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Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, known today the world over as the "Apostle of Divine Mercy" is numbered by theologians among the outstanding mystics of the Catholic Church. She was born in Poland and in 1925 she entered in the convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw. Her entire life was concentrated on constant striving for an even fuller union with God and on self-sacrificing cooperation with Jesus in the work of saving souls. The Lord endowed her with great graces - with the gift of contemplation, with a deep knowledge of the mystery of the mercy of God, with visions, revelations, the hidden stigmata, with the gift of prophecy and of reading into human souls, and also with the rare gift of mystical espousals. St.Faustina's Diary, which Jesus Christ ordered her to keep during the last four years of her life, is a kind of journal in which the author recorded current or retrospective events related primarily to the "encounters" of her soul with God. Jesus said to her: “Today", "I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole word. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My merciful Heart". "You are the secretary of My mercy; I have chosen you for that office in this and in next life" "to make known to souls the great mercy that I have for them, and to exhort them to trust in the bottomless depth of My mercy." "I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet" This is a great book to read and keep in your home!Read full review
My sister told me about Faustina Kowalska many years ago, before she was canonized by Pope John Paul II. In the midst of personal troubles, I began praying to her every day. Years passed and some important changes occurred in my life. In the meantime she was recognized as a Saint. I started reading her Diary about 5 years ago and read it very slowly and prayerfully, just a page or two every day so it took many months. This wonderful young Polish woman did not reach old age; she died on the eve of World War Two and Hitler's invasion of Poland. Her life was filled with great suffering and also with great promises from the Saviour. He explained to her that His Divine Mercy was fathomless - far more abundant than humankind had yet realized. For 20 years she was regarded in Poland as divinely inspired. But after 20 years the Vatican began to disparage her writings and discouraged devotion to her. Those 20 years also passed and the Vatican began to re-evaluate her recorded visions, ending with her canonization as a Saint by the first Polish Pope. Perhaps it was not an accident that the Berlin Wall fell at this time, along with the Soviet Empire, starting in Poland. The Diary is NOT AN EASY READ. If you're not careful, all you will see is a troubled soul. She was honest about expressing her doubts and fears. Such honesty can easily be misunderstood, as when the Press made a big deal out of Mother Theresa admitting her own doubts a few years back. Yet it is foolish to think that the life of a saint is filled with joy and peace. They are tormented, just like and perhaps more than the rest of us. At one point, when she was telling Jesus about her misery and her desire to devote her life to Him, He told her she had given Him much, but that there was one thing she had held back. Confused, she asked what that one thing was. He said, "Your Misery. Give Me your Misery." If the meaning of that is not immediately clear, as it was not to her nor was it to me, then follow her on the Path out of Darkness and into Light. Through her agency I have finally - after 60 years - come to see the Purpose of Life much more clearly ... and truly accepted Love.Read full review
If you can get past the repetitiveness of the praise for mercy there is true inspiration here. her predictions have already been partly realized with a Mercy event or two likely. If you don't know where the chaplet came from this tells you. learn to repeat it for yourself , family and friends. plus all mankind. This is a Gift from Above most will agree I would think. Predicted Polands ww2 predicament, laments errors of russia. warns mankind. For the sake of his sorrowful passion. Have mercy on us and all the whole world. Written under inspiration from above.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I had to buy this as i wanted more info on this saint and her life and the actual birth of this devotion that has become a major influence in my life and devotion and love of God it is a good story lags at times but intense knowlege of the material before hand will enhance the reading for anyone doing so and a love of this saints intercesssion in your life will enhance it. I have been doing this devotion for years now and it has changed my life the chaplett that is discussed in this book is so life enhancing and you as a reader must investigate it for your own spiritual enhancement and progress i strongly encourage it for anyone wanting a change for the better in thier lives and the history is long and it is deep to read and must be taken in doses but it will bring revalation of growth to youRead full review
Thank God that St. Faustina's spiritual advisor asked her to keep a diary of her encounters with the Lord, for the wisdom and love contained within it are there for all of us, especially for the days in which we're living. The Lord's message throughout is very clear- that His love overflows for mankind and even the greatest sinner has the right to ask for His mercy. No one is refused. It also is a great guide for how to grow closer to God while living our everyday lives. The book need not be read from cover to cover; whatever page opened to will inspire and comfort you.
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