The Early Years

Saint Maria Faustina is the daughter of Stanislaus and Marianna Kowalska, born Helena Kowalska on the 25th day of August in the village of Glogowiec, Lodz Province, Poland. She was the third of ten children. At the age of seven, Helena received a definite call of God to religious life, though she didn't understand what religious life was. She completed two years in elementary school. The Russians had closed the schools in their Polish territory, so the Kowalski children had to be taught at home.  Helena began employment at the age of 14. She worked as a maid and a babysitter. Her parents knew from an early age that Helena was different from the rest of her siblings she was very helpful, even-tempered and obedient. Her parents were very poor and did not want to let Helena go to the convent. At the age of 17, she was determined to serve God as a nun; she went to several convents to get accepted. She finally was conditionally accepted for admission to the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw.

Entering the Convent

On August 1, 1925, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.   After receiving her habit, her name was Sister Maria Faustina of the Most Blessed Sacrament.   On the first day of her religious life Sister Faustina was given a vision from Jesus on how much she would suffer for Him during her life in the convent.   She saw the physical sufferings, the mental anguish, the periods where she would be misunderstood or even persecuted.   Extraordinary suffering was to be her lot in life, her special ministry.   She was to intercede for God's mercy for others with every breath, with every work and prayer.  The tasks given her as a “second choir” nun was as a kitchen helper, cook, gardener, and gatekeeper.

Her Spiritual Director

Following her perpetual confession she contacted tuberculosis. Sister Faustina was transferred frequently to different convents because of her illness and weakness.   While in Vilnius she met Fr. Michael Sopocko who became her spiritual director.   She told him of her visions and commissions given to her by Jesus. 

A Vision

On February 22, 1931, Our Lord Jesus Christ is reported to have granted a vision of Himself to Sister Faustina.  She saw Him clothed in an ankle-length white garment.  His right hand was raised in blessing, the left was touching His garment slightly drawn aside, two large rays were coming forth as though from His heart. The ray to the left of the onlooker was red in color; the ray to the right was pale like clear crystal. Our Lord asked: “Paint an image according to the pattern you see with the inscription: Jesus I trust in You! I desire that this image be venerated first in your chapel and then throughout the world”.  It was Fr. Sopocko who led Sister Faustina to a painter (Eugene Kazimierowski) who painted the first Divine Mercy Image as described in the vision.

The Diary

During her time in the convent she was asked to write a diary.  The diary reveals her interpersonal relationship with God.    It teaches of the Divine Infinite Mercy of Jesus for the human race.  In 1935, Our Lord taught Sister Faustina a special prayer for mercy called “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy”.  Jesus requested that the Sunday after Easter be officially established in the Church as the Feast of Mercy. 

A Novena