Sister Faustina Kowalska: Her LIfe and MIssion

The devotion to th e Divine Mercy as announced by S is te r F au s tin a was so deeply in trins ic to the sp iritua li­ ty of h e r Congregation th a t i t simply did not occur to anyone in h e r community th a t i t m igh t not fit the ir sp iritua l climate. This is why, a lthough the tru th was f iltering through in the lifetime of S ister Fau s tina , when Mother Michael told the S isters of J e su s ’ revela­ tions after the dea th of S is te r F au s tin a , i t was a surprise for the majority. Here a re the comments of companions who were close friends: S is te r F.P. said t h a t "in her lifetime S ister Faustina d id not propose any special form s o f devotion to the Divine Mercy. She merely encouraged th is prayer frequently. When, for instance, any o f the sisters d id not perform her duties properly, S ister Faustina would ask for a prayer, saying, "Let us pray to the Divine Mercy for the intentions o f tha t sister." Thus a devotion to the Divine Mercy could not scandalise anyone or surprise anyone." (Archives of S.F., Recollections). S is te r Ju s t in e G. confirms th is opinion: "As for the devotion to the Divine Mercy, S ister Faustina d id not propagate any o f its forms. She only spoke often in a general way o f the Divine Mercy, and repeated the ejaculation: "Jesus, I trust in You." She also encouraged me to repeat often this prayer: " O Blood and Water, flow ing from the Most Sacred Heart o f Jesus, I trust in You."" (Archives of S.F., Recollections). Probably the most valuable for us of the many s ta tem en ts of th e sisters on th is topic is th a t of S ister Samuel W., th a t in the Congregation "Sister Faustina was not the firs t to speak o f the Divine Mercy, for tha t was the Foundress." 4 Sister 97