(5th copy book)
O my Jesus, the last days of exile are entirely according to Thy most Holy Will. I unite my suffering, the bitterness I experience and my agony to thy Holy Passion and I offer myself for the whole world, to make the abundance of divine Mercy known to the souls and especially to the souls who live in our house. I have so great a trust, and I so completely surrender to thy Holy Will, which is Mercy itself. Thy Mercy will be everything to me in my last hour, as Thou didst promise it to me thyself...
"To men I give a cup with which they will go and draw from the sources of Mercy. This cup is this image, with the inscription: "Jesus, I trust in Thee". The soul that will venerate this picture shall not perish".
"No sin, would it be an abyss of abjection, will cause my Mercy to run out, for the more you draw from it, the more it increases".
When he revealed Himself to this humble, little Polish Lay Sister from the Order of Our Lady of Mercy, our Lord wanted to unfold to the world his infinite Mercy.
Saint Mary Faustina, all through the 13 years of her religious life, transmitted to us, at the price of a great deal of suffering, humiliations, persecutions, her long conversations with our Lord Jesus Christ and his Most Holy Mother.
Devotion to Divine Mercy can be expressed notably through the veneration of the picture of the Merciful Christ, showing his open side, whence spring out two rays of light, a symbol for the Blood that increases the life in souls, and the Water which purifies the souls.
"Our Lord, complaining about a lack of confidence in his Mercy from the souls, requested that one adds the invocation: Jesus I put my trust in Thee".
"My heart suffers, for even consecrated souls ignore my Mercy and treat me with defiance. Oh, how much do they wound me! If you do not believe in my words, at least, believe in my Wounds."
(Our Lord to Saint Mary Faustina)
Each year, we solemnize the feast of Divine Mercy on the Sunday of Quasimodo (first Sunday after Easter).
We prepare to the feast by a Novena in honor of Divine Mercy, which starts on Good Friday.
In our churches and chapels, we venerate the picture of the Merciful Christ.
In all his Messages, our Lord, through his little secretary, makes us understand how he is fast in forgiving the souls who humble themselves, whatever may be their sins, whatever their grievousness. He is ever ready to forgive. His Heart being all love, he thirsts to be loved, and therefore this lack of trust causes him atrocious suffering, especially when it comes from the consecrated.
Our Lord and the Most Blessed Virgin Mary manifested themselves to her during 13 years of a hidden, painful life, to transmit her the message of Divine Mercy. Long conversation when the little Secretary had to note every thing, at the price of many sufferings, humiliations and persecutions.
(Helen Kowalska) was born in Glogowiec, Poland, on August 25, 1905. Raised in piety in the bosom of a large and poor family, she very soon had to go and work as handmaid.
When she turned 18, while attending a ball party, Jesus, under the sorrowful form of the Ecce Homo, presented himself to her, inviting her not to make him suffer any longer, and offering her to enter a convent.
At 20, she was admitted as a lay sister at the Nun's of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw.
Saint Mary Faustina stood out through her activity, both laborious and prudent, her gaiety and piety, her vivacity of character and taste for beauty. She was employed in turn in the various convents where obedience would send her, as a cook, baker, garden keeper and turn sister.
Affected with intestine, lung and throat tuberculosis, she remained a heroin, always wearing a smile for everyone, for she "wanted to be a Host offered to serve the Church and the souls." Desirous to die with full lucidity of mind, she refused the injection that would have soothed her sufferings, and quietly, without a rattle, but staring at the cross, she rendered her soul to God on October 5, 1938, at the age of 33, such as she had predicted.
But we know that she remains faithful to her promise:
"...Now, I shall not forget you, poor earth. Lost in God, and wholly surrendered into His bliss, I shall not fail because of it to come back here below, and help the souls and exhort them to a boundless confidence in Divine Mercy. Quite to the contrary, consumed in God, I shall have an unlimited power of action."
(Mother Marie Faustine, snd +)