If there is a lesson to be learned from St. Faustina it is that of perseverance and a fierce trust in God. Born Helena Kowalska, St. Faustina would get the call to enter religious life at the young age of 7. One of ten children, she left her home at the age of 16 in search of a convent but was dismissed by many due to her poverty and her lack of education.
Despite these challenges, she was eventually accepted into the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy — under the condition that she pay her way for her religious habit. She worked as a housekeeper for a year and finally took her first vows at the age of 20. After that, St. Faustina became a cook and traveled to different convents.
A renowned mystic, she received her first vision of Jesus as King of Divine Mercy in 1931 and soon after Jesus revealed to her the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. This revelation of Christ was powerful, as it came at a time when God was viewed as a strict judge, unrelenting and perhaps unforgiving when it came to sin. In St. Faustina’s vision, Jesus chose to emphasize his mercy and forgiveness. “I do not want to punish aching mankind,” he once told Saint Faustina, “but I desire to heal it, pressing it to my merciful heart.”
St. Faustina continued to have visions throughout her life, and she compiled all of them into a diary, which was published after her death. She died of tuberculosis in Krakow, Poland, on October 5, 1938.
Her life is an example that regardless of the hardships we might encounter, with faith and perseverance, we can accomplish great things. Whether you seek solace, inspiration, or simply wish to immerse yourself in her story, this playlist offers a heartfelt tribute to St. Faustina's extraordinary life and her dedication to spreading God's boundless love and mercy to all.
St. Faustina, pray for us.
