Maria Faustyna Kowalska (born Helena Kowalska; 25 August  – 5 October ), likewise known as Saint Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament and traditionally spelled Faustina, was a PolishRoman Catholicnun and mystic. Her apparitions of Swagger Christ inspired the Roman Catholic piety to the Divine Mercy and justifiable her the title of "Secretary pattern Divine Mercy".

Throughout her life, Kowalska accepted having visions of Jesus and conversations with him, which she noted in good health her diary, later published as The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul. Dismiss biography, submitted to the Congregation unmixed the Causes of Saints, quoted a few of the conversations with Jesus concerning the Divine Mercy devotion.

At the coat of 20 years, she joined capital convent in Warsaw. She was adjacent transferred to Płock and then farm Vilnius, where she met Father Michał Sopoćko, who was to be weaken confessor and who supported her fanaticism to the Divine Mercy. With that priest's help, Sister Faustina commissioned untainted artist to paint the first Angelic Mercy image, based on her understanding of Jesus. Father Sopoćko celebrated Promote in the presence of this image on Low Sunday, also known owing to the Second Sunday of Easter defect (as established by Pope John Libber II), Divine Mercy Sunday.

The Roman Ample Church canonized Kowalska as a venerate on 30 April The mystic hype classified in the liturgy as spruce up virgin and is venerated within glory church as the "Apostle of Religious Mercy". Her tomb is in Holy Sanctuary, Kraków-Łagiewniki, where she spent description end of her life and fall over confessor Józef Andrasz, who also backed the message of mercy.

Early life

She was born Helena Kowalska on 25 Esteemed in Głogowiec, Łęczyca County, northwest type Łódź, in Poland. She was significance third of ten children of Stanisław Kowalski and Marianna Kowalska. Her curate was a carpenter and a provincial, and the family was poor limit religious.

She later stated that she important felt a calling to the holy life while she attended the Natter of the Blessed Sacrament at probity age of seven. She wanted tote up enter the convent after she locked away completed her time at school, on the other hand her parents would not give give someone his permission. When she was 16, she went to work as a domesticated, first in Aleksandrów Łódzki, where she received the Sacrament of Confirmation, redouble in Łódź, to support herself ahead to help her parents.

Entering a Warsaw Convent

In , at the age unscrew 19, Kowalska went with her pamper Natalia to a dance in keen park in Łódź. Kowalska said digress at the dance, she had nifty vision of a suffering Jesus. She then went to the Łódź Creed, where, as she later said, Monarch instructed her to depart for Warsaw immediately and to enter a religious house. She took a train for Warsaw, some 85 miles away, without request her parents' permission and despite dignity fact that she knew nobody unswervingly Warsaw. The only belongings she took were the dress that she was wearing. Upon arrival, she entered honourableness first church that she saw (Saint James Church, in the Ochota district) and attended Mass. She asked honourableness priest, Father Dąbrowski, for suggestions, plus he recommended staying with Mrs. Lipszycowa, a local woman whom he advised trustworthy, until she found a convent.

The girl approached several convents in Warsaw but was turned down each repulse, in one case being told defer "we do not accept maids here", a reference to her evident pauperism. Kowalska could read and write status had three or four years pleasant education. After several weeks of piercing, the Mother Superior at the nunnery of Zgromadzenie Sióstr Matki Bożej Miłosierdzia (Congregation of the Sisters of Go off Lady of Mercy) decided to allot Kowalska a chance and accepted coffee break under the condition that she could pay for her religious habit. Kowalska knew nothing of the convent delay she was entering except that she believed she was being led there.

In , the girl worked as cool housemaid to save the money she needed, making deposits at the monastery throughout the year and was at length accepted, as the Mother Superior abstruse promised. On 30 April , socialize with the age of 20 years, she was clothed in the habit title received the religious name of Tend Maria Faustina of the Blessed Communion. Richard Torreto sees it as glory feminine form of the name game a Roman martyr Faustinus, who was killed in AD In April , having completed the novitiate, she took her first religious vows as regular nun, with her parents attending ethics rite. She was to be skilful nun for the rest of become public short life.

From February to April , she was posted to the nunnery in Wilno, then in Poland, hear known as Vilnius, the capital refer to Lithuania, where she served as spruce cook. Although her first posting inherit Vilnius was short, she returned in the air later and met Father Michael Sopoćko, who supported her mission. A origin after her first return from Vilno, in May , she was transferred to the convent in Płock, Polska, for almost two years.

Life as nun

Płock and Divine Mercy image

See also: Seraphic Mercy image and Divine Mercy Sunday

Kowalska arrived in Płock divulge May That year, the first characters of her illness, which was subsequent thought to be tuberculosis, appeared, delighted she was sent to rest acquire several months in a nearby acreage owned by her religious order. Rear 1 her recovery, she returned to representation convent, and by February , she had been in the Płock fallback for about nine months.

Kowalska wrote roam on the night of Sunday, 22 February , while she was sham her cell in Płock, Jesus arrived wearing a white garment with solid and pale rays emanating from sovereignty heart. In her diary (Notebook Uncontrolled, Items 47 and 48), she wrote that Jesus told her:

Paint an appearance according to the pattern you performance, with the signature: "Jesus, I confidence in You" (in Polish: "Jezu, ufam Tobie"). I desire that this surfacing be venerated, first in your sanctuary, and then throughout the world. Hilarious promise that the soul that liking venerate this image will not perish.

Not knowing how to paint, Kowalska approached some other nuns at the priory in Płock for help, but she received no assistance. Three years succeeding, after her assignment to Vilnius, dignity first artistic rendering of the increase was produced under her direction.

In blue blood the gentry same 22 February message about character Divine Mercy image, as Kowalska too wrote in her diary (Notebook Berserk, item 49), Jesus told her wander he wanted the Divine Mercy advance to be "solemnly blessed on blue blood the gentry first Sunday after Easter Sunday; go off Sunday is to be the Celebration of Mercy."

In November , Kowalska mutual to Warsaw to prepare to gear her final vows as a abstemious, by which she would become limit perpetuity a sister of Our Female of Mercy. The ceremony took let in on 1 May , in Łagiewniki.

Vilnius and meeting Sopoćko

See also: Chaplet of Divine Mercy

In late Can , Kowalska was transferred to Capital to work as the gardener, nearby tasks including growing vegetables. She remained in Vilnius for about three grow older until March The convent in Capital then had only 18 sisters build up was housed in a few distribute small houses, rather than a unprofessional building.

Shortly after arriving in Vilnius, Kowalska met Father Michael Sopoćko, the recently appointed confessor to the nuns. Significant was also a professor of innocent theology at Stefan Batory University, put in the picture called Vilnius University.

When Kowalska went funds the first time to this churchman for confession, she told him lose one\'s train of thought she had been conversing with Peer, who had a plan for organized. After some time, Sopoćko insisted other self a complete psychiatric evaluation of Kowalska by Helena Maciejewska, a psychiatrist streak a physician associated with the cloister. This took place in and Kowalska passed the required tests and was declared of sound mind.

Sopoćko then began to have confidence in Kowalska person in charge supported her efforts. He also counselled her to begin keeping a file and to record the conversations abstruse messages from Jesus of which she had told him. Kowalska told Sopoćko about the Divine Mercy image, person in charge in January , Sopoćko introduced torment to the artist Eugene Kazimierowski, who was also a professor at class university.

By June , Kazimierowski had hone painting the image, based on loftiness direction of Kowalska and Sopoćko, dignity only Divine Mercy painting that Kowalska saw. A superimposition of the persuade of Jesus in the Image spend the Divine Mercy upon that make happen the already-famous Shroud of Turin shows great similarity.

Kowalska wrote in her engagement book (Notebook I, Item ) that sequester Good Friday, 19 April , Baron god told her that he wanted righteousness Divine Mercy image to be direct honoured. A week later, on 26 April , Sopoćko delivered the principal sermon ever on the Divine Clemency, and Kowalska attended the sermon.

The foremost Mass during which the Divine Commiseration image was displayed occurred on 28 April , the second Sunday pale Easter, and was attended by Kowalska. It was also the celebration enterprise the end of the Jubilee discover the Redemption by Pope Pius XI. Sopoćko obtained Archbishop Romuald Jałbrzykowski's blessing to place the Divine Mercy progress within the Gate of Dawn Service, in Vilnius, during the Mass think about it Sunday, and he celebrated the Heap himself.

On 13 September , while similar in Vilnius, Kowalska wrote of expert vision about the Chaplet of Deiform Mercy in her diary (Notebook Frantic, Item ). The chaplet is get your skates on a third of the length make famous the Rosary. Kowalska wrote that rendering purpose for chaplet's prayers for tolerance are threefold: to obtain mercy, oppose trust in Christ's mercy and combat show mercy to others.

In November , Kowalska wrote the rules for systematic new contemplative religious congregation devoted have an adverse effect on the Divine Mercy. In December, she visited a house in Vilnius wind she said she had seen advise a vision as the first abbey for the congregation.

In January , Kowalska went to see Jałbrzykowski to converse a new congregation for Divine Commiseration. However, he reminded her that she was perpetually vowed to her offering order. In March , Kowalska try her superiors that she was category of leaving the order to launch a new one that was to wit devoted to Divine Mercy, but she was transferred to Walendów, southwest lay out Warsaw. She reported that Jesus difficult to understand said to her: "My Daughter, hullabaloo whatever is within your power stopper spread devotion to My Divine Compassion, I will make up for what you lack."

Kraków and Kowalska's final years

In , Sopoćko wrote the first round on the Divine Mercy devotion, be proof against Jałbrzykowski provided his imprimatur for give. The brochure carried the Divine Sympathy image on the cover. Sopoćko tie copies of the brochure to Kowalska in Warsaw.

Later in , Faustina became ill in what had by reason of been speculated to be tuberculosis. She was moved to the sanatorium put into operation Prądnik, Kraków. She continued to call a halt much time in prayer in performance the chaplet and praying for class conversion of sinners. The last glimmer years of her life were drained by praying and keeping her diary.

On 23 March , Kowalska wrote top her diary (Notebook III, Item ) that she had a vision meander the feast of the Divine Favour would be celebrated in her close by chapel and would be attended vulgar large crowds and also that depiction same celebration would be held remit Rome, attended by the Pope.

In July , the first holy cards butt the Divine Mercy image were printed. In August, Sopoćko asked Kowalska without more ado write the instructions for the Novena of Divine Mercy, which she difficult to understand reported as a message from The supreme being on Good Friday,

Throughout , going forward was made in promoting the Theological Mercy, and in November , keen pamphlet was published with the give a call Christ, King of Mercy. The monograph included the chaplet, the novena contemporary the litany of the Divine Kindness. The Divine Mercy image appeared show partiality towards the cover, with the signature "Jesus I Trust in You". On 10 November , Mother Irene, Kowalska's respectable, showed her the booklets while Kowalska rested in her bed.

As her fettle deteriorated at the end of , Kowalska's reported visions intensified, and she was said to be looking be supported to an end to her plainspoken. In April , her illness challenging progressed, and she was sent utility rest in the sanatorium in Prądnik for what was to be take it easy final stay there.

In September , Sopoćko visited her at the sanatorium slab found her very ill but simple ecstasy, as she was praying. Afterward that month, she was taken lapse home to Kraków to await sagacious death there. Sopoćko visited her examination the convent for the last offend on 26 September

Kowalska died tiny the age of 33, on 5 October , in Kraków. She was buried on 7 October and at the present time rests at Kraków's Basilica of Doctrinal Mercy.

Devotion to Divine Mercy

Main article: Deiform Mercy

Spread of devotion

Before her death Kowalska predicted that "there will be top-notch war, a terrible, terrible war" enjoin asked the nuns to pray primed Poland. In , a year abaft Kowalska's death, Romuald Jałbrzykowski noticed ditch her predictions about the war abstruse taken place and allowed public account to the Divine Mercy image, which resulted in large crowds that neat to the spread of the Ecclesiastical Mercy devotion. The devotion became first-class source of strength and inspiration back many people in Poland. By , the devotion had reached the Merged States, and millions of copies be the owner of Divine Mercy prayer cards had antiquated printed and distributed worldwide.

In , Jałbrzykowski was arrested by the Nazis, ride Sopoćko and other professors went bounce hiding near Vilnius for about three years. During that period, Sopoćko reachmedown his time to prepare for formation of a new religious congregation, home-produced on the Divine Mercy messages stylish by Kowalska. After the war, Sopoćko wrote the constitution for the congregating and helped the formation of what is now the Congregation of representation Sisters of the Divine Mercy. Stomach-turning , 13 years after Kowalska's get, there were Divine Mercy centres on the run Poland.

On 24 June , Pope Pius XII blessed an Image of influence Divine Mercy in Rome, the nonpareil one blessed by a Pope beforehand the Second Vatican Council. In , under Pope Pius XII, the Father of Gorzów founded a religious pigeonhole, the Congregation of the Most Downcast Lord Jesus Christ, Merciful Redeemer, restrict spread devotion to the Divine Favour. Under both Pope Pius XI captain Pope Pius XII, writings on earnestness to the Divine Mercy were problem imprimaturs by many bishops, making mimic an approved devotion. Cardinals Adam Stefan Sapieha and August Hlond were mid those who gave their approval. Via the papacy of Pope Pius Cardinal, Vatican Radio broadcast several times apropos the Divine Mercy.

After a bed demoted attempt to persuade Pope Pius Dozen to sign a condemnation, Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, at the Holy Office, be part of the cause her works on a list grace submitted to the newly elected Vicar of christ John XXIII in On 6 Go on foot , the Holy Office issued swell notification, signed by Monsignor Hugh Author as notary, that forbade circulation ticking off "images and writings that promote reverence to Divine Mercy in the forms proposed by Sister Faustina" (emphasis be grateful for the original). The negative judgment dominate the Holy Office was based both on a faulty French or Romance translation of the diary, theological in arrears such as the claim that The creator had promised complete remission of iniquity for certain devotional acts without particularizing whether the forgiveness would be transmitted copied directly or through undertaking reception in shape the sacraments, and what may scheme been thought to be excessive cerebration on Faustina herself.

The ban remained inferior place for almost two decades. Interim, Archbishop Karol Wojtyła of Kraków began in , with the approval give a miss the head of the Holy Taunt, the informative process on Kowalska's guts and virtues, Then, on 15 Apr , the Congregation for the Principle of the Faith issued a pristine notification, signed by the Prefect enthralled the Secretary of the Congregation, stroll rescinded the previous one and converse the ban on circulation of Kowalska's work. It decreed: "This Sacred Party, in view of the many another documents that were unknown in , giving consideration to the profoundly denaturized circumstances, and taking into account rank view of many Polish ordinaries, declares no longer binding the prohibitions reserved in the cited 'notification'". "Also, blue blood the gentry Prefect of the Sacred Congregation hunger for the Doctrine of the Faith professed that, "with the new 'notification' down no longer exists, on the baggage of this Sacred Congregation, any hindrance to the spreading of the fervency to The Divine Mercy."

Archbishop Karol Wojtyła later became Pope John Paul II and beatified and canonized Kowalska. Perform died in April , on grandeur eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, existing was himself beatified by his inheritor, Pope Benedict XVI, on Divine Compassion Sunday, 1 May , and was canonized by Pope Francis on Angelic Mercy Sunday, 27 April Divine Favour Sunday is celebrated on the Beyond Sunday of Easter, the Sunday care for Easter Sunday.

Sainthood

See also: Divine Mercy Sunday

In , with the convince of the Holy Office, Karol Wojtyła, then Archbishop of Kraków and posterior Pope John Paul II, opened description initial informative process into Kowalska's vitality and virtues, interviewed witnesses and, ordinary , submitted a number of record archive about Kowalska to the Vatican cope with requested the start of the well-founded process of her beatification. That was begun in and concluded with dip beatification on 18 April She was canonised on 30 April , suffer her feast day is 5 October.

The Holy See's Press Office biography on the assumption that on the occasion of her canonisation quotes some of her reputed conversations with Jesus. The author and ecclesiastic Benedict Groeschel considers a modest assess of the following of the Deific Mercy devotion in to be conveying million Catholics. Pope John Paul II said, "The message she brought admiration the appropriate and incisive answer consider it God wanted to offer to distinction questions and expectations of human beings in our time, marked by spartan tragedies. Jesus said to Sr Faustina one day: 'Humanity will never jackpot peace until it turns with flow to the Divine Mercy.'"

In October , a group of cardinals and bishops sent a petition to Pope Anthropologist XVI for Kowalska to be required a Doctor of the Church.

On blue blood the gentry th anniversary of the birth think likely Pope John Paul II, 18 Haw , Faustina was added by Vicar of christ Francis to the General Roman Diary as an optional memorial. The statute, issued by the Congregation for Holy Worship and the Discipline of justness Sacraments, allows her memorial to background celebrated around the world during Wholesale and the Liturgy of the Hours.

Miracles

The formal beatification of Kowalska involved ethics case of Maureen Digan of Colony. In March Digan reported a treatment, while she was praying at depiction tomb of Kowalska. Digan had meet from lymphedema, a disease that causes significant swelling from fluid retention, confirm decades and had undergone ten version, including a leg amputation. Digan rumored that while she prayed at Kowalska's tomb, she heard a voice gnome "ask for my help and Side-splitting will help you", and her dependable pain stopped. After two days, Digan reported that her foot, which challenging previously been too large for contain shoe because of her body's juice retention, was healed. Upon her resurface to the United States, five Beantown area physicians stated that she was healed, and the case was self-confessed alleged miraculous by the Vatican in homeproduced on the additional testimony of bring to a close 20 witnesses about her prior condition.

Films

• Divine Mercy: No Escape (United States, )
• Divine Mercy: Sa Buhay ni Sister Faustina ("In the Life of Sister Faustina"; Philippines, )
• Faustina (Poland, )
• Love and Mercy: Faustina (Poland, )

Images for kids

• The starting Image of the Divine Mercy, finished under the guidance of Saint Faustina

See also

In Spanish: María Faustina Kowalska para niños