Biography: Sister Faustina

Helena Kowalska was born on October 25, 1905, in a small village west of Lodz, Poland. She was the the third of ten children and her family was very poor.. Poland, at that time, was still part of the Russian Empire.

After attending school for only three years, Helena started work to help support her family. At the age of 20 she felt that God was calling her to the religious life and she traveled to Warsaw. After being turned down by a number of convents, she was accepted by the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. She became a nun on April 30, 1926, and took the name Sister Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament.

While living a typical convent life, Sister Faustina recorded that she saw and spoke with Jesus and Mary in visions several times. Despite her limited education, she kept a diary. She wrote that Jesus told her that her purpose was to spread devotion to the Mercy of God.

On February 22, 1931, Jesus appeared to her as "King of Divine Mercy". She wrote that He was wearing a white garment and His right hand was raised in a sign of blessing. His left hand was touching His garment at the breast. From here, emanated two large rays, one white the other red. Jesus said:

"Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: 'Jesus, I trust in You.' I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over (its) enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory." (Diary 47,48)

Sister Faustina was given a special novena to be said from Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday, which is celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. It may be found by following this link.

http://catholicism.about.com/od/divinemercy/p/Novena _DM.htm

In 1936, Sister Faustina became ill with what is believed to have been tuberculosis. She was moved to the sanatorium in Pradnik.

The last two years of her life were spent in prayer and writing in her diary. By June, 1938, she was no longer able to write. She died on October 5. After her death, the nuns at her convent sent her writings and the paintings of the Divine Mercy to the Vatican.

Sister Faustina was beatified by Pope John Paul II, on April 18, 1993, and canonized on April 30, 2000. She is the first saint of the new millennium. Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated throughout the Church on the First Sunday after Easter.

Her diary may be read here:

http://www.saint-faustina.com/Diary/DMIMS1.shtml