On August 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 487 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 August at 7.30 pm at the shrine of the Pregnant Holy Mother in Matemblewo. Live stream: www.modlitwaopotomstwo.pl.
On August 5, the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of the Snows, the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy celebrates its patronal feast, honoring its Patroness – the Mother of Mercy Incarnate. On this day, the election of Mary as the heavenly Superior General of the Congregation has been traditionally renewed since in 1937, in the form of a special, ceremonial prayer. Saint Faustina wrote in her Diary: I saw the Virgin Mary and She said to me, Oh, how very pleased I am with the homage of your love! And at that moment She covered all the sisters of the Congregation with Her mantle. With Her right hand, She clasped Mother General Michael to herself, and with Her left hand she did the so to me, while all the sisters were at Her feet, covered with Her mantle. Then the Mother of God said hen the Mother of God said, Everyone who perseveres zealously till death in My Congregation will be spared the fire of purgatory (Diary, 1244). This day is the anniversary of the dedication of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the oldest church in the West dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Pope Sixtus III, to celebrate the end of the stormy Council of Ephesus (431 AD), which declared the dogma of the divine motherhood of Mary (Theotokos), introduced the feast of the Mother of the Son of God, which was first celebrated in this particular basilica, and with time, successive Popes expanded it to the whole Church. Today, the liturgical calendar of the Church contains the memorial of Our Lady of the Snows, commemorating the miracle associated with the rise of the basilica, and this name is functioning in the minds of the faithful. Therefore, the first circumstance of the establishment of the feast of Mary as Mother of the Son of God – Mercy Incarnate, has been forgotten. For more information about Mary the Mother of Mercy, Her title, worship and iconography in the Church and Congregation, follow the link: Our Lady of Mercy.
On August 5th of this year, at the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, the diamond anniversary of the religious profession of Sister Alfreda and Sister Marcela will be celebrated. At 11:00 a.m. in the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, a solemn Holy Mass will be celebrated with the renewal of the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience by the Jubilarians, whose outer sign is a silver ring with the engraved name of Jesus. Sisters from other convents of the Congregation, Family, as well as persons entrusted with apostolic work will join the celebration praying in of thanksgiving for the gift of the Jubilarians and for their intentions.
“I betroth you to Jesus Christ”. These are the words 4 sisters from the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy will hear from Bishop Jan Zając on August 2nd during their perpetual vows at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will take place in the chapel with the famous Divine Mercy image and the tomb of St. Faustina at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki. The vows of chastity, poverty and obedience will be made in the presence of the Superior General, Mother Petra Kowalczyk. The ceremony will be attended by sisters from many convents of the Congregation, priests, families and friends. It will be one of the most important days in the lives of these sisters, the Congregation and the Church—the espousal of God and the human soul.
On August 1st, it will be 95 years since Helena Kowalska, known throughout the world under her religious name of Sister Faustina, joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. Despite explicit instructions from Jesus to go to Warsaw and enter a convent to begin monastic life, her way to start following her vocation was not easy. As she wrote in her Diary, she knocked on the doors of many convents, but she was accepted nowhere. It was only in the convent at ul. Żytnia in Warsaw that she received an approval to join, but not before she spends a year working as a maid to earn a modest dowry. Finally, on August 1st, 1925 she stepped over the threshold of the closure, and wrote in her Diary: I felt immensely happy; it seemed to me that I had stepped into the life of Paradise. A single prayer was bursting forth from my heart, one of thanksgiving (Diary, 12). She then spent 13 years in many convents of the Congregation, fulfilling simple duties, and at the same time leading a very deep spiritual life. The Lord sent St. Faustina to the world to remind people of the Biblical truth about the merciful love of God to each human being and call them to proclaim it with a new power of witness, deed, word and prayer.
On 1 August, at 10:00 am at the Shrine of Divine Mercy, 4 sisters from the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy, after serving a two-year novitiate and making an eight-day retreat, will make their first vows before the Superior General, Mother Petra Kowalczyk. The ceremonies, taking place in the convent chapel of the miracle-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina will be presided Father Zbigniew Bielas. The ceremony will be attended by sisters from many convents of the Congregation and families of the sisters. During the first profession, sisters make vows of chastity, poverty and obedience to Jesus for a year, which are then renewed for five consecutive years. After this period, perpetual vows take place.
On July 31st, the liturgical calendar includes a commemoration of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus and one of the patron saints of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, which has benefited from Ignatian spirituality throughout its history. Saint Faustina mentions this Saint twice in her Diary, when she writes about his advice concerning keeping the vow of obedience, and on the occasion of her the vision in 1935: The Feast of St. Ignatius. I prayed fervently to this Saint, complaining and asking how he could watch me and not come to my assistance in such important matters, that is in fulfilling God’s will. I said to the Saint: “You, who are our Patron, you were burning with the fire of love and zeal for the greater glory of God, I humbly ask you, please help me carry out God’s plans.” It was during Mass. Then I saw St. Ignatius on the left-hand side of the altar with a big book in his hands. He said to me: “My daughter, I am not indifferent to your affairs; this rule can be applied to the Congregation as well.” With his hand he pointed to the book and vanished. I was extremely pleased that the Saints have us very much in their thoughts and that they are in close touch with us. O, divine Goodness, how beautiful the spiritual world is, if we can be in communion with the Saints already here on earth. All day long I felt that this Patron Saint, whom I hold so dear, was close by my side.
On July 31th, in the convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, one postulant from the Czech Republic will receive new name and costume of novice (black dress and a white veil) after a first, ten-month period of religious life. She will begin another two year’s term of novitiate, after which she will be able to make her first religious vows. The ceremony of investiture takes place within enclosure, but a Mass for the intention of the sister who begins her novitiate will be celebrated in the chapel of the miracle-famous Divine Mercy image and the tomb of St. Faustina, at 11:00 am.
On July 22th, at the John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., a virtual Evening with Merciful Jesus will be organized, due to the Shrine being still closed to the public due to the pandemic. Sisters from the Washington community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy will host the event. A conference on trust will be provided by Sr. Confida and the Adoration will be guided by live music by Mike Tenney. The meeting will start at 7 pm at the image of the Merciful Jesus with prayer of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. There will also be a Q&A part. You can join the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1221974838170055/
The liturgical calendar includes compulsory commemoration of St. Mary Magdalene, who is the patroness of good change, on 22 of July. Since the beginning, this Saint is the patron of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy, especially of the girls and women in need of moral regeneration, the education of whom is the main task of the sisters. Images and statues of Mary Magdalene are found in many convents of the Congregation. In the convent chapel of the miracle-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina at the Shrine in Krakow-Lagiewniki, her the statue is located in the main altar which is dedicated to the patron saint of the Congregation – Our Lady of Mercy.
On July 16th, the 18th Greater Poland Walking Pilgrimage will set off from Częstochowa to the capital of Divine Mercy worship in Krakow-Łagiewniki. This year’s “From Mercy to Mercy” Pilgrimage will be themed as “The great mystery of faith”. The organizer of the pilgrimage is the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Ostrów Wielkopolski. This year, due to the pandemic, fewer priests and pilgrims will participate in the event. The pilgrims will arrive in Łagiewniki on July 21st. Listeners of Radio Rodzina of the Diocese of Kalisz will also participate in this endeavor spiritually.
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”. A detailed intention for July is prayer: Coverage of costs: servers and fiber optic cables, streaming carried out by Livestream Vimeo, and ongoing maintenance of equipment needed for broadcasting.
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.
Due to the persistent epidemic threat, the traditional cycling pilgrimage from Ożarów Mazowiecki to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki planned for this July has been canceled. Nevertheless, the organizers of the pilgrimage, the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Ożarów, would like to encourage you to undertake making this pilgrimage individually. The route goes through Tarczyn, Grojec, Opoczno, Olkusz, and Czerna to Łagiewniki. Find out more at: http://www.pdmb.waw.pl/program-trasy.html.
On July 17-19, in the parish of Vinné, Slovakia, a weekend retreat will be held. It will be co-hosted by Sr. Pavla from the Hrušov community of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy. The program includes: Holy Mass, conferences, Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the Hour of Mercy, Chaplet of Divine Mercy and praying the rosary together, and individual visits with the sick in the parish.
On July 27, a novena before the feast of the Patron of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, which falls on August 5, will start. During the novena, the Chaplet of Our Lady of Mercy is sung or recited. In this prayer we ask Mary to defend us from our enemies, accept us at the hour of death and beg for the Mercy of her Son for us. In the chapel of the miracle-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina, the novena is celebrated on weekdays at 7 pm, while on Sundays at 6:30 pm. The words of the Chaplet of Our Lady of Mercy.
July 16 is the 154th anniversary of the death of Mother Thérèse Rondeau, the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in France (Laval), and co-founder of the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland. She was born on October 6, 1793 in Laval, France. She was christened Theresa Agatha. Under the influence of her confessor, Fr. J. Chanon, S.J., Theresa undertook working with penitent women, that is to say women in need of deep moral renewal and willing to change their lives. In order to prepare better for this work, in 1818 she moved to Bordeaux, where Mother Teresa de Lamourous ran a house for penitent women, which was called “Mercy”. After a two-month stay, Theresa Rondeau made private vows and returned to Laval to become the foundress of a new work, independent from Bordeaux, and in time this became the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in France. Mother Teresa Potocka, née Ewa Sułkowska, who later became the foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland, adopted the spirituality of the French Congregation and their way of conducting apostolic work. Mother Teresa Rondeau died on 16 July 1866 and was buried within the grounds of the Congregation in Laval; her tomb is in a garden belonging to the convent. Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland has named a co-founder. The spiritual co-founder of the Congregation is St. Faustina Kowalska.
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.
