ST. FAUSTINA KOWALSKAPOLAND, 20TH CENTURY

Sacred Heart of Jesus and

The most recent practical linkto the Sacred Heart of Jesusand the devotional icon of the Lord’s Merciful love camefrom the Polish nun SaintFaustina Kowalska. Jesusappeared to her on February22, 1931, with His right handbestowing blessings and Hisleft hand pointing towardsHis Sacred Heart, whichemitted two rays: one pale;the other a bright red. Theserays represent the Water andBlood that came out of Jesus’pierced side while on theCross. This symbolizes thepurifying virtues of Baptismand Confession and the regenerative virtue of theHoly Eucharist.

et’s report the words of Jesus to St. Faustina:“I desire that this image be venerated by theentire world. I promise that the souls of

those who attribute veneration to this image willnot perish. I even promise victory over theirenemies, already here on earth, but especially atthe hour of death. I will defend that soul in thename of glory.” Jesus, Himself explained the signi-ficance of this devotion: “My daughter, tell all thatI am love and mercy personified. The wound inmy Heart signifies the unlimited living waters ofMercy. Tell all the souls that I protect them withmy shield of Mercy; it is for them that I fight, bearing the just umbrage of my Father […] Mydaughter! Tell suffering humanity to secure itselfto the Mercy of my Heart and I will fill them withpeace […] Souls are perishing, regardless of mysorrowful Passion. I concede to them the last table

of salvation, meaning my merciful feast […] thisicon is a sign of the end days, after such, the dayof judgment is upon you.”

After showing His Infinite Mercy, theLord also showed St. Faustina “hell”. “Today,under the guide of an angel, I went into theabyss of hell. It is a place of extreme torments inthe entire, huge, terrifying surroundings. Theseare the various tortures and torments that I haveseen: First torture: This consists of hell as beingthe loss of the Presence of God; Second: thecontinuous remorseful conscience; Third: theknowledge that such a destiny will never change;Fourth: This torture is a pain that penetrates thesoul, but does not nullify it; it is a terrible tortureand it is a purely spiritual, living fire lit only byGod’s wrath. Fifth: This is the torture of eternal

darkness, a horrible suffocating, putrid odor; evenif it is dark, the demons and the condemned soulscan see each other among themselves and see allthe evil that others have done as well as their ownevil. Sixth: This torture is the knowledge of havingSatan as a constant companion. Seventh and last:This torture is the incomparable desperation ofGod’s wrath, in blasphemy, cursing and swearing.The sinner should realize the same ways that hesins is the way he is going to suffer for all eternity.I am writing this by the Lord’s direction, so thatno one can say that there is no hell, or that no onehas ever been there or that no one knows how it is.I, Sister Faustina, under the Lord’s direction, havebeen in the abyss of hell, for the simple reason ofbeing able to tell everyone and to witness that helldoes exist. What I have written is only a weak shadow of what I have actually seen.”

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© 2006, Istituto San Clemente I Papa e Martire / Real Presence Eucharistic Education and Adoration Association

Jesus to St. Faustina: “My daughter,help me to save a sinner in agony;recite the Rosary that I taught youfor sinners”. Sr. Faustina: “When Istarted to recite the Rosary, I saw asoul on his death bed suffering terri-ble torture and pain in fighting thelast battle of life. The soul was beingdefended by his guardian angel, whowas, however, helpless… A greatmultitude of demons were waitingfor the soul, but while I was recitingthe Rosary chaplet, I saw Jesus inthe same aspect as depicted in thepainting. The bright rays comingout of the Heart of Jesus surroundedthe sick soul and the forces of evilran away… The sick person diedserenely. When I regained myconsciousness, I realized that thedivine chaplet Rosary was an impor-tant prayer to be recited around thedying. This placates God’s wrath.”(St. Faustina Kowalska, Diary,Vatican Library Edition, p. 515)

Saint Faustina said: “DuringHoly Mass when Jesus wasexposed through the HolySacrament before HolyCommunion, she saw two raysof light coming out of the HolyHost; one very pale and theother a bright red light, just asdepicted in this image.”

Jesus to St Faustina: “Mydaughter, write these words as I tell you: All the souls of theworld who adore my Mercy anddiffuse this adoration will bringother souls into the fold. Thosewho trust my Mercy will not fear when the hour of death comes. My Mercy will protect them in their lastbattle… My daughter, incitesouls to recite this Rosary cha-plet that I gave you. When thisHoly Rosary is recited, I willconcede to them everythingthey ask for.”

DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET ROSARY

Jesus to St. Faustina: “This prayer serves to placate my wrath. Recite for 9 days with any Rosary beads in the following manner:

First recite the Our Father, Hail Mary and the Apostles’ Creed.

Then on the Our Father bead, say the following words:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity ofYour dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for oursins and those of the whole world.

On the Hail Mary bead recite the following words:For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Finally, recite these words three times:Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

In the year 2000, Pope John Paul II decreed thaton the first Sunday after Easter,the Liturgical Feast of DivineMercy is to be celebrated

Shrine of the DivineMercy, Crackow