St. Faustina Kowalska
Apostle of Divine Mercy
Feast Day: October 5
Biography
St. Maria Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938), born Helena Kowalska, was the third of ten children in a poor Polish family. She entered the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at age twenty. Despite her lack of formal education, she was entrusted by God with one of the most significant prophetic missions of modern times. Beginning in 1931, she received a series of visions in which Jesus appeared to her and asked her to promote devotion to His Divine Mercy. He asked for the painting of the Divine Mercy image (showing Jesus with red and white rays streaming from His heart, with the inscription 'Jesus, I Trust in You'), the praying of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the celebration of the Feast of Divine Mercy on the Sunday after Easter, and the observance of the Hour of Mercy at 3:00 PM. Her spiritual diary, later published as 'Divine Mercy in My Soul,' runs to over 600 pages and has become one of the most widely read spiritual works of our time. She died of tuberculosis at age 33, having offered her sufferings for sinners. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000 — the same day he officially established Divine Mercy Sunday for the universal Church.
Patronages
Symbols
Prayer
O Jesus, I trust in You. Through the intercession of St. Faustina, apostle of Your Divine Mercy, help me to trust completely in Your infinite mercy and to be an instrument of that mercy to everyone I meet. Let me never doubt Your love, even in my darkest moments. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
Asking for Intercession
Catholics ask saints to pray with us and for us, as we ask friends on earth. St. Faustina Kowalska, who lives in God's presence, intercedes before His throne. Speak from your heart: “St. Faustina Kowalska, please pray for me…” You may also pray the prayer above or include this intention in your Rosary.