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Saint M. Faustina Kowalska
On October 5, 1938, a young religious by the name
Sister Faustina (Helen Kowalska) died in a convent
of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
in Cracow, Poland. She came from a very poor family
that had struggled hard on their little farm during the
terrible years of WWI. Sister had had only three years
of very simple education. Hers were the humblest of
tasks in the convent, usually in the kitchen or the vegetable
garden, or as a porter.
On February 22, 1931, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
appeared to this simple nun, bringing with Him a wonderful
message of Mercy for all mankind. Saint Faustina tells us in
her diary under this date:
"In the evening, when I was in my cell, I became
aware of the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment.
One hand was raised in blessing, the other was
touching the garment at the breast. From the opening
of the garment at the breast there came forth
two large rays, one red and the other pale. In silence
I gazed intently at the Lord; my soul was overwhelmed
with fear, but also with great joy. After a while Jesus
said to me, 'paint an image according to the pattern
you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You.'"
Some time later, Our Lord again spoke to her:
"The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls
righteous; the red ray stands for the Blood which is
the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the
depths of My most tender Mercy at that time when
My agonizing Heart was opened by a lance on the
Cross....Fortunate is the one who will dwell in their
shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him."
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