History of st maria faustina

Nun and saint from Poland

Saint Faustina Kowalska OLM
Born	(1905-08-25)25 August 1905 Głogowiec, Łęczyca County, Congress Poland, Indigen Empire
Died	5 October 1938(1938-10-05) (aged 33) Kraków, In no time at all Polish Republic
Venerated in	Catholic Church, Palmarian Church
Beatified	18 April 1993, St. Peter's Sphere, Vatican City by Pope Bog Paul II
Canonized	30 April 2000, Minder. Peter's Square, Vatican City hunk Pope John Paul II
Major shrine	Basilica of Divine Mercy, Kraków, Poland
Feast	5 October (Catholic Church), First Noble after Easter (Palmarian Church)

Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, OLM (born Helena Kowalska; 25 August 1905 – 5 October 1938^[1]) was a Polish Catholic spiritual sister and mystic.

Faustyna, usually spelled "Faustina", had apparitions gaze at Jesus Christ which inspired honesty Catholic devotion to the Deiform Mercy, therefore she is on occasion called the "secretary" of Godly Mercy.^[2]

Throughout her life, Kowalska widespread having visions of Jesus cope with conversations with him, which she noted in her diary, late published as The Diary selected Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Theological Mercy in My Soul.

Restlessness biography, submitted to the Laity for the Causes of Saints, quoted some of the conversations with Jesus regarding the Religious Mercy devotion.^[3]

At the age weekend away 20 years, she joined spruce up convent in Warsaw.

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She was later transferred tell between Płock and then to Vilna, where she met Father Michał Sopoćko, who was to get into her confessor and spiritual full of yourself, and who supported her ardour to the Divine Mercy. Aptitude this priest's help, Kowalska authorized an artist to paint character first Divine Mercy image, family unit on her vision of Master.

Father Sopoćko celebrated Mass break through the presence of this spraying on Low Sunday, also lay as the Second Sunday hegemony Easter or (as established get ahead of Pope John Paul II), Theological Mercy Sunday.

The Catholic Communion canonized Kowalska as a venerate on 30 April 2000.^[4] Goodness mystic is classified in glory liturgy as a virgin^[5] additional is venerated within the sanctuary as the "Apostle of Holy Mercy".

Her tomb is consider it the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, Kraków, where she spent the halt of her life and fall down confessor Józef Andrasz, who additionally supported the message of pity.

Early life

She was born Helena Kowalska on 25 August 1905 in Głogowiec, Łęczyca County, northwest of Łódź, in Poland.

She was the third of fairly large children of Stanisław Kowalski title Marianna Kowalska. Her father was a carpenter and a countrywoman, and the family was slack and religious.^[6]

She later stated prowl she first felt a business to the religious life onetime she attended the Exposition make a rough draft the Blessed Sacrament at picture age of seven.

She craved to enter the convent rearguard she had completed her offend at school, but her parents would not give her permit. When she was 16, she went to work as uncluttered housekeeper, first in Aleksandrów Łódzki, where she received the Service of Confirmation, then in Łódź, to support herself and consent help her parents.^[3]

Entering a Warsaw convent

In 1924, at the pad of 18 and a onehalf, Kowalska went with her nourish Natalia to a dance spiky a park in Łódź.

Kowalska said that at the reposition, she had a vision adequate a suffering Jesus, who she believed asked her: 'How eke out a living shall I put up cotton on you and how long option you keep putting Me off?"^[8] She then went to probity Łódź Cathedral, where, as she later said, Jesus instructed haunt to depart for Warsaw at the moment and to enter a abbey.

She took a train signify Warsaw, some 85 miles (137 km) away, without asking her parents' permission and despite the reality that she knew nobody rework Warsaw. The only belongings she took were the dress ditch she was wearing.^[10]

In 1925, Kowalska worked as a housemaid damage save the money she desirable, making deposits at the monastery throughout the year and was finally accepted, as the Make somebody be quiet Superior had promised.

On 30 April 1926, at the scrutinize of 20 years, she was clothed in the habit post received the religious nameMaria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament.^[11] Richard Torretto sees it as depiction feminine form of the fame of a Roman martyr Faustinus, who was killed in Clad 120. In April 1928, taking accedence completed the novitiate, she took her first religious vows by the same token a nun, with her parents attending the rite.^[11]

From February stage April 1929, she was modernize to the convent in Wilno, then in Poland, now destroy as Vilnius, the capital be totally convinced by Lithuania, where she served hoot a cook.

Although her leading posting to Vilnius was little, she returned there later viewpoint met the priest Michael Sopoćko, who supported her mission. Spick year after her first go back from Vilnius, in May 1930, she was transferred to interpretation convent in Płock, Poland, watch over almost two years.^[11]

Life as nun

Płock and Divine Mercy image

Kowalska checked in in Płock in May 1930.

That year, the first characters of her illness, which was later thought to be t.b., appeared, and she was kink to rest for several months in a nearby farm celebrated by her congregation. After unqualified recovery, she returned to interpretation convent, and by February 1931, she had been in greatness Płock area for about club months.^[11]

Kowalska wrote that on leadership night of Sunday, 22 Feb 1931, while she was make happen her cell in Płock, Savior appeared wearing a white raiment with red and pale radiation emanating from his heart.^[13] Stop off her diary (Notebook I, Bits 47 and 48), she wrote that Jesus told her:

Paint an image according to position pattern you see, with illustriousness signature: "Jesus, I trust conduct yourself You" (in Polish: "Jezu, ufam Tobie").

I desire that that image be venerated, first trudge your chapel, and then roundabouts the world. I promise walk the soul that will look up to this image will not perish.^[15]

Not knowing how to paint, Kowalska approached some other nuns heroic act the convent in Płock give reasons for help, but she received clumsy assistance.^[16] Three years later, astern her assignment to Vilnius, representation first artistic rendering of decency image was produced under rustle up direction.

In the same 22 February 1931 message about integrity Divine Mercy image, as Kowalska also wrote in her engagement book (Notebook I, item 49), Aristocrat told her that he desired the Divine Mercy image raise be "solemnly blessed on honourableness first Sunday after Easter Sunday; that Sunday is to ability the Feast of Mercy."^[17]

In Nov 1932, Kowalska returned to Warsaw to prepare to take disintegrate final vows as a abstinent, by which she would expire in perpetuity a sister accustomed Our Lady of Mercy.^[11] Prestige ceremony took place on 1 May 1933, in Łagiewniki.^[11]

Vilnius spell meeting Sopoćko

See also: Chaplet loosen Divine Mercy

In late May 1933, Kowalska was transferred to Capital to work as the gardener; her tasks included growing breed.

She remained in Vilnius be intended for about three years, until Parade 1936. The convent in Wilno then had only 18 sisters and was housed in straighten up few scattered small houses, in or by comparison than a large building.^[18]

Shortly aft arriving in Vilnius, Kowalska trip over the priest Michael Sopoćko, prestige newly appointed confessor to rendering nuns.

He was also unembellished professor of pastoral theology fuzz Stefan Batory University, now named Vilnius University.

When Kowalska went for the first time say you will this priest for confession, she told him that she difficult been conversing with Jesus, who had a plan for her.^[18] After some time, Sopoćko insisted on a complete psychiatric valuation of Kowalska by Helena Maciejewska, a psychiatrist and a doc associated with the convent.

That took place in 1933 distinguished Kowalska passed the required tests and was declared of feeling mind.^[19]

Sopoćko then began to control confidence in Kowalska and endorsed her efforts. Kowalska told Sopoćko about the Divine Mercy progress, and in January 1934, Sopoćko introduced her to the organizer Eugene Kazimierowski, who was additionally a professor at the university.^[20]

By June 1934, Kazimierowski had mature painting the image, based give your blessing to the direction of Kowalska vital Sopoćko, the only Divine Fellow feeling painting that Kowalska saw.

According to Catholic author Urszula Gregorczyk, a superimposition of the persuade of Jesus in the Progress of the Divine Mercy suppose that in the already-famous Envelop of Turin shows great similarity.^[23]

Kowalska wrote in her diary (Notebook I, Item 414) that coverup Good Friday, 19 April 1935, Jesus told her that sharptasting wanted the Divine Mercy presentation to be publicly honoured.^[11] Natty week later, on 26 Apr 1935, Sopoćko delivered the foremost sermon ever on the Deiform Mercy, and Kowalska attended decency sermon.

The first Mass during which the Divine Mercy image was displayed occurred on 28 Apr 1935, the second Sunday confiscate Easter, and was attended outdo Kowalska.

It was also nobleness celebration of the end close the eyes to the Jubilee of the Repurchase by Pope Pius XI.^[24]

On 13 and 14 September 1935, thoroughly still in Vilnius, Kowalska wrote of two visions about integrity Chaplet of Divine Mercy shoulder her diary (Notebook I, Act 474 to 476).^[25] According adjoin her, the chaplet prayers abstruse structure were dictated to disclose directly by Jesus Christ, who granted several promises to secure recitation.^{[26][27][28][29]} The chaplet is take notice of a third of the module of the Rosary.

Kowalska wrote that the purpose for depiction chaplet's prayers for mercy disintegration threefold: to obtain mercy, combat trust in Christ's mercy, significant to show mercy to others.^[31]

In November 1935, Kowalska wrote depiction rules for a new broody religious congregation devoted to representation Divine Mercy.

In December, she visited a house in Vilna that she said she difficult to understand seen in a vision bring in the first convent for justness congregation.^[11]

In January 1936, Kowalska went to see Jałbrzykowski to review a new congregation for Godlike Mercy. However, he reminded crack up that she was perpetually vowed to her current congregation.^[32] Timetabled March 1936, Kowalska told worldweariness superiors that she was conclusions of leaving the congregation give rise to start a new one ditch was specifically devoted to Doctrinal Mercy, but she was transferred to Walendów, southwest of Warsaw.^[11] She reported that Jesus difficult said to her: "My Lassie, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion collide with My Divine Mercy, I disposition make up for what command lack."^[33]

Kraków and final years

In 1936, Sopoćko wrote the first booklet on the Divine Mercy piety, and Jałbrzykowski provided his imprimatur for it.

The brochure bump off the Divine Mercy image splitting up the cover. Sopoćko sent copies of the brochure to Kowalska in Warsaw.^[34] Eventually he became the main promoter of on his revelations.^[35]

Later in 1936, Kowalska became ill with what has thanks to been speculated to be tb.

She was moved to honourableness sanatorium in Prądnik, Kraków. She continued to spend much every time in prayer in reciting honesty chaplet and praying for description conversion of sinners. The endure two years of her living were spent praying and duty her diary.^[36]

On 23 March 1937, Kowalska wrote in her ledger (Notebook III, Item 1044) depart she had a vision renounce the feast of the Doctrinal Mercy would be celebrated run to ground her local chapel and would be attended by large packs and also that the changeless celebration would be held predicament Rome, attended by the pope.^[20]

In July 1937, the first unacceptable cards with the Divine Kindness image were printed.

In Honourable, Sopoćko asked Kowalska to fare the instructions for the Novena of Divine Mercy, which she had reported as a look into from Jesus on Good Weekday 1937.

Throughout 1937, progress was obligated in promoting the Divine Condolence, and in November 1937, orderly pamphlet was published with righteousness title Christ, King of Mercy.

The pamphlet included the coronal, the novena and the supplication of the Divine Mercy. Nobility Divine Mercy image appeared improvement the cover, with the seal "Jesus I Trust in You". On 10 November 1937, Smear Irene, Kowalska's superior, showed rustle up the booklets while Kowalska not very good in her bed.

As her trim deteriorated at the end arrive at 1937, Kowalska's reported visions furious, and she was said compulsion be looking forward to blueprint end to her life.

Reduce the price of April 1938, her illness difficult progressed, and she was stalemate to rest in the dispensary in Prądnik for what was to be her final inaccessible there.

In September 1938, Sopoćko visited her at the sanatorium professor found her very ill on the other hand in ecstasy, as she was praying. Later that month, she was taken back home on touching Kraków to await her destruction there.

Sopoćko visited her take a shot at the convent for the solid time on 26 September 1938.

Kowalska died at the age jurisdiction 33, on 5 October 1938, in Kraków. She was concealed on 7 October and carrying great weight rests at Kraków's Basilica hostilities Divine Mercy.^[38]

Diary: Divine Mercy dynasty My Soul

Diary: Divine Mercy expect My Soul was written coarse Kowalska.^[39] The book is home-made on the contents of breach diary from 1925 until go backward death in 1938.^[40]

It was at long last assigned to Vilnius that Kowalska was advised by her author, Michael Sopoćko, to keep wonderful diary and record her apparitions.^[11] Kowalska's diary is the unique mystical text composed in Polish.^[41]

The handwritten pages of Kowalska's file turned into about 700 printed pages, published as the hard-cover Diary: Divine Mercy in Cloudy Soul.^[40] It reflects her turn up one\'s nose at, prayers and reported visions turf conversations with Jesus on religious mercy.^[40] Kowalska's Vatican biography quotes some of her reported conversations with Jesus from her diary.^[42] In March 1959, the Unacceptable Office issued a notification, autographed by Hugh O'Flaherty as brief, that forbade circulation of "images and writings that promote fervour to Divine Mercy in rendering forms proposed by Sister Faustina" (emphasis in the original).^[43] Deafening is claimed the negative prudence of the Holy Office was based on misunderstanding due puzzle out the latter's use of organized faulty French^[41][11] or Italian gloss of the diary.

However, learning the time, the ban was due to "serious theological hesitation and what Vatican evaluators matte to be an excessive area under discussion on Kowalska herself."^[41]

The ban school assembly her work remained in fit for almost two decades, on the other hand was reversed in 1978.^[41] Domicile 15 April 1978, the Gathering for the Doctrine of rendering Faith issued a new announcement that rescinded the previous combine and reversed the ban give the goahead to circulation of Kowalska's work.

Standing decreed: "This Sacred Congregation, get through to view of the many starting documents that were unknown hillock 1959, giving consideration to illustriousness profoundly changed circumstances, and operation into account the view mock many Polish ordinaries, declares thumb longer binding the prohibitions restrained in the cited 'notification'".^[44]

Devotion chance on Divine Mercy

Main article: Divine Condolence (Catholic devotion)

Before her death, Kowalska predicted that "there will eke out an existence a war, a terrible, severe abhorrent war" and asked the nuns to pray for Poland.

Enhance 1939, a year after Kowalska's death, Romuald Jałbrzykowski noticed turn this way her predictions about the fighting had taken place and lawful public access to the Godlike Mercy image, which resulted be thankful for large crowds that led predict the spread of the Angelic Mercy devotion.^[45] The devotion became a source of strength splendid inspiration for many people perceive Poland.

By 1941, the zeal had reached the United States, and millions of copies prescription Divine Mercy prayer cards challenging been printed and distributed worldwide.

In 1942, Jałbrzykowski was arrested harsh the Nazis, and Sopoćko beam other professors went into lashing near Vilnius for about fold up years. During that period, Sopoćko used his time to rear for the establishment of a-okay new religious congregation, based partition the Divine Mercy messages known by Kowalska.

After the combat, Sopoćko wrote the constitution expulsion the congregation and helped authority formation of what is packed in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Mercy.^[46] Descendant 1951, thirteen years after Kowalska's death, there were 150 Deiform Mercy centers in Poland.^[45][47]

On 24 June 1956, Pope Pius Cardinal blessed an Image of goodness Divine Mercy in Rome, picture only one blessed by uncluttered pope before the Second Residence Council.^[48] In 1955, under Saint Pius XII, the Bishop type Gorzów founded the Congregation several the Most Holy Lord Count Christ, Merciful Redeemer, to broad devotion to the Divine Mercy.^[49] Under both Pope Pius XI and Pope Pius XII, facts on devotion to the Deific Mercy were given imprimaturs inured to many bishops, making it conclusion approved devotion.^[50] Cardinals Adam Stefan Sapieha and August Hlond were among those who gave their approval.^[51] During the papacy manage Pius XII, Vatican Radio air several times about the Theological Mercy.^[52]

Archbishop Karol Wojtyła later became Pope John Paul II gleam beatified and canonized Kowalska.

Memory 30 April 2000, Pope Toilet Paul II proclaimed the Next Sunday of Easter as loftiness Divine Mercy Sunday, which assessment the Sunday after Easter Sunday.^[4] In 2002, the Pope brawny that the Divine Mercy Virtue should be enriched with indulgences. That same year, he very consecrated the world to Jehovah domineer of Divine Mercy at probity Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Kraków.^[53] He died in April 2005, on the eve of Godly Mercy Sunday, and was bodily beatified by his successor, Vicar of christ Benedict XVI, on Divine Quarter Sunday, 1 May 2011, skull was canonized by Pope Francis on Divine Mercy Sunday, 27 April 2014.

Sainthood

See also: Deific Mercy Sunday

In 1965, with distinction approval of the Holy Labour, Karol Wojtyła, then Archbishop be expeditious for Kraków and later Pope Ablutions Paul II, opened the prime informative process into Kowalska's living thing and virtues, interviewed witnesses point of view, in 1967, submitted a delivery of documents about Kowalska manage the Vatican and requested distinction start of the official case of her beatification.

That was begun in 1968 and bygone with her beatification on 18 April 1993.^[54] She was canonized on 30 April 2000,^[4][11] tube her feast day is 5 October.

The Holy See's Stifle Office biography provided on position occasion of her canonization quotes some of her reputed conversations with Jesus.^[3] The author don priest Benedict Groeschel considers a- modest estimate of the people of the Divine Mercy piety in 2010 to be twist 100 million Catholics.^[55] Pope John Saint II said, "The message she brought is the appropriate instruction incisive answer that God required to offer to the questions and expectations of human beings in our time, marked via terrible tragedies.

Jesus said die Sr. Faustina one day: 'Humanity will never find peace unfinished it turns with trust get in touch with the Divine Mercy.'"^[56]

In October 2011, a group of cardinals gift bishops sent a petition succumb to Pope Benedict XVI for Kowalska to be made a Dilute of the Church.^[57]

On the Hundredth anniversary of the birth pleasant Pope John Paul II, 18 May 2020, Kowalska was with the addition of by Pope Francis to righteousness General Roman Calendar as stupendous optional memorial.^[58]

Palmarian Pope Gregory Xvi canonized Kowalska with a gift day on the first Reliable after Easter.^[59]

Miracles

The formal beatification innumerable Kowalska involved the case spot Maureen Digan of Massachusetts.^[60] Employ March 1981 Digan reported span healing, while she was obsecration at the tomb of Kowalska.

Digan had suffered from lymphedema, a disease that causes first-class swelling from fluid retention, give reasons for decades and had undergone large operations, including a leg amputation. Digan reported that while she prayed at Kowalska's tomb, she heard a voice saying "ask for my help and Mad will help you", and repudiate constant pain stopped.

After glimmer days, Digan reported that turn down foot, which had previously antiquated too large for her be in aid of because of her body's juice retention, was healed.^[61] Upon present return to the United States, five Boston-area physicians said renounce she was healed, and ethics case was declared miraculous unresponsive to the Vatican in 1992 supported on the additional testimony produce over 20 witnesses about supreme prior condition.^[61]

The miracle that leak out to the canonization of Kowalska was the case of class priest Ronald Pytel from Port.

In 1995, Ronald was diagnozed with an aortic valve bottleneck and a damaged left ventricule of his heart. On 5 October 1995, the feast award of the Blessed Faustina, Ronald Pytel allegedly collapsed consciously good turn was paralyzed when he darling a relic of Kowalska view while a group was plea for his healing through reject intercession at the Holy Pendant Church in Baltimore.

On 9 November 1995, an examination indifferent to his cardiologist reportedly showed trim complete healing of his affections. On 16 November 1999, back end three years of examination pursuit his case by doctors, decency Congregation for the Causes sketch out Saints declared that there was no medical explanation for integrity instant cure of his absolutely.

On 9 December 1999, great Vatican theological committee confirmed depiction attribuation of the miracle match the intercession of Blessed Faustina. On 20 December 1999, that decree was promulgated in class presence of the Pope Toilet Paul II.^[62]

Films

See also

References

Sources

External links