Pillars of Fire In My Soul

Introduction Helen Kowalska (1905-1938), a simple, God-centered woman with little education and from a poor Polish family, is now known throughout the world as St. Faustina, theApostle of Divine Mercy. Once again God works through a little person to make known the Good News of His unconditional love for all of humanity. Once again Jesus searches out one of the least of our brothers and sisters to spread the message of God’s bound- less mercy for each and every member of our human family. We are all beloved children of God, called to serve our Lord with the gifts and talents we have been given, and according to the circumstances of our lives. We are all called to holiness, and St. Faustina is one of our great models for how to respond to that call with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, and all our strength. As the special messenger reminding us of Jesus’ mercy, St. Faustina touches our hearts with a gentle firmness that helps us to transform our ordinary lives into extraordinary lives of love and mercy in service to God and each other. Through the example of her life, St. Faustina teaches us to place total reliance on God and to surrender all that we are and do to His loving guidance and mercy. She teaches us how to be in God’s presence with all the innocence and faith of a tiny child. She teaches us to be in a partnership of love with God as we move through our lives on the road to holiness. The Merciful Way Jesus is the way to everlasting life with God, yet the road to holiness can be as individual as we are. St. Faustina has placed clear markers for us to follow on the merciful way to God’s kingdom. Her example teaches us the merciful way to oneness with God. Her mission as the Apostle of Divine Mercy assures us that the merciful way is accessible to all of God’s children. The Road to Canonization 137