Marian Helper • Spring 2025 • Marian.org 15 Faustina’s vision Saint Faustina recorded this vision in great detail in her Diary, which was written under obedience to Jesus and her spiritual director, Bl. Michael Sopoćko: Everyone was participating in the celebrations with great joy, and many of them obtained what they desired. The same celebration was held in Rome, in a beautiful church, and the Holy Father, with all the clergy, was celebrating this Feast, and then suddenly I saw Saint Peter, who stood between the altar and the Holy Father. I could not hear what Saint Peter said but I saw that the Holy Father understood his words… Then suddenly, I saw how the two rays, as painted in the image, issued from the Host and spread over the whole world. . . the whole day abounded in joy. (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1044-1048) The Marians suppose that St. Peter was here symbolically suggesting to St. John Paul II the inclusion of Divine Mercy Sunday in the Universal Calendar. Interestingly, there were big screens in St. Peter’s Square and in Kraków, broadcasting the celebrations between the cities. Kraków was shown in Rome, and Rome in Kraków. Saint Faustina had not known what she was seeing, but she had seen it true! Eyes opened Certainly, the Church’s declaration of Sr. Faustina’s canonization opened our eyes to the humble mystic’s existence, a greater awareness of her sanctity, as well as her available intercession and guidance. As the faithful learned more about the new saint and the message of Divine Mercy, they prayed for Faustina’s mighty intercession, and their lives changed for the better. After all, St. Faustina assured us, “I feel certain that my mission will not come to an end upon my death, but will begin” (Diary, 281). Saints are not born with sparkling halos hovering over their heads. They have to earn them. Saints come into this world as ordinary pilgrims like you and me — all called to holiness. Yet, many people fear that they could never achieve sanctity, or that it is reserved for someone else — their parish priest, a missionary on the other side of the world, or perhaps their heroic grandmother. Still, they’ve got one thing right. Sainthood requires heroism. Heroic virtue, to be exact. Saint Faustina faced many obstacles in earning her halo. That is, her sanctity. It wasn’t handed to her. Even her own devout parents tried to prevent her from entering the convent. Saint Faustina had to eventually “elope” with Jesus! After crossing the threshold to religious life into what should have been “paradise” for her, instead the struggles greatly increased. She suffered much ridicule, persecution, spiritual darkness, and severe sickness. However, it was along the arduous steps ascending the rungs of holiness — through obedience, simplicity, humility, and great faith and trust in God, that the once simple Polish farm girl excelled in heroic virtue — a saint-in-the-making. Divine Mercy Divine Mercy is not a new revelation. God has always been merciful. However, Heaven saw fit that between the First and Second World Wars, Jesus Christ would entrust the propagation of the hopeful message of Divine Mercy to Sr. Faustina, of the second choir in the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy Congregation, when He appeared to her on Feb. 22, 1931. This young visionary, who once cared for the cows on her family’s farm, was obedient to the mission and also to writing the unparalleled Diary, making it possible for us to learn about Jesus’ unfathomable Divine Mercy shown to humankind through the wounded Heart of Christ. This great Mercy is available for every single soul, and most especially for the most hardened of sinners. We would also become privy to Jesus’ proclamation, “Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My Mercy” (Diary, 300). During his homily at St. Faustina’s canonization, Pope St. John Paul II said he didn’t claim to know the future, except that there would be “new progress” and “no lack of painful experiences.” He added, “But the light of divine mercy, which the Lord in a way wished to return to the world through Sr. Faustina’s charism, will illumine the way for the men and women of the third millennium.” Let us, without delay, turn to the heavenly light of Divine Mercy, asking St. Faustina to help us become saints and to impart Christ’s Love and Mercy to a world starved for it! Jesus, we trust in You! Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle is the author of 52 Weeks with Saint Faustina; Diary of a Future Saint: Faustina’s Incredible Journey; and her latest, Our Life, Our Sweetness, and Our Hope: Jubilee Pilgrims of Hope with Mary, all from Marian Press and available on ShopMercy.org. As the faithful learned more about the new saint and the message of Divine Mercy, they prayed for Faustina’s mighty intercession and their lives changed for the better.
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