first time a voice in her soul, calling her to a more perfect way of life
announces that she wishes to enter a convent.
She applies at the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at 3/9 Zytnia Street in Warsaw. The superior assesses her as “no one special” and puts her to the test, telling her to go to work so she can pay for her wardrobe
August 1, 1925 — She again applies to the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, and this time she is accepted
After an eight-day retreat, she receives her habit and her name in religion. From now on Helen will bear the name Sister Maria Faustina
April 3, 1927 — Sister Faustina experiences the spiritual dark night. The trial lasts almost to the end of the Novitiate.
On Good Friday, the flame of Divine Love encompasses the suffering novice. She forgets past sufferings, and she more clearly recognizes how much Christ suffered for her (Diary I:10).
April 30, 1928 — Sister Faustina makes her first profession of temporary vows, which she will renew each year for five years, until the moment when she will make her perpetual vows
[Mother Michael will be Superior throughout Sister Faustina’s life, In difficult moments she will be her help and comfort. Into her hands Sister Faustina will place her perpetual vows. Before death she will ask pardon of the whole Congregation through Mother’s hands for all the failings committed during her entire religious life
February 22, 1931 — Sister Faustina sees a vision of the Lord Jesus, who tells her to paint an image according to the pattern she sees
April 18, 1933 — With other sisters, Sister Faustina goes to Cracow to make an eight-day retreat and her profession of perpetual vows
May 1, 1933 — Sister Faustina makes her perpetual vows. The celebrant for this ceremony is Bishop Stanislaus Rospond.
January 2, 1934 — Sister Faustina goes for the first time to the artist Kazimirowski, who is to paint the image of The Divine Mercy
March 29, 1934 — She offers herself for sinners, especially for those souls who have lost trust in The Divine Mercy
June 1934 — The painting of the image of The Divine Mercy, executed by artist E. Kazimirowski under the guidance of Sister Faustina, is completed. Sister Faustina cries because the image of the Lord Jesus is not as beautiful as she had seen Him
Sister Faustina sees the Lord Jesus above the chapel in Vilnius in the same way as she saw Him in Plock; that is, with the pale and red rays. The rays envelop the chapel of the Congregation and the infirmary of the students, and then they spread out over the whole world
Forty-Hour Devotions
January 8, 1936 — She pays a visit to Bishop Jalbrzykowski and announces to him that the Lord Jesus is demanding the founding of a new congregation
change of assignment for Sister Faustina from Vilnius to Walendow
March 25, 1936 — She arrives in Walendow—a country house of the Congregation, 20 km from Warsaw. The sisters welcome her joyfully and sincerely
April 1936 — After a few weeks, she is assigned to another country home, 1 km from Walendow,
a forested area, and Sister Faustina, enchanted with its natural beauty, writes of her joy to Fr. Sopocko
she leaves Derdy for a permanent stay in Cracow (Cracow Chron. IV:60), where she works first in the garden and then as gatekeeper
she takes part in a procession in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Jesuit house
For health reasons, the superiors send Sister Faustina to the hospital in Pradnik, a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients in Cracow
Sister Faustina confesses to the Lord Jesus
She comes back from Pradnik, her health significantly improved
Her health becomes so much worse that she is forced to remain in bed
Fatigued from sickness, she asks the Lord Jesus for health, and is heard
Sister Faustina receives permission from Mother General Michael Moraczewska to leave the Congregation
She learns that she is going to be sent to a house of the Congregation at Rabka
the climate at Rabka does not agree with her, but makes her feel more ill, so she returns to Cracow
Due to increasing ill health, her assignment is changed from gardener to gatekeeper
having some holy cards of the image of The Divine Mercy printed
Sister Faustina’s health deteriorates, and her superiors decide to send her to the hospital in Pradnik again
Writing her last letter to Mother General, she begs pardon for all the faults of her whole life and ends with the words: “till we meet in heaven”
Father Sopocko visits Sister Faustina in the sanatorium in Pradnik and sees her in ecstasy
Calm and very uplifting, she waits for the moment of union with the Lord Jesus, not at all afraid to die
As she loses more and more strength, she asks pardon of the entire Congregation for her unintentional failings, and serenely awaits the coming of her Heavenly Bridegroom
“My one occupation is to live in the presence of my Heavenly Father.”
about receiving Holy Communion from an Angel was really true”
Sister Faustina makes her confession for the last time
the prayers for the dying. Sister Faustina, conscious to the end, unites with those praying
Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, after long sufferings borne with great patience, goes to the Lord for her reward
The funeral of Sister Faustina Kowalska takes place on the First Friday of the month and the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
the altar of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (where the image of The Divine Mercy, renowned for countless graces, is presently found).
