Such is the theme of the virtual conference organised every Friday in the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in the Philippines. The conference is under the patronage of the National Coordinator of the Divine Mercy in the Philippines, Bishop Ruperto C. Santos and Shrine Rector, Fr. Propero Tenorio. To this event, the Association of the Apostles of Divine Mercy “Faustinum” has been invited to participate. Sr. M. Teresa de la Fuente from the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki shall give the talk on the December 4th episode of this series. The conference topic are the words taken from St. Faustina’s Diary: “Patience, prayer and silence – these are the things that fortify the soul” (Dairy 944). The conference will be aired through the Facebook page of the National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy in the Philippines. See link below:
https://www.facebook.com/NSPDMofficial/videos/1342780469404981/?vh=e&d=n
November 30 is the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Dives in misericordia Encyclical by John Paul II. This is the first papal document in the history of the Church entirely devoted to the mystery of divine and human mercy. Although John Paul II never mentioned St. Faustina in this document, nor did he directly refer to her spiritual legacy, he did enclose the main message from her Diary therein. This message is about recalling the biblical truth of God’s merciful love for man and proclaiming it to the modern world with a new power through the witness of life, deeds, word and prayer. The identity of this message in both works is striking not only in the way they show the mystery of Divine Mercy as the greatest attribute of the Trinity, but also how they look at the concept of mercy. Both Saints from Cracow show the beauty and richness of properly understood mercy. Moreover, in both works we read about the same tasks that arise from the knowledge and experience of God’s merciful love. These are: proclaiming the mystery of Divine Mercy, doing mercy and asking for Divine Mercy.
The Dives in misericordia encyclical and the Diary, although they are generically different works, actually contain the same message: the mystery of God’s mercy, which is at the core of the Bible and the experience of every human being. These two works show what Divine Mercy is in a complementary way, speaking about how incomprehensible God’s greatness and power of action is in the lives of people and the world. Thanks to these documents, from the point of view of theology and mystical experience, the Church of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries could better learn and live this truth revealed in the Bible.
Advent is approaching, Sister Faustina wrote in her Diary. I want to prepare my heart for the coming of the Lord Jesus by silence and recollection of spirit, uniting myself with the Most Holy Mother and faithfully imitating Her virtue of silence, by which She found pleasure in the eyes of God Himself. I trust that, by Her side, I will persevere in this resolution (Diary, 1398). This year, the first Sunday of Advent falls on 29th of November. Liturgically, Advent and the new year in the liturgy of the Church begins with vespers on November 28th. It constitutes a time of joyful anticipation of Christmas, spiritual preparation for this holiday and for the second coming of Christ on Earth, in addition to building our sensitivity to His everyday coming to us here and now, as St. Faustina did, through exercise in silence and recollection of spirit. The joy of experiencing the mystery of faith which tells us of the birth of the Son of God in human flesh, Mercy Incarnate, depends on this expectation and spiritual preparation.
In the time of the pandemic which affects all areas of our lives, the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy is all the more grateful to all benefactors and donors for their support for our apostolic work to benefit thousands of online visitors and people who are dying and in desperate need of prayerful support. Please accept our gratitude for the support of the Chaplet for the Dying and the live video broadcasting from the Shrine of Divine Mercy, and last but not least, our website, www.saint-faustina.org. Your generosity shows God’s mercy going out into the world through people. The Sisters recommend all donors and benefactors in their daily prayers, asking for God’s blessings and grace which they need. With all this in mind, let Divine Mercy be praised!
On November 23, another Monday’s meeting will be held at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, dedicated to contemplating the Catechism of the Catholic Church and prayer at the miracle-famous Divine Mercy image and the tomb of St. Faustina for the recovery of faith in the Eucharistic presence of Jesus, and for priests. At 6.45 pm, Fr. Janusz Kościelniak will lead a short meditation based on the articles of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (88-95). The focal point of the program will be the encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with individual blessing. Those who cannot physically come to Łagiewniki, can connect to the on-line broadcast at www.faustyna.pl.
Every evening in November, the Rosary for the Dead is prayed in the chapel with the image of the Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina at the Shrine in Krakow-Łagiewniki, as well as in all other chapels of the Congregation. Praying the Rosary with others in a church, a public chapel, with your family, or in a religious community or pious organization can gain you a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions. In Poland a plenary indulgence can also be obtained by reciting the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Prayer is a great good that those still living on Earth can offer to those who have already departed from it and are expecting our aid, as they cannot help themselves anymore. Mercy rendered to the dead, like any good done to others, is also the wealth of those who practice it.
People from many countries of the world participating in the work of the Perpetual Chaplet of Divine Mercy are praying not only in their own intentions, but also asking for “mercy on us and the whole world”. Specific intention for November: for the coronavirus pandemic to end, for the necessary graces for the sick, the dying and the medical personnel, as well as for the joy of heaven for the deceased.
The work of Perpetual Chaplet is a response to the request of Jesus to constantly implore for mercy “for us and the whole world”. The work has been operated by the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at: www.faustyna.pl since 2011. Anyone can participate in it by filling out a short form and declare to say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which Jesus dictated to St. Faustina—at least once.
November is a special month of acting out of mercy towards the dead, whose souls are maturing in Purgatory to fully experience love. Saint Faustina visited that place in her mystical experiences and described it in the Diary: … I saw my Guardian Angel, who ordered me to follow him. In a moment I was in a misty place full of fire in which there was a great crowd of suffering souls. They were praying fervently, but to no avail, for themselves; only we can come to their aid. The flames which were burning them did not touch me at all. My Guardian Angel did not leave me for an instant. I asked these souls what their greatest suffering was. They answered me in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God. I saw Our Lady visiting the souls in Purgatory. The souls call her ‘The Star of the Sea’. She brings them refreshment. I wanted to talk with them some more, but my Guardian Angel beckoned me to leave. We went out of that prison of suffering. [I heard and interior voice] which said, My mercy does not want this, but justice demands it (Diary, 20).
In the time of the coronavirus pandemic, masks have become a daily use item. We wear them obligatorily regardless of what outfit we put on. In public space you can see different patterns, shapes and colors of the masks. There are also masks with a trademark or message. And this is what you can now also find at our online Misericordia store of the Łagiewniki Shrine of Divine Mercy. It is easy to guess that these masks come with the message “Jesus, I trust in You!”. These words express not only the essence of the message of Mercy which Jesus entrusted to St. Faustina to proclaim to the whole world, but they are also an effective prayer if accompanied by the fulfillment of the will of God. St. John Paul II confessed: “No words more eloquent can be found than this simple phrase given by Sister Faustina. Jesus, I trust in You!”
On November 15th at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, the 4nd anniversary of the proclamation of the Jubilee Act of acceptance of Christ as King and Lord will be celebrated. At 12.00 am there will be held a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided by Bishop Stanisław Jamrozek. Live broadcast: www.milosierdzie.pl.
The Shrine in Łagiewniki has one of Krakow’s oldest cemeteries. It is a religious cemetery established in the late 19th century in the back of the former garden of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. Here lie the remains of sisters, chaplains, pupils and other persons connected with the convent in Łagiewniki. Also the body of St. Faustina used to be buried here for 28 years. Another Sister who was interred here is Sr. Faustina’s Superior General, Mother Michael Moraczewska. Others include Sr. Kaliksta Piekarczyk who devoted her life for the intention of saving Krakow during World War II, Mother Ksawera Olszamowska who offered hers for the intention of establishment of the Feast of Divine Mercy in the Church and the message of Mercy, along with many sisters who offered up their daily lives for different intentions. The Convent’s cemetery is right outside the southern wall of the basilica in the Łagiewniki Shrine and is often visited by pilgrims. Near the eastern wall of the basilica, there is a military cemetery from the time of WWI. No individual graves are found here. Instead, there is a large cross and an obelisk with a plaque which says that 266 soldiers from 15 European countries are buried in this place. During the Great War, part of the Congregation’s garden was converted into a large military hospital for over 1,000 patients. It had several temporary wards, where soldiers of different nationalities were treated for typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, pox and scarlet fever – in other words, infectious diseases. Some of the soldiers who could not be saved died in this hospital, which was why they were buried in the cemetery outside the Convent’s wall.
Sister Faustina put this question to her deceased sisters while walking by the convent’s cemetery in Krakow-Łagiewniki. She received the following answer: We are happy in the measure that we have fulfilled God’s will (Diary, 515 and 518). Afterwards, the Saint meditated at length on how she was fulfilling the will of God and how she was using the time of her earthly life. This is something to think about when we visit the graves of our loved ones at this time of the year. Every cemetery contains unusual life stories of many people and at the same time it reminds us of the transience of human life, provoking thoughts on its meaning and purpose. Through the life of St. Faustina and her mystical experience, God, who wants happiness for every human being in both this and eternal life, reminds us in a powerful way where happiness lies and how to achieve it.
In the octave of All Saints’ celebrations, from 1-8 November, Sisters from the convent of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki will take part in a great prayer action for unborn children. Through the hands of Mary, as the Organizers write, we want to receive them, hug them, embrace them, maybe even give them a name. We will ask forgiveness from those children who were not allowed to be born. The rosary prayer for this purpose will take place on weekdays at 7pm and on Sundays at 6.30 pm. Brief reflections for each day of the prayers taken from the writings of saints, blessed ones and servants of God, including St. by John Paul II and St. Faustina will be available. For more information and to join, please visit www.rozaniecdogranic.pl.
On November 8, as on every eighth day of the month, the community of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Gdansk, Częstochowa, Kalisz and Kiekrz will support married couples praying for offspring. 515 of them are already expecting children, with many more already enjoying parenthood. Intentions asking for prayer for this purpose (names of married couples) can be sent by email at: kontakt@modlitwaopotomstwo.pl or through the fanpage: www.modlitwaopotomstwo.pl.
The “Woman is Divine” community and Fr. Andrzej Wiecki – its spiritual director and sisters of the Gdańsk community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy cordially invite married couples trying to conceive to Adoration of Merciful Jesus with a prayer for healing, which will take place on 8 November at 7.30 pm at the shrine of the Pregnant Holy Mother in Matemblewo. Live stream: www.facebook.com/modlitwaopotomstwo
The Esperanza project, together with the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Camaguey, participate in the international days of prayer for life. Cuba is taking part in 40 days of prayer and fasting offered for the intention of ending abortion worldwide for the first time in history along with fifty other countries. The action will last until November 1st.
The first day of November is celebrated in the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy as the day when the Church pays homage to all the Saints and, additionally, as the anniversary of the establishment of the Congregation in Poland. On this day, in 1862, Archbishop Zygmunt Szczęsny Feliński consecrated the first chapel and House of Mercy in Warsaw at ul. Żytnia. On this day, the sisters refer especially to the early history of their Congregation. They commemorate its founder, Countess Teresa Ewa Potocka nee Sułkowska, who accepted the invitation of Archbishop Szczęsny Feliński and came to Warsaw to aid “fallen” women in returning to a life of dignity, and to establish a house for them inspired by the House of Mercy in Laval (France), which became the model for their apostolic work and religious life. Together with the Church, the sisters also revere all those who have achieved the goal of their lives: eternal union with God. These saints also include the Divine Mercy apostle, Sr. Faustina Kowalska, raised to the altars as a saint and known all over the world. Saint Faustina was the spiritual co-founder of the Congregation, along with St. Archbishop Zygmunt Szczęsny Feliński and the deceased sisters, pupils and Divine Mercy apostles who were members of the association “Faustinum” and who participated in the mission of the Congregation by making the merciful love of God present in the world through their lives, deeds, words and prayers. The sisters in all the convents their gratitude for the Congregation’s past, entrusting its present and future to God’s mercy, so that all Divine plans for it are fulfilled.
On the Feast of All Saints, the Church honors those raised to the altars, known by name and biography, but also all the priests, other consecrated persons and lay faithful who have reached the goal of human life that is eternal union with God in love. There are more saints who live among us than there may seem to be. One piece of evidence for this is the history of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, which has been intertwined with the lives of many unusual people, in addition to St. Faustina Kowalska. Throughout the over 150-year-long existence and activity of the Congregation, some of these individuals were raised to the glory of the altars by the Church. They include Archbishop Zygmunt Szczęsny Feliński, who was a co-founder of the Congregation; Pope St. John Paul II, who visited Łagiewniki so often and has done so much for the mission of Mercy; Bl. Julian Nowowiejski, the Bishop who invited the sisters to Płock and who wrote the first history of the Congregation; Bl. Jan Balicki, who initiated the Congregation’s works in Przemyśl and served the sisters and their pupils for three years; Bl. Maria Karwowska, who spent her formation period in the Łagiewniki convent and Bl. Michael Sopoćko, the Vilnius confessor of the convent on the Antokol and spiritual director of St. Faustina. The following are included as candidates for sainthood: the fathers who served as confessors to the convent in Krakow-Łagiewniki: the servant of God Fr. Wojciech Baudiss, S.J.; Fr. Bernard Łubieński (Redemptorist); Fr. Stanisław Bednarski, S.J.; Fr. Stanisław Podoleński, S.J.; Fr. Marian Morawski, S.J.; Fr. Józef Cyrek, S.J.; or the servant of God Fr. Jacek Woroniecki, O.P., the author of The Mystery of Divine Mercy, which was copied from the original manuscript by the sisters in Łagiewniki. This list of saints, blessed and servants of the Lord is much longer, particularly because it can include individuals who did not cooperate with the Congregation permanently, but had a different type of relationship with it. Today, too, saints are among us. They are the people fascinated by the merciful love of Jesus, who participate in His life and His mission to reveal the mystery of Divine Mercy to the world.
Every day at 3 pm Eastern Time, Sisters of the Washington community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy lead prayer at the Hour of Mercy and Chaplet of Divine Mercy in English. The prayer is broadcast live from the John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C. The short prayer aimed at contemplating the Mercy of God revealed in the Passion of Jesus, and then the Chaplet of Divine Mercy are available at the Shrine’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFTeh0aaqAA3-nAYAI7K6zA and Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/JP2Shrine/?hc_ref=ARQlMmu9QaQW35VsRG1VafZ-uooOjV-lQxuhvvuGpxIrd3X1oLDaB4fuLHa0JurMBXE&fref=nf
Both the Chaplet and the prayer at the Hour of Mercy are privileged forms of Divine Mercy veneration which Jesus Himself provided to St. Faustina and with which He associated great promises, under the conditions of practicing the attitude of trust in God, that is, fulfilling His will and acting out of mercy toward our neighbors.
Find out more about the Chaplet and prayer at the Hour of Mercy
Due to the large number of Polish and foreign visitors at www.faustyna.pl and our concern for the comfort of searching and use of its content, the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy has decided to move our website to new, more powerful servers. On this occasion, the names of our language pages have been changed. And so, the following language versions are available at the following domain names:
English: www.saint-faustina.org
Spanish: www. santafaustina.es
Italian: www.suorfaustina.it
French: www.soeurfaustine.fr
German: www.heiligefaustina.de
Russian: www.Фаустина.рф
The language pages will be accessible through the above domain names, as well as through links at www.faustyna.pl or other language pages by clicking on a chosen flag icon. We would like to express our deep gratitude to all IT professionals, Collaborators, and Givers for their service in this work of bringing the message of Mercy to the world. Together with you, we form our online community connected by the merciful love of God.
We would like to dedicate these words of St. John Paul II to all benefactors and donors of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, as their cash donations and personal involvement in their apostolic work bring a gift to the world: the message of Mercy, which Jesus entrusted to St. Faustina. Particularly, we would like to thank, here at this website, those who support it and who participate in the works which are implemented through it, especially the “Chaplet for the Dying” and the on-line video streaming from the Shrine in Krakow-Łagiewniki. We pray daily for all donors and benefactors, recommending their intentions to the Divine Mercy through the intercession of St. Faustina.
After the summer break, Mass will be celebrated again at the grace-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina at the Łagiewniki Shrine in English as well. Every Sunday at noon, foreigners living in Krakow, pilgrims and online visitors are encouraged to participate in the service at the holy place or through on-line video stream at our website Faustyna.pl, our Faustyna.pl YouTube channel, and our mobile Faustyna.pl application.
The nearest “Łagiewniki 22”, which is a monthly meeting of young people at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, will be held on October 22nd. In this year of formation, the young will meet at 7 pm for an evening of Divine Mercy veneration in front of the miracle-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina. Those who cannot physically come to Łagiewniki, can connect to the on-line broadcast at at www.faustyna.pl.
On October 22nd, at the John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., another Evening with Merciful Jesus will take place. Since this is the liturgical feast of St. John Paul II, the meeting will be held with the participation of the faithful (not virtually, as it was done so far, due to the pandemic). It will be hosted by Sisters of the Washington community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy. A conference about St. John Paul II will be delivered by Sr. Gaudia, who will show how the Pope’s life and teachings brought us closer to the merciful Father. The music during the prayers will be performed by Michael Corsini, a friend of the Shrine and the Sisters, and a New York area artist. The meeting will start at 7 pm at the image of the Merciful Jesus with prayer of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
Due to the eight day retreat that will take place on October 12-20, there will be no news or gallery updates at www.faustyna.pl. All the remaining works and will continue as will praying for all our coworkers and visitors of our Faustyna.pl website and our Faustyna.pl application.
On the initiative supported by Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, on October 15th, the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, in the Shrine of the Queen of Families in Szczucin, a day of prayer for women will be held. The theme of the event will be “Not beauty is beautiful, but beloved is beautiful” (a Kazakh proverb). The purpose of the meeting is to pray for all women, especially victims of psychological and physical violence, and to repay to God for the sins committed against women and by women, and for despising His gifts, especially the gift of the human body and human dignity. Presentation of the Blessed Sacrament is also planned, followed by Holy Mass, a conference by Sr. Anastasis from the community of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Kazakhstan, titled Woman – Who ARE you?, on the role of women in the plans of Divine Mercy, prayer at the Hour of Mercy, Way of the Cross, the Rosary, a prayer for forgiveness and a prayer of praise.
On October 12, another Monday’s meeting will be held at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, dedicated to contemplating the Catechism of the Catholic Church and prayer at the miracle-famous Divine Mercy image and the tomb of St. Faustina for the recovery of faith in the Eucharistic presence of Jesus, and for priests. At 6.45 pm, Fr. Janusz Kościelniak will lead a short meditation based on the articles of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (65-73). The focal point of the program will be the encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with individual blessing. Those who cannot physically come to Łagiewniki, can connect to the on-line broadcast at www.faustyna.pl.
On October 10, the participants of the „Margaret” apostolate from all over Poland will meet at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki. The pilgrimage will begin in the Basilica at 9:00 am with greeting the pilgrims and a rosary prayer for priests. About 11.00 am – conference. Solemn Eucharist at 12.00 an will be presided by Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski, Metropolitan of Krakow. The pilgrims will also visit the chapel with the grace-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina. The pilgrimage will end with prayer at the Hour of Mercy (3 pm) and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
On October 10th (Saturday) at the Baptismal Shrine of St. Faustina Kowalska in Świnice Warckie, the 18th Rosary Clubs’ Congress of the Diocese of Włocławek will be held. The event will start at 10 am with community at the family home of St. Faustina in Glogowiec and a prayer procession with her relics to the Shrine in Świnice Warckie. Solemn Mass at 12 am will be presided by Bishop Wiesław Mering. During this celebration, the Pastor of the Diocese of Włocławek will bless the historic part of the parish church, one that remembers Sister Faustina from the years of her childhood and youth, and in recent years has undergone a thorough renovation. The old church has been joined with the new one into one parish church which has been raised to the rank of a Shrine.
On October 8, as on every eighth day of the month, the community of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Gdansk, Częstochowa, Kalisz and Kiekrz will support married couples praying for offspring. 503 of them are already expecting children, with many more already enjoying parenthood. Intentions asking for prayer for this purpose (names of married couples) can be sent by email at: kontakt@modlitwaopotomstwo.pl or through the fanpage: www.modlitwaopotomstwo.pl.
