On July 8, as on every eighth day of the month, the community of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Gdansk, Częstochowa and Kalisz will support married couples praying for offspring. Already over 940 married couples from Poland, Italy, France and the USA have enlisted for the prayer and 476 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 July at 7.30 pm at the shrine of the Pregnant Holy Mother in Matemblewo. Live stream: www.modlitwaopotomstwo.pl.
On 6 July falls the 139th anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa Ewa nee Sułkowska, Countess Potocka, the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland. Is it a small thing to save one soul, she wrote. This idea guided her life and work, which she established to rescue women and girls in need of deep moral renewal (“the Magdalenas”). The Congregation later gave to the Church and the world the trasure that was Sister Faustina, apostle of Divine Mercy who is now recognized as its spiritual co-founder. Mother Teresa Potocka died in the palace of Wilanów. Her mortal remains rest in the tomb of the Congregation at the Powązki cemetery in Warsaw. We do not call her a saint, because only the Church has the right to give that title, said Fr. Zygmunt Golian, her spiritual director, in the funeral speech. However, let our efforts at work, for which he was ready to give her life, prove her sanctity. More information about the life and work of Mother Teresa Potocka can be found here.
On June 27th at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, the 1st National Congress of the ‘Faustinum’ Association of the Apostles of Divine Mercy will take place. This is a new initiative resulting from the desire to hold an annual meeting at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki for members, volunteers and formation communities of the ‘Faustinum’ from all over Poland. The meeting will be an opportunity for participants to be strengthened in their vocation as Apostles of Divine Mercy through formation and communal prayer. It is also a precious experience of [being in] community united by one spirituality and mission. The gathering has the nature of a prayer-formation meeting.
The theme of this year’s Meeting will be To Be an Apostle of Divine Mercy. The program includes: a conference based on Scripture entitled Who is the Apostle of Jesus? to be given by Fr. Dr. Bogdan Zbroja; and another conference entitled, What It Means to Be an Apostle of Divine Mercy to be given by the President of the ‘Faustinum’ Association Sr. Miriam Janiec, O.L.M. The conferences will be followed by Holy Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during which all those taking part will make the Act of Entrustment of the ‘Faustinum’ to the Blessed Mother. The Meeting will conclude with Prayer at the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet prayed in common. Throughout the Meeting, sanitary regulations associated with the ongoing epidemic continue to be in force and shall be implemented. More information at www.faustinum.pl
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 June 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 June 22th, at the John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., there will be a virtual Evening with Merciful Jesus, due to the Shrine being still closed for public due to the pandemic. Sister from the Washington community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy will host the event. The guest of the evening will be Dan Meola, a Doctor of theology, who will deliver a presentation on how the grace of Christ can transform our suffering into life-giving faith, hope and love. The presentation will also be his personal account of healing relational wounds. The meeting will start at 7 pm in front of the image of the Merciful Jesus with prayer with the words of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. There will also be a Q&A part.
You can join the event on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFTeh0aaqAA3-nAYAI7K6zA or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JP2Shrine/
On June 21, at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Košice, Slovakia, another formation meeting of the community of the “Faustinum” Association of the Apostles of Divine Mercy will be held. A conference about the attitude of mercy in the life of Mary will be delivered by Fr. Jozef Kacvinsky. Then, Sr. Clareta Fečová from the Košice community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy will talk about asceticism, the attitude of mercy and falsified concepts of mercy.
On June 18, the next formation meeting of the community of the “Faustinum” Society of the Apostles of Divine Mercy will be held in the parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Detva. A conference will be delivered by Fr. Artur Ciepielski and Sr. Alžbeta Mikušová from the Košice community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy. The community is at the stage of permanent formation.
Vimeo Livestream, the American company that supports on-line transmission from the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki at www.faustyna.pl, announced today that from June 16 it will no longer support the Internet Explorer browser. People who use this browser (which is less than 1% of our visitors), and want to watch the video transmission from the Shrine of Łagiewniki, should switch to another browser, preferably Chrome.
As the answer of many devotees of Divine Mercy at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki, in the Chapel of the miraculous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina, Holy Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 12.00 (polish time) in English language. You can participate in it via online broadcasts on the website: www.faustyna.pl, on YouTube on the channel: Faustyna.pl and via mobile applications: Faustyna.pl
Responding to the nomination from the La Salette Fathers, Sisters from the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy took part in the #Hot16Challenge2 at the Łagiewniki Shrine. According to the rules of this action, the Sisters have recorded a rap song composed of 16 verses, which aims to support health care and also carry the message of Divine Mercy. The challenge has been joined by many well-known individuals from the world of culture, art, and politics, for example, President Andrzej Duda, along with people of the Church.
On 11 June, Thursday, the Church is celebrating the feast of Feast of Corpus Christi (Corpus Domini). Holy Mass at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki will be celebrated according to the Sunday schedule. Before noon, the procession of Corpus Christi will set out from the Wawel Hill to the Market Square in Krakow. In the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki, the Corpus Christi procession will start after Holy Mass at 3.20 p.m. and will proceed from the basilica to the chapel with the miracle-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St Faustina.
On June 8, as on every eighth day of the month, the community of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Gdansk will support married couples praying for offspring. Already over 940 married couples from Poland, Italy, France and the USA have enlisted for the prayer and 464 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 June at 7.30 pm at the shrine of the Pregnant Holy Mother in Matemblewo. Live stream: www.modlitwaopotomstwo.pl.
On June 7th, the 23th anniversary of the first pilgrimage made by Pope John Paul II to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki will be celebrated. The Pope prayed in front of the grace-famous painting of Merciful Jesus and at the tomb of (then Blessed) Sister Faustina. He also gave a short speech in which he conveyed many important matters. He said that nothing is more necessary to man than the Mercy of God. The pope added, that he took the message of Mercy from this place to the Holy See and that it shaped the image of his pontificate. He thanked for being able to fulfill the wish of Jesus concerning the introduction of the Feast of Mercy in Poland. In a special message addressed the sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy, he encouraged them in their charismatic apostolic ministry, entrusted to him by Sister Faustina.
Sous cette devise, le 5e jour de chaque mois, le Sanctuaire de la Miséricorde Divine sur la Vieille Place du Marché à Płock organise des rencontres ouvertes à tous ceux qui veulent connaître l’amour miséricordieux de Dieu à travers les témoignages de personnes. Au programme, à 17 heures, la messe votive sur Sainte Faustine Kowalska et ensuite vers 17h45 – une rencontre avec des témoins de la miséricorde de Dieu. En juin, l’expérience de la miséricorde de Dieu sera partagée par s. M. Elżbieta Siepak ZMBM du Sanctuaire de Cracovie-Łagiewniki.
On May 22th (Friday), the Church is making a novena before the feast of the Holy Spirit. In the chapels of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, including the one with the miracle-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina at the Shrine of Divine Mercy, this novena is combined with the May devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. You can participate in it on-line and ask for the light and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit for you, the Church, our country and the world, so that the Spirit lead us to full familiarity with Jesus, reveal to us the depth of His merciful love and teach us to perceive His presence and action in our daily lives. At the end of the novena in the Łagiewniki Shrine, a prayer vigil will be held.
On the eve of Pentecost, this year on May 30th (Saturday), a prayerful vigil will be held at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki will be held and hosted by the Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy. During this prayer we will call upon the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and praise Him for the work that He has done for us. The vigil will begin in the Basilica at 9 pm with a conference from Fr. Krzysztof Kowal, M.S., and will end with Holy Mass at midnight. During the Mass, persons who have undergone a 30-day preparation will make a solemn act of entrusting themselves to the merciful God through Mary. We invite you to participate in this vigil also throught the broadcast at the website of the Shrine’s rectorate: www.milosierdzie.
Accommodation in the House of St. Faustina is available based on prior reservation (tel. no. +48 730 950 521). Due to the limited number of beds, pilgrims will be accepted on a first served basis. We are looking forward to meet you!
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May 27th is the 14th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s pilgrimage to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki. The Holy Father prayed before the grace-famous painting of Merciful Jesus and at the tomb of St. Faustina, in the chapel of Perpetual Adoration, and in the Basilica he met with the sick, who – as he said – are the most eloquent witnesses of God’s Mercy and have an active part in the salvation of the world. On a general audience in Rome, he recalled this pilgrimage to the Shrine in Łagiewniki: I had the opportunity to point out that only Divine Mercy illuminates the mystery of man. … Contemplating the illuminating wounds of the risen Christ, Sister Faustina Kowalska received a message of trust to humanity, the message of God’s Mercy … This message is indeed the main message of our time: mercy as God’s power and as the boundary for the evils of the whole world.
The Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki operates an online shop of the “Misericordia” Publishing Company of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. It is possible to buy there, first of all, the Diary of St. Faustina, which is an excellent book for any occasion, and especially for those weeks of Lent that we are currently experiencing in our homes. This work of the Apostle of Divine Mercy is available through the “Misericordia” shop in traditional paper book form and in audio versions. We especially recommend the radio adaptation, that presents the Diary according to the chronology of events. The other available items include reproductions of the grace-famous image of Merciful Jesus from the Shrine in Łagiewniki, Divine Mercy prayer books and other items bringing closer the merciful love of God and introducing the spiritual richness of St. Faustina. The online store is available at: www.misericordia.faustyna.pl. Orders can be also made by email at: sklep@faustyna.pl.
During the pandemic, the composer Piotr Pałka from Krakow wrote music to the act: Jesus, I trust in You, the most-known prayer to the Divine Mercy, repeated every day by millions of believers around the world. Songs in Polish and Italian at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki were recorded by the Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy. The premiere took place on the Feast of Mercy 2020. The composer dedicates these songs to all those affected by the coronavirus pandemic, especially in Poland and Italy. The song is available on You Tube in the channel: Faustyna.pl
On the 20th anniversary of the canonization of St. Faustina, the Znak publishing company released a new book by Ewa Czaczkowska, Święta Faustyna i miłosierdzie Boże [Saint Faustina and Divine Mercy]. This new book is intended for children. Using the frame of a family pilgrimage to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, it introduces the young readers to the Apostle of Divine Mercy and her mission in a friendly and attractive way, explaining what mercy is and how to experience it on a daily basis. It teaches trust in God and practical service of good to the people we encounter. The book was illustrated in full color by Katarzyna Fus.
On the 20th anniversary of the canonization of St. Faustina, the confessional used by the secretary and apostle of Divine Mercy for almost six years has returned to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki after renovation. It was a silent witness to the innermost secrets of her heart and her experiences of God’s merciful love. Her Diary is a record of the Saint’s many words about the greatness of this gift, which enables the weak and sinful man to meet merciful God through the ministry of a confessor priest. Jesus said: There the greatest miracles take place, are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to him one’s misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated. Were a soul like a decaying corpse, so that from a human standpoint, there would be no[hope of] restoration, and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God’s mercy! You will call out in vain, but it will be too late (Diary, 1448). The confessional-relic will continue to serve the faithful in the convent chapel with the grace-famous Divine Mercy image and the tomb of St. Faustina, so that they may experience the incomprehensible merciful love of God here.
It is a tradition in Poland that Catholics gather in every church and even at small roadside shrines in May to celebrate “Majówki” – a special kind of devotion to the Virgin Mary, during which the Litany of Loreto is sung. At the Shrine in Krakow-Łagiewniki, the May devotions are celebrated in the chapel of the miracle-famous Divine Mercy Image and the tomb of St. Faustina every day at 7:00 pm and on Sundays and other holidays at 6:30 pm. You can also join in the prayer online, at www.faustyna.pl and www.sanktuarium.faustyna.pl.
S
aint Faustina is commonly associated with her revelations of Merciful Jesus and not so much with ones of the Virgin Mary. However, she experienced tens of such revelations. While She conversed with Sister Faustina, Mary revealed to her the mystery of Divine Mercy in her own life. She also instructed, reassured and accompanied the Saint in her prophetic mission of Mercy. She told her: Out of the depths of God’s Mercy, I am your Mother (Diary, 449) and I am not only the Queen of Heaven, but also the Mother of Mercy, and your Mother (Diary, 330).
The Blessed Virgin was, for Sister Faustina, primarily the Mother of the Son of God – the Embodiment of Mercy – and thanks to the Divine Mercy, also the mother of every human being. As the caring best Mother of all and a Mistress of spiritual life, she instructed her regarding the contemplation of God in her soul, regarding obedience to the will of God, the art of lovingly accepting one’s own cross and concern for the virtues that condition the attitude of trust in God and mercy towards our fellow human beings. I saw the Mother of God, Sister Faustina noted, who said to me, “Oh, how pleasing to God is the soul that follows faithfully the inspirations of His grace! I gave the Savior to the world; as for you, you have to speak to the world about His great mercy and prepare the world for the Second Coming of Him who will come, not as a merciful Savior, but as a just Judge. Oh, how terrible is that day! Determined is the day of justice, the day of divine wrath. The angels tremble before it. Speak to souls about this great mercy while it is still the time for mercy. If you keep silent now, you will be answering for a great number of souls on that terrible day. Fear nothing. Be faithful to the end. I sympathize with you” (Diary 635).
When the Congregation chose Mary for the Heavenly Superior General, St. Faustina had a vision where she saw all the sisters covered under Mary’s coat and heard the words of a great promise: “Everyone who perseveres zealously till death in My Congregation will be spared the fire of purgatory, and I desire that each one distinguish herself by the following virtues: humility and meekness; chastity and love of God and neighbor; compassion and mercy”. After these words, the whole Congregation disappeared from my sight, and I remained alone with the Most Holy Mother who instructed me about the will of God and how to apply it to my life, submitting completely to His most holy decrees. It is impossible for one to please God without obeying His holy will. “My daughter, I strongly recommend that you faithfully fulfill all God’s wishes, for that is most pleasing in His holy eyes. I very much desire that you distinguish yourself in this faithfulness in accomplishing God’s will. Put the will of God before all sacrifices and holocausts” (Diary, 1244).
You can download a file “Jesus’ message of Mercy” at Faustyna.pl for the non-commercial spread of the message of Mercy, which St. Faustina provided us with in her Diary. It contains the most important words of Jesus recorded by the Apostle of Divine Mercy. The pdf file has been translated into 15 languages. In 2019, it was shared 618 times via faustyna.pl. The Spanish version was downloaded by the most (226) people, Polish by 136, English by 81, French by 68, Italian by 38, German by 25 and Russian by 13. In many cases, more than one language version was downloaded by the same individual.
Our website, www.faustyna.pl, is waiting for those who wish to join the prayer of Chaplet of Divine Mercy in the intention of an end to the coronavirus pandemic, the graces for the sick, the dying and those who are fighting the Covid-19 virus, as well as for a spiritual rebirth of mankind in trust to Divine Mercy. Jesus said to St. Faustina, Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy (Diary, 300). To join in this prayer, choose a date, hour, and click Fill in to complete the short form. You can join for a month, 14 days, 7 days, or once to enter again at any time. Say this prayer with confidence, offering to the Heavenly Father His Son Jesus Christ, and with Him – yourself and the whole world.
On May 18th, the centenary of St. John Paul II’s birth, faithful across Australia and Oceania will join in prayer of the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 pm for the third time. The action is the fruit of the Congress of Divine Mercy held in Melbourne in 2018 and involves joining in prayer twice a year: on May 18, which is the anniversary of the birth of St. John Paul II, and on September 13—the anniversary of the revelation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, above all, by the faithful of Australia and Oceania. Also Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy have joined in this prayerful action. On May 18th, all those participating will pray for the following intentions:
- So that Merciful Father frees the world from the pandemic and lets us get back to the churches.
- So that priests ordained this year be apostles of Divine Mercy.
- So that faithful are drawn again to the teaching of St. John Paul II.
- For the conversion of the world to Merciful Jesus.
- In all our personal intentions.
More information and how to join:
https://www.worldchaplet.org/en/poland.html
https://www.worldchaplet.org/en/submit-a-prayer.html
https://www.worldchaplet.org/en/map-of-prayers.html
Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki have already served at the Social Welfare Home in Kalisz. After quarantine and a short stay in the convent, they are back on the front line to fight the coronavirus. Sister Zacheusza and Sr. Sancja were joined by Sr. Iwona from the Radom community of the Congregation. This time the sisters will work in a nursing home in Dolny Brzeg near Wroclaw, in which they will be supported with the prayers of sisters performing apostolic work in convents and various projects of the Congregation.
