Faustyna Helena Kowalska was born on August 25, 1905, in the village of Glogowiec, in Poland.
She was the third of ten children. Her parents werw poor but they taught their children the love of God, and respect for other people.
Her whole life was characterisered by those virtues. When she was twenty years old, she entered the apostolic congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, where as a humble  and hard-working sister, she lived the final thirteen years of her short life.
Fervent love of God and all humanity, led her to the summit of self-sacrifice and heroism.
She distingueshed herself by a special devotion to Jesus vith great trust in His Divine Mercy which she edeavoured to instillinto everyone who came to know her.
She died in the odour of sanctity on October 5th, 1938, in the convent ofher congregation at Lagiewniki in Cracow, Poland, and was buried there in her community's cemetery, on November 25, 1966.
During the informative process of her beatification, her remains were transferred from the cemetery to the convent chapel, where they now lie in a reliquary at the side altar until they are moved to theri final resting place in the new basilica beside the convent.
On Februar 22, 1931, Sister Faustina records in her Diary "I saw Jesus dressed in a white gargment.
He held one hand raised in blessing and the other hand was touching his his gargment at the breast.
From under the gargment came two rays of light, one red the other pale".
Jesus said " paint a picture according to the vision you see and with the signature, Jesus, I trust in You, I desire that this picture be venerrated first in your chapel and then throughhout the whole world".
Later Sr. Faustina?s Spiritual Director told her to ask Jesus what the rays signified and Jesus explained to her:
The rays represent the Blood and Water ehich gushed forth from the depths of my Mercy when My agonising Heart was pierced on the cross.
The pale rays symbolise the water, which cleanses and purifies the soul: the red rays represent the blood, which gives new life to the soul.
These rays will shield the soul before the Justice of My Father. Fortunate are those who life in this shelter, for the justice of God will not reach them there".
Sr Faustina writes in her diary: "The Lord permitted me to see the immensity and greatness of His Mercy. Ij souls could only realise how much God loves them! Earthly human understanding, is only a pale shadow of the reality," Jesus pleaded for help in seeking the return, through His mercy, of all who have lost their faith
and offended God.
Write, the greater the sinner, the greater the mercy. Summon all those to confidence in the incomprehensible depth  of My Mercy for I desire to save all. The well of Mercy was opened wide with a lance on the Cross, for all souls.
I do not exclude anyone."
Again and again, Our Lord visited Sister Faustina and repeated His appeal to sinners calling them to His open arms. "Know, my daughter, that My Heart is Mercy itself. From this sea of mercy graces pour out upon the whole world. No souls that come to Me depart without being comforted. All misery vanishes in My MercY: and every grace, redemptive and sanctifyng, stems from this source".
On another occasion; Jesus complained of our lack of trust in him "Distrust tears at My Heart. The lack of confidence in chosen souls hurts Me most. Despite My inexhaustible love, they do not trust Me.
Tell ailing mankind to draw close to My Merciful Heart  and I will fill them with peace. Mankind will not find solace until it turns with confidence to My Mercy and love."

The  divine image and the promise

The signature

There is considered opinion that Jesus meant each of us to personally sign this Image, "Jesus I trust in You"

The chaplet of mercy

On September 13, 1935, Sister Faustina saw an angel, depicted to her as the executor of God's wrath.
She saw the angel about to visit a certain city on earth and carry out punishment on its sinful inhabitants.
She was sad, she prayed hard and begged the angel for mercy, but some-how she realised that her prayers were without power to appease the wrath of God in this instance. Then suddenly the Holy Trinity was manifested before her, and she heard these words:
Ethernal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved son, Our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement fou our sins and those of the whole world".
This prayer had the exceptional powwer to have the chastisement stopped. Jesus explained to Saint Faustina how He wished this prayer said.
Jesus said: " Say unceasingly this chaplet. Anyone who says it will receive great mercy at the hour of death.
Priest will recommend it to sinners as a last hope. If the most hardened sinner recites this chaplet even once, they will receive grace from My infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy."

The novena for sister Faustina
 

Our blessed Lord also gave Sister Faustina a Novena to his Mercy. She was to start it on Good Friday, thatwonderful day when Christ first revealed how merciful and loving. He was, by dying for us. Saint Faustina wrote in her diary that she began the novena for the conversion of thewhole world that all may recognise God's Mercy and that all souls may speak of His Goodness."

The feast of Mercy

This novena can be made at any time, but Our Lord especially wished that it be made beginning Good Friday in preparation for the Feast of his Mercy, which should be celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter.
"My daughter, speak to the world of My inexhaustible Mercy. I desire that this feast be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, especially for poor sinners. The very depths of My Mercy will be opened on that day. I will pour out a sea of graces upon those souls that will approach the fount of My Mercy on this day."
(The souls that will go to a confession in preparation, and Communion on the day will obtain a complete remission of all sin and all punishment.)
"Let no soul fear to come to Me, even if its sins be as scarlet. This feast emerged from the bosom of My Mercy and is founded in the depths of My Mercies. I desire that it be celebrated with great solemnity on the first Sunday after Easter".
On the canonisation of Sr. Faustina, 30th April 2000 John Paul II instituted this feast (the Sunday after easter) as Mercy Sunday.
Exhorting people to hasten to Him before it is too late, Jesus said: "before I come as the just one, I first open wide the gates of My Mercy. He who does not pass through the gates of my Mercy must pass through the gates of justice."
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

   Father Pio from Pietrelcina The holy Pope