St. Faustina - Our Patroness and Apostle of Mercy

We can learn much from the life of St. Faustina, the patroness of our parish. As the patron saint of mercy she is someone we can all look to for guidance, especially young people! What a wonderful namesake for our young, growing parish. It is said that she first heard the call to her vocation at the age of seven! From a very tender age, she stood out because of her love of prayer, work, obedience, and also her sensitivity to the poor.

She was born on August 25, 1905, in Glogowiec, Poland, to a poor and religious family of peasants, the third of ten children. At the age of 20, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. Jesus appeared to her as King of Divine Mercy, “wearing a white garment. One hand was raised in a sign of blessing; the other was touching the garment at the breast. From beneath the garment emanated two large rays, one red, the other pale”. Jesus asked her to have an image painted of the way He appeared to her. Her diary, titled “Divine Mercy In My Soul”, has been translated into many languages, among others, English, German, Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Hungarian, Czech and Slovak.

St. Faustina is known as the Apostle of Mercy because she devoted her life to encouraging others to accept the mercy that God offers to all sinners who learn to trust in Him. She led by example, surrendering each moment of her life to the will of the Father.

Externally, nothing revealed her rich mystical interior life. She zealously performed her tasks and faithfully observed the rule of religious life. She was recollected and at the same time very natural, serene and full of kindness and love for her neighbor. Although her life seemed insignificant, monotonous and even dull, she hid within herself an extraordinary union with God.

We can come to a fuller understanding of the suffering and persecution she faced in order to bring others into the fullness of the Divine Mercy of Christ because of the words she left us in her diary. It is because of her vulnerability and transparency that many have found refuge and hope in the Lord.

As we take up our daily tasks during this Ordinary Time between Christmas and Lent, we too can cultivate an extraordinary relationship with the Lord. St. Faustina, pray for us and help us to become apostles of mercy like you!