Diary of Sister M. Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul

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Summary: The Obedient Diary of a Misunderstood Visionary
Review: (65) "One time during novitiate, when Mother Directress sent me to work in the wards' kitchen, I was very upset because I could not manage the pots, which were very large. The most difficult task for me was draining the potatoes, and sometimes I spilt half of them with the water. When I told this to Mother Directress, she said that with time I would get used to it and gain the necessary skill. Yet the task was not getting any easier, as I was growing weaker every day [tuberculosis]. So I would move away when it was time to drain the potatoes. The sisters noticed that I avoided this task and were very much surprised. They did not know that I could not help in spite of all my willingness to do this and not spare myself. At noon, during the examination of conscience, I complained to God about my weakness. Then I heard the following words in my soul, FROM TODAY ON YOU WILL DO THIS EASILY; I SHALL STRENGTHEN YOU.

That evening, when the time came to drain off the water from the potatoes, I hurried to be the first to do it, trusting in the Lord's words. I took up the pot with ease and poured off the water perfectly. But when I took off the cover to let the potatoes steam off, I saw there in the pot, in the place of the potatoes, whole bunches of red roses, beautiful beyond description. I had never seen such roses before. Greatly astonished and unable to understand the meaning of this, I heard a voice within me saying, I CHANGE SUCH HARD WORK OF YOURS INTO BOUQUETS OF MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS, AND THEIR PERFUME RISES UP TO MY THRONE. From then on I have tried to drain the potatoes myself, not only during my week when it was my turn to cook, but also in replacement of other sisters when it was their turn. And not only do I do this, but I try to be the first to help in any other burdensome task, because I have experienced how much this pleases God."

You may not know it yet, but one of our greatest saints -- God's intimate "Secretary of Mercy" -- was canonized in 2000, and one of the greatest mystical diaries of eternity is waiting to grace you with the divine privilege of reading it. (Nevermind that the current canonization crazy Pope had a distinctly vested interest in this case.)

Really -- don't waste any more time, buy this often backordered impeccable third edition hardcover ISBN 094420337X now, for it was not only Rilke who said "You must change your life."

Do, however, enter at your own seriously intense risk, and keep in mind that the apparitional Jesus was often speaking specifically to Sister Faustina's unique spiritual needs as His born "simple" Secretary of Mercy, a gardener with three years of elementary school education. "The writings contain a wonderful teaching, but reading them one must remember that God speaks to philosophers in the language of philosophers and to simple souls in the language of the simple ones, and only to these last does He reveal truths hidden from the wise and prudent of this world." Read all 700 plus pages closely; keep a copy of The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Igantius close by (Sister Faustina's Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy follows intensely "obedient" Ignatian spiritual formation). Needless to say, five stars are far from enough.

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Summary: A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF LOVE AND MERCY
Review: A diary of the spiritual journey of Faustina K. to whom Jesus reveled his love and mercy. A book for the spiritualy serious.

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Summary: Connect with a beautiful soul; get the hardback
Review: As far as which edition to get, I must recommend the hardback that's on sale for $15.37 (30% off) at Amazon (the ISBN is 094420337X). For some reason, the web page for the paperback edition doesn't have the link to this edition of the book (instead, it has a link to some other hardback version for which there are no copies); therefore, you must click on "All Editions" in the Product Details section. Anyway, the hardback is beautifully bound and with great quality and durability. You should receive (like I did) the 3rd edition with revisions (13th printing): 2004. Included is an excellent introduction, a detailed chronology of events in her life, and (at the end of the book) a 24 page photo collection, including an excellent picture of St. Faustina and other important photos (both color and black & white photos, depending on whether the original photo was in color or black & white). Marian Press did a truly excellent job...certainly doing justice to the diary.

As far as the diary goes, I think it is wonderful, and (as I said in the title) it will allow you to connect with a beautiful soul. St. Faustina was a humble and devout young woman when she began to encounter Jesus. I have to admit that, at times, it is hard to believe that Jesus truly spoke all that St. Faustina wrote that He spoke. That is not to say that what Jesus says is blasphemous or unorthodox, I just seem to have an inclination toward skepticism/materialism at times. However, as I'm reading her writings and reflecting on them, the words of Jesus are so inspiring as to be certainly given by private revelation to St. Faustina. Indead, this is what the Church has declared.

You will surely increase in faith, hope, and love as you read this diary.

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Summary: Divine Mercy is For Everyone
Review: Divine Mercy in My Soul by Blessed Sister Faustina Kowalska is elegantly simple. It is the spontaneous diary of a young woman who wanted nothing more than Jesus. It is her diaries, written at the behest of her superior, and chronicles the trials and consolations of life in a Polish convent in the 1930's. Bl. Faustina's poor health leads to her early death, but before she dies, she leaves the beautiful diary to help everyone who reads it reach a new, richer understanding of the Mercy of God. You won't read it just once. Keep it with your Bible.

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Summary: A compelling story
Review: I found Blessed Faustina's diary to be a compelling story of one woman's complete surrender to her God. It appears that through all her suffering she was spoken to not only by Christ but also tempted by Satan; but was yet able to complete the mission which she had begun, that is, the saving of souls. It seems appropriate that Christ would ask her to write all that he said to her, since he knew that these writings would be used for the process of her canonization. I would have preferred, though, to have read the diary without the many changes which were obviously made, even though it is stated they were made for clarity. I found myself reading the diary with anticipation, much like a novel. I wanted to know if she actually realized when it was she would die, but appears she did not write all the way up to the time of her death. I first learned of the Divine Mercy through EWTN Television, and through the various programs which they show concerning her life and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Somehow I came away a different person after reading the diary -- I was more secure in my beliefs that there is something to be looked forward to in the hereafter. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the saints and their processes, and in the mysticism of life and death.

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Summary: A True Inspiration of Jesus
Review: I just ordered this book. I have just begun reading it, and I love it. This book has to one of the most inspiratioal books I have ever read. St. Faustina's life was truly a gift from God. She is a gift for all of us. I can see by just reading 100 pages, so far, why she is a Saint. Her revelations are prophectic, and feel in my heart that they are truly from God. One prophectic thing she wrote was, on page 612, #1732-As I was praying for Poland, I heard these words: "I BEAR A SPECIAL LOVE FOR POLAND, AND IF SHE WILL BE OBEDIENT TO MY WILL, I WILL EXALT HER IN MIGHT AND HOLINESS. FROM HER WILL COME FORTH THE SPARK THAT WILL PREPARE THE WORLD FOR MY FINAL COMING." A must read, for all!

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Summary: Saintly Struggles are Divine Revelation
Review: I've just returned from a visit to the church and convent where Sister Faustina lived in Krakow, Poland, and couldn't wait to read her diaries. They are so revealing; not just about her inner struggles but also the message of repentance and mercy that Jesus Christ offers our needy world. As the author of an inspirational book for mothers, NEW PSALMS FOR NEW MOMS: A KEEPSAKE JOURNAL (Judson Press), I put spirituality at the top of my priority list. But I am humbled and inspired by the depth and passion of Sister Faustina's devotion and faith. Despite her struggles with doubt and anxiety, she remains faithful to her visions of the Divine Mercy. And look what has been accomplished through this young and humble nun. The world has renewed hope. The Church has a new saint. And all of us have these incredible diaries to read and re-read as we follow our own unique faith journeys. Thank you, God, for the gift of your faithful servant, Saint Faustina, and her diligent efforts to record her most solemn and intimate moments with Your Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rating:
Summary: Saintly Struggles are Divine Revelation
Review: I've just returned from a visit to the church and convent where Sister Faustina lived in Krakow, Poland, and couldn't wait to read her diaries. They are so revealing; not just about her inner struggles but also the message of repentance and mercy that Jesus Christ offers our needy world. As the author of an inspirational book for mothers, NEW PSALMS FOR NEW MOMS: A KEEPSAKE JOURNAL (Judson Press), I put spirituality at the top of my priority list. But I am humbled and inspired by the depth and passion of Sister Faustina's devotion and faith. Despite her struggles with doubt and anxiety, she remains faithful to her visions of the Divine Mercy. And look what has been accomplished through this young and humble nun. The world has renewed hope. The Church has a new saint. And all of us have these incredible diaries to read and re-read as we follow our own unique faith journeys. Thank you, God, for the gift of your faithful servant, Saint Faustina, and her diligent efforts to record her most solemn and intimate moments with Your Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Summary: Personal and Inspiring
Review: Sister Faustina was a Polish nun who died in 1938 and was recently cannonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. I only learned of her because when my grandmother recently passed away, I was cleaning her house, and she had a drawer full of newspaper clippings conerning the story behind Faustina's cannonization process. I purchased this book to learn more.

The book is a compilation of thoughts on her of her life, the messages that she believed that she received from Jesus, and her struggle to institute the Divine Mercy devotion in the church. The devotion is becoming very popular in Catholic parishes, but need not be restricted to Catholics alone. It is intended for all who believe in Christ and want to know him and his message of mercy as articulated by the Passion.

The book is a diary, and it is personal. It is also very long, and I thought slightly repetitive towards the end, but that is not the fault of the writer. Besides, the message is beautiful.

These are her personal reflections of lessons she learned during her short life, and were not intended to be read by the public, but was written by the command of her confessor, to expedite her confession process (since she felt that she had much to tell him, it was easier for him to read her accounts and then discuss them when they met).

This is by far one of the best accounts of private revelations ever published. Rather than vaguely say "according to what Jesus told me or what I saw, I believe I need to make greater sacrifices or act with more charity to those around me," Faustina recounts the exact words that she believed were revealed to her, images she saw, and writes exactly what she prayed or whom she helps and how. The book is full or miracles and inspiration.

In a nutshell, the message of Divine Mercy is a continuation and expnsion of the messages that other mystics believed they received from God (Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, Gertrude of Helfta, Birgitta of Sweden, and Margaret Mary); that the mercy and love held in God's heart are so great that no evil that will commit is unforgiveable to those who implore his forgiveness with contrition and the intention to avoid sin in the future. She writes that it is an insult to God when think that God's mercy is not sufficient to save us if we ask him with remorse for our misdeeds becuae of the greivances they caused him and others.

Like the other mystics mentioned, and similar to Therese of Lisieux, Faustina tries to live her entire life as a prayer. Praying for the needs of others acitvely, but also conducting every mundane action of daily life with the intent of offering the fruits of her labor up to God to implore his forgiveness of sins. She write much about the role of intention; that we it is now always how much you are able to do through you actions that pleases God, but rather how much you want and try to do good.

The image of Divine Mercry, with Jeuss and the rays coming form his heart, was designed in according to a vision she recieved, with the symbolism that from the love of Jesus' heart come all our hope. The white ray reprsents the water that left his body when piereced by the centurion, and the red ray represents the blood. Much has been writtena bout the significance of water and blood in biblcial symbolism, in terms of redemtion, nourishment, and convenat, so it does not seems necessary to reveal more here, but she does in her book. At the bottom of the image is the sentence "Jesus I trust in you."

Faustina was given many directiosnf ro apryers, whcih are inlcuded in the book. The most popular is the meditation of the passion, as articulated in the "Divine Mercy Chaplet." She also wrties about the value of pausing briefly at 3PM each day to reflect on the passion, ideally through the Sations of the Cross. Divine Mercy Sunday was established as a feast that falls on the Sunday after Easter each year, a time when all are particualrly encouraged to confess their sins. "The Essential Catholic prayer book" has a helpful section of the chaplet and the crux of the Divine Mercy devotion, for thsoe who might not feel up to reading the entire diary.

There is much skeptism about private revelations, and probably for good reason, as many do seem to be reported. Faustina's revelations are some of the few that have been accpeted by the Catholic Church, and they follow the example of standard accepted revelations, like those at Fatima: they do not contradict Church doctrine (but rather seem to articulate Christian teaching in a more accessible format), Faustina revealed all to her confessor, she followed the advice of the her order and church superiors, and she sought no publicity. It is also interesting to note that the revelations that are most credible often occur before incidents of catastrophe, and the Nazi occupation of Poland was one of the darkest and challenging times for Poles.

The book is simply written and easily accessible to any reader. The entries are short and can make a good meditation study. She also includes many devotional poems, which can be used for meditation, particualrly during Lent. I was surprised by the depth of the peoms, considering her limited education. Some of them are reminiscent of work composed by John of the Cross.

Faustina's life was not easy. Despite her gifts, she struggled with periods of spiritual dryness and physical illness, and her ability to keep hope and trust in God is a helpful role model for all who face difficulties in life. And I can think of no greater uplifting message than the great love that God has for all who come to him.

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Summary: A nun's intense relationship with Jesus told in Diary Form
Review: Sister Faustina, a poor Polish girl reluctantly accepted into a nunnery, who from time to time nearly left the convent, saw her calling as an opportunity to strive for excellence in her religious relationship with (primarily) Jesus Christ as her personal Guide, Beloved, and Mentor, as she struggled to be a good nun who eventually sickened and succumbed to a combination of strict penances and the ravages of tuberculosis on a body weakened by fasting, overwork, and long prayer vigils. Sister Faustina writes questions to Jesus and records the answers. This surprisingly honest diary also details the sincere nun's typical difficulties with convent communities and the people in authority over her every action and thought. Her desire for, and apparent degree, of intimacy with Christ is often touching and sometimes astonishing. Sister Faustina credits the revelations and details necessary to found the now-burgeoning cult of The Divine Mercy to no other than Christ himself. The diary wanders up and down through the good sister's emotional and usually dreary accounts of her drab exterior existence: she has her failures and successes obeying and working as an obscure nun. But what is happening interiorly to this woman is a study in mysticism's progress in a sincere individual's life. The book needs better indexing and better introductory materials. It is evident that the diary has received heavy editing -- a shame-- but what remains is a remarkable example of modern-day mysticism providing rivers of genuinely moving experiences which even psychoanalysis can scarcely explain away, displaying the courage and vibrancy of the human heart in a skeptical and agnostic age.