Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska
The Humble Instrument
Sister Faustina was a young, uneducated nun in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland during the 1930s. She came from a poor family that struggled during the years of World War I. She had only three years of simple education, so hers were the humblest tasks in the convent, usually in the kitchen or garden. However, she received extraordinary revelations — or messages — from our Lord Jesus. Jesus asked Sr. Faustina to record these experiences, which she compiled into notebooks. These notebooks are known today as the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, and the words contained within are God's loving message of Divine Mercy.
Though the Divine Mercy message is not new to the teachings of the Church, Sr. Faustina's Diary sparked a great movement, and a strong and significant focus on the mercy of Christ. Saint John Paul II canonized Sr. Faustina in 2000 making her the "first saint of the new millennium." Speaking of Sr. Faustina and the importance of the message contained in her Diary, the Pope call her "the great apostle of Divine Mercy in our time."
Today, we continue to rely of St. Faustina as a constant reminder of the message to trust in Jesus' endless mercy, and to live life mercifully toward others. We also turn to her in prayer and request her intercession to our merciful Savior on our behalf. At the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, we include the following in our 3 o'clock prayers:
Saint Faustina,
you told us that your mission would
continue after your death and that you would not forget us. Our Lord also
granted you a great privilege, telling you to "distribute graces as you
will, to who you will, and when you will." Relying on this, we ask your intercession
for the graces we need, especially for the intentions just mentioned. Help us,
above all, to trust in Jesus as you did and thus to glorify His mercy every
moment of our lives. Amen. Amen
The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It
is that God loves us – all of us. And, he wants us to recognize that His mercy
is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His
mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His
joy.
The Divine Mercy message is one we can call to
mind simply by remembering ABC:
A - Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to
approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour
His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.
B - Be merciful. God wants us to receive
His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and
forgiveness to others just as He does to us.
C - Completely trust in Jesus. God wants
us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more
we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.
How
to Recite the Chaplet
The Chaplet of Mercy is recited
using ordinary rosary beads of five decades. The Chaplet is preceded by two
opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Faustina and followed by a closing
prayer.
1. Make the Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. Optional Opening Prayers
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.
(Repeat three times)
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of
Mercy for us, I trust in You!
3. Our Father
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.
4. Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The
Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.
5. The Apostle's Creed
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; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will
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.
6. The Eternal Father
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.
7. On the Ten Small Beads of Each Decade
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the
whole world.
8. Repeat for the remaining decades
Saying the "Eternal Father" (6) on the "Our
Father" bead and then 10 "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion"
(7) on the following "Hail Mary" beads.
9. Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times)
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and
on the whole world.
10. Optional Closing Prayer
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of
compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us,
that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with
great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy
itself.
The prayer can be sung also:
Events in the life and mission of St. Faustina
History of the Message and Devotion to
Divine Mercy
Timeline
Events in the life and mission of St. Faustina
August 25, 1905
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Helena Kowalska was born
in Glogowiec, Poland; the third of ten children living off a small farm and
her father's carpentry work.
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August 27, 1905
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Helena is baptized at St.
Casimirís church in Swinice Warckie.
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1912
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At the age of seven,
Helena hears a voice calling her to religious life.
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1914
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Helena receives first Holy
Communion.
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1917
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Helena begins her primary
education, which lasts only two and a half years.
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1920
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At age 15, Helena begins
domestic work to support her large family.
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1922
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Helena returns home,
announces a desire to enter convent; her parents oppose; she works two years
to help support her family.
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July 1924
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Helena sees a vision of
the scourged Christ who calls her to religious life.
Helena goes to Warsaw to
search for a convent, and she works to support herself.
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August 1925
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Helena is accepted by the
Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy; one month later she wants
to leave for a stricter order.
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April 30, 1926
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Helena receives habit and
her religious name Maria Faustina.
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April 3, 1927
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Sr. Faustina experiences
spiritual dark night during novitiate.
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April 16, 1928
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On Good Friday, she is
engulfed by the flame of Divine Love.
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April 30, 1928
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Sr. Faustina makes her
first profession of temporary vows.
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December 1928
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Newly elected Mother
General Michaela Moraczewska is source of help and comfort to Sr. Faustina
during her religious life.
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October 1928-30
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Easily adaptable, Sr.
Faustina is sent to work at various houses.
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February 22, 1931
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Sr. Faustina sees a vision
of Jesus who tells her to paint His image.
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May 1, 1933
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Sr. Faustina takes her
perpetual vows.
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May 25, 1933
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Sr. Faustina goes to
Vilnius where she receives many mystical experiences and is assisted by Fr.
Michael Sopocko, a wise spiritual director.
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January 2, 1934
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Sr. Faustina visits the
artist Kazimirowski, who is to paint the image.
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March 29, 1934
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Sr. Faustina offers
herself for sinners, especially those who lack trust.
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June 1934
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The painting of Divine
Mercy is completed, but Sr. Faustina does not like it.
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July 1934
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Beginning of Sr.
Faustina's illness; she begins writing the Diary under obedience.
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April 28, 1935
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(Feast of Mercy) Divine
Mercy image is publicly venerated in Vilnius for the conclusion of the
Jubilee Year of Redemption: January 8, 1936. Sr. Faustina informs the Bishop
that Jesus requests the founding of an order.
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May 11, 1936
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Sr. Faustina goes to Krakow;
guided by Fr. Andrasz SJ; her health deteriorates.
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September 1937
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Holy cards with the Divine
Mercy image printed for first time.
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September 1938
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Sr. Faustina prepares
herself for death, and she asks pardon of the Congregation.
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October 5, 1938
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Sr. Faustina makes final
confession, and dies late in the evening.
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October 7, 1938
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Funeral of Sr. Faustina,
burial at the convent cemetery.
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1940-1941
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Divine Mercy message
spreads first among the victims of WWII.
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April 1941
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Fr. Joseph Jarzebowski,
MIC, brings the Divine Mercy message to the USA and the Congregation of
Marians of the Immaculate Conception begins to spread the message in Polish.
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1942-1959
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The Divine Mercy message
spreads worldwide through the efforts of the Marians, who publish images and literature
in many languages.
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March 6, 1959
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Holy Office issues a
notification banning Divine Mercy devotion.
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October 21, 1965
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Informative Process of Sr.
Faustina's life and virtues is opened by Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, Archbishop
of Krakow, encouraged by Cardinal Ottaviani, the Prefect of the Holy Office.
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September 1967
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Informative Process
closes; Cardinal Wojtyla sends acts to Rome, January 31, 1968. The process of
Beatification of Sr. Faustina is inaugurated.
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April 15, 1978
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Prefect of Sacred
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith declares the Notification ban no
longer binding.
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October 16, 1978
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Cardinal Karol Wojtyla
becomes Pope John Paul II.
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July 12, 1979
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Marians receive an
authoritative explanation of the Notification issued by the Prefect for the
Doctrine of Faith stating that no impediments exist in the spread of the
message and devotion to the Divine Mercy in the forms proposed by Sr.
Faustina.
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May 1980
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Marians publish critical
edition of Sr. Faustina's Diary in Polish.
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November 30, 1980
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Pope John Paul II issues
encyclical on the Divine Mercy.
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November 22, 1981
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Pope John Paul II visits
the Shrine of Merciful Love in Collevalenza near Todi, Italy, stating that,
"Right from the beginning of my ministry in St. Peter's See in Rome, I
considered this message (of Divine Mercy) my special task."
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1986
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Marians publish critical
edition of Sr. Faustina's Diary in English.
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April 10, 1991
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Pope John Paul II links
the encyclical's message to Sr. Faustina.
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March 7, 1992
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Decree of Heroic Virtues
of Sr. Faustina is promulgated.
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December 1992
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Miracle through
intercession of Sr. Faustina is accepted.
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April 18, 1993
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Sr. Faustina beatified in
Rome on Second Sunday of Easter.
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January 2000
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Second miracle through Bl.
Faustina intercession is accepted.
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April 30, 2000
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Bl. Faustina is canonized
in Rome on Divine Mercy Sunday and Divine Mercy Sunday is proclaimed.
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May 5, 2000
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Congregation for Divine
Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issues a Decree proclaiming the
Second Sunday of Easter also as Divine Mercy Sunday.
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December 2000
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The Congregation for
Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments listed the Devotion to
the Divine Mercy in itsDirectory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles
and Guidelines.
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April 22, 2001
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Divine Mercy Sunday is
celebrated officially for the first time by the universal Church.
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May 13, 2001
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Congregation For The
Clergy issues a document: "Priest of God, you embody the Mystery of
Mercy."
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August 18, 2002
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John Paul II consecrates
the whole world to the Divine Mercy from The Divine Mercy Sanctuary in
Krakow-Lagiewniki, the site of St. Faustina's tomb.
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August 21, 2002
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Decree of the Apostolic
Penitentiary issued on Indulgences attached to devotions in honor of Divine
Mercy.
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