Saint20th century · Feast October 5
Also known as Maria Faustina Kowalska, Helena Kowalska, Apostle of Divine Mercy
A Polish religious sister whose Diary helped spread devotion to Divine Mercy and a message of trust in Christ’s compassion.
Helena Kowalska entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and received the name Faustina. She carried out ordinary domestic work while recording intense spiritual experiences and a call to proclaim God’s mercy. Her Diary became central to the modern Divine Mercy devotion, especially the prayer ‘Jesus, I trust in you.’
Faustina lived in interwar Poland amid poverty, national instability and growing threats that would soon lead to the Second World War.
Trust in divine mercy, intercession for sinners, humility, ordinary service and union with Christ in suffering.
Faustina is especially relevant to people burdened by shame, afraid that they cannot be forgiven or learning to trust God after repeated failure.
People turn to St Faustina Kowalska in matters of:
Merciful Jesus, through St Faustina’s intercession teach us to trust your forgiveness, receive mercy honestly and extend it wisely to others. Amen.
1905
Is born as Helena Kowalska in Poland
1925
Enters the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
1930s
Records her spiritual experiences in the Diary
1938
Dies from tuberculosis in Kraków
2000
Is canonised
Source-quality status: unverified prototype