It has been a long time since I first discovered and read the diary of Saint Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul. Saint Faustina’s diary, along with Saint Augustine’s Confessions, are two works that helped open my eyes to recognize God’s desire to be in relationship with us. These works helped provide me, and countless others, with a window into what is repentance, forgiveness, hope, charity, obedience, and perseverance. The Divine Mercy described with simple words what a personal relationship with Christ can be for those of us who strive to invite Him into our lives, minds, and hearts, living with Him in the present moment.
 
It is in this deepening of the understanding of God’s Love and Mercy toward us, that we learn to live simply and faithfully, persevering in love, and trusting in Him who is Trustworthy.
 
October 5 is the feast day of Saint Faustina Kowalska.

Saint Faustina Kowalska, is known as the “Apostle of Divine Mercy,” and was born on August 25, 1905, in Głogowiec, Poland. From a young age, Faustina exhibited a deep spiritual sense and a strong desire to serve God. At just seven years old, she experienced her first vision of Jesus, which left a lasting impression on her heart.

Faustina's journey toward religious life began when she felt a calling to enter a convent. At 20, she joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw, adopting the name Sister Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament. During her time in the convent, she struggled with her health and faced numerous challenges. However, she held on strongly to her faith and commitment to serve God.

Her life changed in the 1930s when Faustina began receiving revelations about God’s mercy. In her diary, she recorded these encounters, emphasizing the theme of Divine Mercy and God’s infinite love for us. She had a vision of Jesus, asking her to promote the devotion to His Divine Mercy.

In 1931 Faustina had a vision of Jesus, appearing to her as the "King of Divine Mercy." He asked Faustina to have an image painted based on what she had seen, with the words "Jesus, I trust in You" inscribed at the bottom. This image has today spread around the world, symbolizing the message of hope and mercy that Faustina sought to spread.

Throughout her life, Faustina experienced intense spiritual trials, including periods of suffering and spiritual desolation. Despite these challenges, she remained committed to her entrusted mission, to encourage others to trust in God’s Mercy and seek reconciliation through the sacrament of confession.

Faustina’s diary serves as a profound reflection of her spiritual journey and the revelations she received. She emphasizes the importance of mercy, prayer, and the need for repentance. After many years of illness, Faustina passed on from this world on October 5, 1938, at the age of 33. 33 years old, just like Christ...

Faustina was canonized in the year 2000 by Pope John Paul II, giving us another modern Saint to call our own. Another great soul in Heaven to ask for help, but one who already knew of God’s Divine Mercy toward us while on earth and left us with great guidance and counsel.

I pray we all open our hearts and minds, that like Faustina, we get to see our Lord already beside us, walking with us. I pray we all fall to our knees in repentance for our sins, participate fully in the Eucharistic banquet, where we are restored and loved infinitely, and pray for the salvation of all the souls of the world.

​Let us pray:

Sitting in Church, I look up at Christ on the Cross and ask, “Lord, you did not go out looking for pain and suffering. Yet, it was written that you would suffer, and in order to fulfill your mission of love and mercy you accepted this willingly. Were you tired, stretched out thin? Was your heart beating furiously? Were your lungs struggling to keep you alive? Or was your heart racing because of your immense love? Were you thinking about each of us, when battling to complete your mission? Oh, but how profoundly human were you, and how divine was your love!”
 
Jesus’ Cross was willingly accepted out of obedience to the Father, but most relevantly to us, because of His perfect love for us.

​After staring at the Cross over the altar, I close my eyes and still see its image in relief, almost like a photographic negative. I marvel at how the light continues to define the Cross, despite the darkness, yet, I realize that if I keep my eyes closed intentionally, the image carved by the light gradually fades. This illustrates a profound metaphor, the light of Christ can penetrate the darkness, even when we close our eyes, but we must open our eyes to ensure it does not fade. We must willingly let in the light. The Cross, once an instrument of torture, became the means of our salvation, and for us, a beacon of hope.

The suffering of Christ in His Passion holds infinite redemptive value because it stems from His infinite love. Christ embraced His suffering for the forgiveness of our sins—such is His love for us. Our sufferings, too, hold value when offered with love. Suffering without conscious love is merely suffering, for the redemptive value of our suffering comes from our offering of it with love, transforming it into a cross akin to Christ’s.

Carrying our crosses helps us acknowledge God’s sovereignty, express gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice, and contribute to bringing His mercy to the world.

When looking at the Cross of Christ, let us recognize that His suffering was offered for our good, our redemption, and our forgiveness. Understanding this allows us to view the pain that comes our way as purposeful. We do not go out looking for pain and suffering, but when they invariably find their way into our lives, let us remember that by uniting our suffering with His, we offer reparation for those we love and even for those we fail to love. The redemptive value of our suffering lies in our choice to embrace it as purposeful.

This realization underscores that our suffering can be a gift. Through suffering, we can gain a deeper understanding of those who are truly poor, in pain, sick, lonely, jailed, and disheartened. By accepting our suffering and uniting it with Christ’s, we help lighten the load of the Cross. Our embracing faith, encourages and uplifts one another, guiding us towards Heaven. When we suffer with Christ, it is not in vain but purposeful, encouraging, courageous, virtuous, and life-giving.

Although most of us come into this world alone and will leave it alone, the journey is richer when shared. As we work towards our final union with Christ, let us embrace and celebrate our shared lives—the good and the bad, the joyous, and the sorrowful—knowing that in all these experiences, we walk with Christ. Let us help each other carry our crosses.

​Let us pray: Lord, thank you for your infinite love for us.  We give you thanks for the gift of your Cross. Help us this day, and every day, to pick up our own crosses and with great love, follow You. Amen.
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The past few months have been especially challenging for our local faith community and for me personally. We are mourning the loss of several cherished members, gone today from this earth, and their absence is deeply felt by all of us.

Beyond that, my last surviving grandmother and two other close friends are battling severe illnesses, constantly in and out of hospitals. Another dear friend, a priest, sits battling ALS and descending little by little into his last days. All this sits heavily in my heart. Can I ask all of you to unite yourselves with us in prayer for them and all who are battling illness at this time? It is easier when we face the struggles together, united in faith and hope, praying for God’s will to be done and for His mercy and compassion to be made present.

Despite all our help, prayers, and hopes, I acknowledge that the grief we feel is heavy and difficult to bear.

Grief is defined as “a deep sense of sorrow caused by loss.”  Grief can result from the loss of a person or from changes in our state or situation. It can be a profound and aching experience, often overwhelming and disorienting. This intense sadness and resulting imbalance stems from our separation from what we have lost and can make life very challenging if not properly acknowledged and addressed.
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The Church teaches us that grief is a natural response to the separation from those we love or from significant changes in our lives. I imagine our Blessed Mother Mary at the foot of the Cross, witnessing the sacrifice of our Lord and mourning Jesus' passing. Life changed profoundly for her and the faithful that day. The grief must have been overwhelming because, at that moment, it was not yet understood what Jesus had accomplished with His death. Reflecting on it, would we have hope for Heaven today if Christ had not died on the Cross?

Knowing this, it is much easier to understand and accept Christ’s passing on the Cross. He died so we could live, and by His resurrection, the mourning turns to joy.

We are "baptized into His death," meant to reach the newness of life. This truth should inspire our drive and hope, yet we remain here in this "Valley of Tears," where the pain of loss can be isolating. We are not in the joy of Heaven yet. So, what can we do?
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Let us remain faithful. Loss can guide us closer to God, for He is the source of all comfort. As we lose the physical connection with someone, we must remember our unity remains in the mystical body of Christ. We are not alone. In the Eucharist, we remain One, united in Christ, and praying for one another. We trust in our Faith, as our hope is grounded in the trustworthy words of Christ.

Seeing death reminds us that our faith is in God and our hope is in the reality of resurrection and eternal life. This is the essence of our hope, that if we remain faithful, we will be with Christ and all the saints in Heaven, alongside our loved ones who have gone before us.

Saint Paul captures it perfectly. Christ is the beacon of our hope, the light through the darkness of mourning.
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For all of us who remain here, the Church, as the family of God, encourages us to seek solace through prayer, the sacraments, and the community of believers. Let us support each other during these difficult times, praying for one another and building each other up.

​Our love for those who have passed and now behold God's face is returned to us through their intercessory prayers. This is part of the Eucharistic life, that together we are nourished and comforted. Those who have “finished the race” are now cheering for us and supporting us.

​Indeed, we mourn, and that is perfectly fine and right. Let us take the time to mourn well and properly, let us be sad and cry copiously if we need to, but let us never lose the hope that comes from our belief. Remember, God acknowledges our temporal pain while affirming the hope of eternal life. We will be comforted.

​Our mourning is met with Divine Compassion and Mercy. Let us find comfort in Him who loves us, in our faithful community, and in our loved ones. May we trust that those who have passed rest in the arms of our loving and merciful God. May those who have gone on to the light of our Lord help us along the way.

Let us pray: "Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Like the seed buried in the ground, you have produced the harvest of eternal life for us; make us always dead to sin and alive to God. Amen." (Prayers for our Faithfully Departed)
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