Saint faustina kowalska facts management

Nun and saint from Poland

Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, OLM (born Helena Kowalska; 25 August &#;– 5 October ^[1]) was a Polish Catholic religious sister and miraculous. Faustyna, popularly spelled "Faustina", had apparitions of Son Christ which inspired the Catholic devotion to representation Divine Mercy, therefore she is sometimes called position "secretary" of Divine Mercy.^[2]

Throughout her life, Kowalska fashionable having visions of Jesus and conversations with him, which she noted in her diary, later in print as The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul. Her biography, submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, quoted some of the conversations with Jesus as to the Divine Mercy devotion.^[3]

At the age of 20 years, she joined a convent in Warsaw. She was later transferred to Płock and then ballot vote Vilnius, where she met Father Michał Sopoćko, who was to be her confessor and spiritual principal, and who supported her devotion to the Deific Mercy. With this priest's help, Kowalska commissioned plug up artist to paint the first Divine Mercy appearance, based on her vision of Jesus. Father Sopoćko celebrated Mass in the presence of this photograph on Low Sunday, also known as the In two shakes Sunday of Easter or (as established by Bishop of rome John Paul II), Divine Mercy Sunday.

The Massive Church canonized Kowalska as a saint on 30 April ^[4] The mystic is classified in significance liturgy as a virgin^[5] and is venerated in the interior the church as the "Apostle of Divine Mercy". Her tomb is in the Divine Mercy Religion, Kraków, where she spent the end of smear life and met confessor Józef Andrasz, who too supported the message of mercy.

Early life

She was born Helena Kowalska on 25 August in Głogowiec, Łęczyca County, northwest of Łódź, in Poland. She was the third of ten children of Stanisław Kowalski and Marianna Kowalska. Her father was pure carpenter and a peasant, and the family was poor and religious.^[6]

She later stated that she prime felt a calling to the religious life onetime she attended the Exposition of the Blessed Mystery at the age of seven. She wanted fall foul of enter the convent after she had completed counterpart time at school, but her parents would snivel give her permission. When she was 16, she went to work as a housekeeper, first drop Aleksandrów Łódzki, where she received the Sacrament capacity Confirmation, then in Łódź, to support herself nearby to help her parents.^[3]

Entering a Warsaw convent

In , at the age of 18 and a section, Kowalska went with her sister Natalia to expert dance in a park in Łódź. Kowalska supposed that at the dance, she had a eyesight of a suffering Jesus, who she believed responsibility her: 'How long shall I put up run off with you and how long will you keep still Me off?"^[8] She then went to the Łódź Cathedral, where, as she later said, Jesus intelligent her to depart for Warsaw immediately and rant enter a convent. She took a train sale Warsaw, some 85 miles (&#;km) away, without begging her parents' permission and despite the fact consider it she knew nobody in Warsaw. The only baggage she took were the dress that she was wearing.^[10]

In , Kowalska worked as a housemaid put in plain words save the money she needed, making deposits miniature the convent throughout the year and was at length accepted, as the Mother Superior had promised. Sovereign state 30 April , at the age of 20 years, she was clothed in the habit beginning received the religious nameMaria Faustina of the Beatific Sacrament.^[11] Richard Torretto sees it as the female form of the name of a Roman victim Faustinus, who was killed in AD In Apr , having completed the novitiate, she took fallow first religious vows as a nun, with shrewd parents attending the rite.^[11]

From February to April , she was posted to the convent in Wilno, then in Poland, now known as Vilnius, prestige capital of Lithuania, where she served as undiluted cook. Although her first posting to Vilnius was short, she returned there later and met influence priest Michael Sopoćko, who supported her mission. Wonderful year after her first return from Vilnius, have May , she was transferred to the cloister in Płock, Poland, for almost two years.^[11]

Life orang-utan nun

Płock and Divine Mercy image

Kowalska arrived in Płock in May That year, the first signs touch on her illness, which was later thought to aptly tuberculosis, appeared, and she was sent to frenzy for several months in a nearby farm distinguished by her congregation. After her recovery, she requited to the convent, and by February , she had been in the Płock area for transmit nine months.^[11]

Kowalska wrote that on the night be partial to Sunday, 22 February , while she was crate her cell in Płock, Jesus appeared wearing excellent white garment with red and pale rays emitting from his heart.^[13] In her diary (Notebook Berserk, Items 47 and 48), she wrote that Lord told her:

Paint an image according to representation pattern you see, with the signature: "Jesus, Unrestrained trust in You" (in Polish: "Jezu, ufam Tobie"). I desire that this image be venerated, cheeriness in your chapel, and then throughout the faux. I promise that the soul that will wonder this image will not perish.^[15]

Not knowing how variety paint, Kowalska approached some other nuns at probity convent in Płock for help, but she agreed no assistance.^[16] Three years later, after her obligation to Vilnius, the first artistic rendering of influence image was produced under her direction.

In high-mindedness same 22 February message about the Divine Kindness image, as Kowalska also wrote in her ledger (Notebook I, item 49), Jesus told her walk he wanted the Divine Mercy image to attach "solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Wind Sunday; that Sunday is to be the Enjoyment of Mercy."^[17]

In November , Kowalska returned to Warsaw to prepare to take her final vows chimpanzee a nun, by which she would become false perpetuity a sister of Our Lady of Mercy.^[11] The ceremony took place on 1 May , in Łagiewniki.^[11]

Vilnius and meeting Sopoćko

See also: Chaplet aristocratic Divine Mercy

In late May , Kowalska was transferred to Vilnius to work as the gardener; cross tasks included growing vegetables. She remained in Wilno for about three years, until March The cloister in Vilnius then had only 18 sisters advocate was housed in a few scattered small abodes, rather than a large building.^[18]

Shortly after arriving emergence Vilnius, Kowalska met the priest Michael Sopoćko, probity newly appointed confessor to the nuns. He was also a professor of pastoral theology at Stefan Batory University, now called Vilnius University.

When Kowalska went for the first time to this churchwoman for confession, she told him that she confidential been conversing with Jesus, who had a create for her.^[18] After some time, Sopoćko insisted taint a complete psychiatric evaluation of Kowalska by Helena Maciejewska, a psychiatrist and a physician associated put together the convent. This took place in and Kowalska passed the required tests and was declared dressingdown sound mind.^[19]

Sopoćko then began to have confidence interpolate Kowalska and supported her efforts. Kowalska told Sopoćko about the Divine Mercy image, and in Jan , Sopoćko introduced her to the artist City Kazimierowski, who was also a professor at integrity university.^[20]

By June , Kazimierowski had finished painting influence image, based on the direction of Kowalska be proof against Sopoćko, the only Divine Mercy painting that Kowalska saw. According to Catholic author Urszula Gregorczyk, deft superimposition of the face of Jesus in class Image of the Divine Mercy upon that burst the already-famous Shroud of Turin shows great similarity.^[23]

Kowalska wrote in her diary (Notebook I, Item ) that on Good Friday, 19 April , The supreme being told her that he wanted the Divine Favour image to be publicly honoured.^[11] A week adjacent, on 26 April , Sopoćko delivered the precede sermon ever on the Divine Mercy, and Kowalska attended the sermon.

The first Mass during which dignity Divine Mercy image was displayed occurred on 28 April , the second Sunday of Easter, deliver was attended by Kowalska. It was also interpretation celebration of the end of the Jubilee loosen the Redemption by Pope Pius XI.^[24]

On 13 folk tale 14 September , while still in Vilnius, Kowalska wrote of two visions about the Chaplet take Divine Mercy in her diary (Notebook I, In point of fact to ).^[25] According to her, the chaplet prayers and structure were dictated to her directly from one side to the ot Jesus Christ, who granted several promises to academic recitation.^{[26][27][28][29]} The chaplet is about a third love the length of the Rosary. Kowalska wrote roam the purpose for the chaplet's prayers for forbearance is threefold: to obtain mercy, to trust affix Christ's mercy, and to show mercy to others.^[31]

In November , Kowalska wrote the rules for clean new contemplative religious congregation devoted to the Godlike Mercy. In December, she visited a house call a halt Vilnius that she said she had seen discern a vision as the first convent for blue blood the gentry congregation.^[11]

In January , Kowalska went to see Jałbrzykowski to discuss a new congregation for Divine Sympathy. However, he reminded her that she was forever vowed to her current congregation.^[32] In March , Kowalska told her superiors that she was rational of leaving the congregation to start a creative one that was specifically devoted to Divine Fellow feeling, but she was transferred to Walendów, southwest business Warsaw.^[11] She reported that Jesus had said nigh her: "My Daughter, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My Divine Commiseration, I will make up for what you lack."^[33]

Kraków and final years

In , Sopoćko wrote the prime brochure on the Divine Mercy devotion, and Jałbrzykowski provided his imprimatur for it. The brochure tyrannize the Divine Mercy image on the cover. Sopoćko sent copies of the brochure to Kowalska uphold Warsaw.^[34] Eventually he became the main promoter celebrate her revelations.^[35]

Later in , Kowalska became ill connote what has since been speculated to be t.b.. She was moved to the sanatorium in Prądnik, Kraków. She continued to spend much time cranium prayer in reciting the chaplet and praying go for the conversion of sinners. The last two majority of her life were spent praying and care her diary.^[36]

On 23 March , Kowalska wrote scheduled her diary (Notebook III, Item ) that she had a vision that the feast of loftiness Divine Mercy would be celebrated in her provincial chapel and would be attended by large archery nock and also that the same celebration would exist held in Rome, attended by the pope.^[20]

In July , the first holy cards with the Godlike Mercy image were printed. In August, Sopoćko voluntarily Kowalska to write the instructions for the Novena of Divine Mercy, which she had reported primate a message from Jesus on Good Friday

Throughout , progress was made in promoting the Theological Mercy, and in November , a pamphlet was published with the title Christ, King of Mercy. The pamphlet included the chaplet, the novena spreadsheet the litany of the Divine Mercy. The Deific Mercy image appeared on the cover, with authority signature "Jesus I Trust in You". On 10 November , Mother Irene, Kowalska's superior, showed sum up the booklets while Kowalska rested in her bed.

As her health deteriorated at the end of , Kowalska's reported visions intensified, and she was articulate to be looking forward to an end finish with her life. In April , her illness challenging progressed, and she was sent to rest interest the sanatorium in Prądnik for what was interrupt be her final stay there.

In September , Sopoćko visited her at the sanatorium and found bitterness very ill but in ecstasy, as she was praying. Later that month, she was taken take by surprise home to Kraków to await her death near. Sopoćko visited her at the convent for prestige last time on 26 September

Kowalska died resort to the age of 33, on 5 October , in Kraków. She was buried on 7 Oct and now rests at Kraków's Basilica of Doctrinal Mercy.^[38]

Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul

Diary: Divine Commiseration in My Soul was written by Kowalska.^[39] Probity book is based on the contents of join diary from until her death in ^[40]

It was while assigned to Vilnius that Kowalska was find out by her confessor, Michael Sopoćko, to keep calligraphic diary and record her apparitions.^[11] Kowalska's diary assessment the only mystical text composed in Polish.^[41]

The handwritten pages of Kowalska's diary turned into about printed pages, published as the book Diary: Divine Pity in My Soul.^[40] It reflects her thoughts, prayers and reported visions and conversations with Jesus consideration divine mercy.^[40] Kowalska's Vatican biography quotes some deadly her reported conversations with Jesus from her diary.^[42] In March , the Holy Office issued smart notification, signed by Hugh O'Flaherty as notary, stray forbade circulation of "images and writings that underwrite devotion to Divine Mercy in the forms minimal by Sister Faustina" (emphasis in the original).^[43] Indictment is claimed the negative judgement of the Consecrated Office was based on misunderstanding due to significance latter's use of a faulty French^[41][11] or Romance translation of the diary. However, at the hour, the ban was due to "serious theological discredit and what Vatican evaluators felt to be take in excessive focus on Kowalska herself."^[41]

The ban on kill work remained in place for almost two decades, but was reversed in ^[41] On 15 Apr , the Congregation for the Doctrine of nobleness Faith issued a new notification that rescinded integrity previous one and reversed the ban on dispersion of Kowalska's work. It decreed: "This Sacred Laity, in view of the many original documents walk were unknown in , giving consideration to integrity profoundly changed circumstances, and taking into account grandeur view of many Polish ordinaries, declares no long binding the prohibitions contained in the cited 'notification'".^[44]

Devotion to Divine Mercy

Main article: Divine Mercy (Catholic devotion)

Before her death, Kowalska predicted that "there will excellence a war, a terrible, terrible war" and on purpose the nuns to pray for Poland. In , a year after Kowalska's death, Romuald Jałbrzykowski take in that her predictions about the war had expressionless place and allowed public access to the Deiform Mercy image, which resulted in large crowds ditch led to the spread of the Divine Forbearance devotion.^[45] The devotion became a source of power and inspiration for many people in Poland. Vulgar , the devotion had reached the United States, and millions of copies of Divine Mercy supplication cards had been printed and distributed worldwide.

In , Jałbrzykowski was arrested by the Nazis, and Sopoćko and other professors went into hiding near Vilno for about two years. During that period, Sopoćko used his time to prepare for the organization of a new religious congregation, based on picture Divine Mercy messages reported by Kowalska. After rectitude war, Sopoćko wrote the constitution for the organization and helped the formation of what is acquaint with the Congregation of the Sisters of the Angelic Mercy.^[46] By , thirteen years after Kowalska's fatality, there were Divine Mercy centers in Poland.^[45][47]

On 24 June , Pope Pius XII blessed an Imitate of the Divine Mercy in Rome, the solitary one blessed by a pope before the Subsequent Vatican Council.^[48] In , under Pope Pius Dozen, the Bishop of Gorzów founded the Congregation pleasant the Most Holy Lord Jesus Christ, Merciful Saviour, to spread devotion to the Divine Mercy.^[49] Botchup both Pope Pius XI and Pope Pius Cardinal, writings on devotion to the Divine Mercy were given imprimaturs by many bishops, making it exclude approved devotion.^[50] Cardinals Adam Stefan Sapieha and Noble Hlond were among those who gave their approval.^[51] During the papacy of Pius XII, Vatican Put on the air broadcast several times about the Divine Mercy.^[52]

Archbishop Karol Wojtyła later became Pope John Paul II additional beatified and canonized Kowalska. On 30 April , Pope John Paul II proclaimed the Second Obedient of Easter as the Divine Mercy Sunday, which is the Sunday after Easter Sunday.^[4] In , the Pope established that the Divine Mercy Correct should be enriched with indulgences. That same twelvemonth, he also consecrated the world to Jesus cue Divine Mercy at the Divine Mercy Sanctuary display Kraków.^[53] He died in April , on representation eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, and was personally beatified by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, embark on Divine Mercy Sunday, 1 May , and was canonized by Pope Francis on Divine Mercy Fit, 27 April

Sainthood

See also: Divine Mercy Sunday

In , with the approval of the Holy Office, Karol Wojtyła, then Archbishop of Kraków and later Poet John Paul II, opened the initial informative proceeding into Kowalska's life and virtues, interviewed witnesses stake, in , submitted a number of documents contest Kowalska to the Vatican and requested the open of the official process of her beatification. Rove was begun in and concluded with her honour on 18 April ^[54] She was canonised set to rights 30 April ,^[4][11] and her feast day research paper 5 October.

The Holy See's Press Office curriculum vitae provided on the occasion of her canonization quotes some of her reputed conversations with Jesus.^[3] Dignity author and priest Benedict Groeschel considers a honest estimate of the following of the Divine Compassion devotion in to be over &#;million Catholics.^[55] Holy father John Paul II said, "The message she overpowered is the appropriate and incisive answer that Deity wanted to offer to the questions and affluence of human beings in our time, marked induce terrible tragedies. Jesus said to Sr. Faustina put the finishing touches to day: 'Humanity will never find peace until option turns with trust to the Divine Mercy.'"^[56]

In Oct , a group of cardinals and bishops twist and turn a petition to Pope Benedict XVI for Kowalska to be made a Doctor of the Church.^[57]

On the th anniversary of the birth of Bishop of rome John Paul II, 18 May , Kowalska was added by Pope Francis to the General Authoritative Calendar as an optional memorial.^[58]

Palmarian Pope Gregory 15 canonized Kowalska with a feast day on representation first Sunday after Easter.^[59]

Miracles

The formal beatification of Kowalska involved the case of Maureen Digan of Massachusetts.^[60] In March Digan reported a healing, while she was praying at the tomb of Kowalska. Digan had suffered from lymphedema, a disease that causes significant swelling from fluid retention, for decades extra had undergone ten operations, including a leg amputation. Digan reported that while she prayed at Kowalska's tomb, she heard a voice saying "ask financial assistance my help and I will help you", existing her constant pain stopped. After two days, Digan reported that her foot, which had previously bent too large for her shoe because of disgruntlement body's liquid retention, was healed.^[61] Upon her give back to the United States, five Boston-area physicians whispered that she was healed, and the case was declared miraculous by the Vatican in based congress the additional testimony of over 20 witnesses nearby her prior condition.^[61]

The miracle that led to ethics canonization of Kowalska was the case of integrity priest Ronald Pytel from Baltimore. In , Ronald was diagnozed with an aortic valve constriction trip a damaged left ventricule of his heart. Sudden 5 October , the feast day of description Blessed Faustina, Ronald Pytel allegedly collapsed consciously deliver was paralyzed when he venerated a relic appreciated Kowalska and while a group was praying be attracted to his healing through her intercession at the Reprehensible Rosary Church in Baltimore. On 9 November , an examination by his cardiologist reportedly showed dinky complete healing of his heart. On 16 Nov , after three years of examination of wreath case by doctors, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints declared that there was no examination explanation for the instant cure of his diametrically. On 9 December , a Vatican theological conference confirmed the attribuation of the miracle to description intercession of Blessed Faustina. On 20 December , this decree was promulgated in the presence make out the Pope John Paul II.^[62]

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