St. Faustina (Feast Day October 5)

August 25, 1905 – October 5, 1938

Born Helena Kowalska in west-central Poland, St. Faustina was the third oldest of 10 children. She eventually joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and took the name St. Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament. Sister Faustina had a deep spiritual life. She received revelations from the Lord Jesus that she recorded in her diary at the request of Christ and her confessor, Father Sopocko. In these revelations, Jesus emphasized his mercy and forgiveness for sins acknowledged and confessed. Jesus instructed Sister Faustina to have an image painted. The painting has two rays emanating from Christ’s heart representing the blood and water poured out after his death. Jesus also told her that the Sunday after Easter should be honored as Divine Mercy Sunday and instructed her on how to pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy. Sister Faustina died of tuberculosis in Krakow, Poland, on October 5, 1938. Pope John Paul II beatified her in 1993 and canonized her seven years later. Her name is now linked to the annual feast of the Divine Mercy, the Divine Mercy chaplet, and the Divine Mercy prayer recited each day at 3 p.m. by many people.

·      Go back in time and put yourself in Thomas’ shoes--would you have believed that Jesus was alive if you weren’t there to see it with your own eyes? How would you have felt if you were Thomas the second time Jesus appeared?

·      How would you feel if Jesus appeared to you and said, “Peace be with you”? 

·      Who would you invite if you had a party where Jesus would appear? Why? 

·      Through St. Faustina, Jesus helped share his message of mercy and forgiveness. How can you share this message with others?

Hide and Seek

Play the children’s game Hide and Seek! The person who is “it” counts with their eyes closed while the others hide. When the counting is complete, the one counting tries to find everyone who is hiding. The first one found gets to be “it” next time. The last one found is the winner for that round. Be sure to set some ground rules before starting (e.g., stay inside the house, don’t go beyond the backyard, no sharing hiding spots, etc.).  Ensure that counting and rules are age-appropriate so that all can have fun!

Divine Mercy Sunday Sundaes

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, make ice cream sundaes together as a family.

·      Get ice cream in the flavor(s) of your choice.

·      Prepare toppings of your choice (e.g., caramel, chocolate sauce, strawberries, chocolate chips, kiwi, nuts, marshmallows, bananas, peanut butter cups, or whipped cream).

Fill your bowl with ice cream and the toppings of your choice!  Enjoy! 

Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Using Rosary beads, the Chaplet begins with the sign of the cross, followed by one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

On the Our Father beads:

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

On the Hail Mary Beads:

For the sake of his sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

After five decades, conclude by reciting three times:

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Find the image of the Divine Mercy at your parish. If you can’t find one, look one up online at home.

Post a picture of the Divine Mercy image in your home this week.

The two rays of light coming from Jesus’ heart in the image of the Divine Mercy help us recall the graces poured out in Baptism (water) and the Eucharist (blood). (CCC 2669)