Pillars of Fire In My Soul

Introduction This book brings together reflections on the life and spiritu- ality of St. Faustina by two priests who knew her personally as her spiritual directors, and by two others who devoted much of their lives to researching and extending her mission of mercy to the world. In that sense, this book enables the reader to get to know the great “apostle of Divine Mercy” through the minds and hearts of those who knew and know her best — a unique vantage point for understanding the heart of St. Faustina, and her spirituality of Divine Mercy. Joseph Andrasz, S.J. , was the priest who first provided Sr. Faustina with the wise and prudent direction she needed so that she could begin to cooperate with God’s wonderful designs for her life. St. Faustina wrote of him in diary entry numbers 233-234: His answers brought a great peace into my soul. His words were, are, and always will be pillars of fire which enlightened and will go on enlightening my soul in its pursuit of the greatest sanctity. ... From the moment the priest assured me that what I had experienced was not an illusion, but the grace of God, I have tried to be faithful to God in everything. Fr. Andrasz became convinced of the holiness, and special mission given to St. Faustina, and in the years following her death, he became an ardent promoter of her message of Divine Mercy. The Rev. Michael Sopocko, STD , was appointed to be the usual confessor to the convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Vilnius, where St. Faustina was stationed for several years. Our Lord spoke to the saint about him in these words: “This is My faithful servant; he will help you to fulfill My will here on earth” (diary entry 362). Indeed, Fr. Sopocko’s spiritual direction became a great light upon her pathway, even though he was very