“Jesus loves hidden souls. A hidden flower is the most fragrant. I must strive to make the interior of my soul a resting place for the Heart of Jesus.”
In this episode, host Tom Shrewsbury discusses the life and spiritual journey of Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun canonized as the first saint of the 21st century. Saint Faustina, born Helena Kowalska, grew up in a poor, devout family in Poland. From a young age, she experienced divine communications, leading her to join the convent despite numerous rejections due to her lack of education.
Throughout her life, Faustina received visions of Jesus Christ, who imparted to her the message of Divine Mercy, emphasizing the boundless mercy of God and the need for humanity to trust in his compassion.
Faustina was instructed by Jesus to write a diary detailing these divine messages and to have an image painted depicting Jesus with rays symbolizing blood and water, representing the sacraments of the Eucharist and Baptism, respectively. This painting was to bear the phrase “Jesus, I trust in You,” symbolizing the message of divine mercy. Despite health challenges and minimal support from her religious community, Faustina dedicated her life to promoting the message of Divine Mercy, leading to the establishment of the Feast of Divine Mercy.
Tom emphasizes that Saint Faustina’s experiences and the devotion to Divine Mercy hold significant lessons for contemporary society, especially the need to turn toward God’s mercy for peace. The episode connects Faustina’s messages with broader spiritual narratives, including references to other saints like John Paul II, who took up the mantle of promoting Divine Mercy globally. Tom Shrewsbury concludes with a reflection on the importance of responding to God’s call for mercy in a world fraught with violence and despair.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Modern-Day Saints – Tom Shrewsbury talks about saints in contemporary times who often go unnoticed by mainstream media, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to divine messengers. [00:00:01]
Chapter 2: Early Life of Helena Kowalska – Overview of Helena Kowalska’s (Saint Faustina) upbringing in a poor, devout family in Poland, set against a backdrop of political and social unrest. [00:01:02]
Chapter 3: Divine Callings – Tom describes the pivotal moments in young Helena’s life, including her early religious experiences and direct communications with God. [00:02:05]
Chapter 4: A Life-Changing Vision – Helena’s life takes a dramatic turn when she encounters a vision of Jesus at a dance, prompting her to pursue a religious life. [00:04:16]
Chapter 5: The Journey to the Convent – Detailing Helena’s challenging journey to Warsaw, her initial struggles to find a convent, and her eventual acceptance into the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. [00:05:11]
Chapter 6: Challenges and Acceptance – Tom narrates how Helena, now Sister Faustina, faced obstacles and rejections before finally being accepted into the convent. [00:06:06]
Chapter 7: The Path of Devotion – Describes Sister Faustina’s spiritual development in the convent, including her vows, hard work as a gardener, and further divine visions. [00:07:01]
Chapter 8: Divine Mercy and the Iconic Image – Tom explains Sister Faustina’s mission to spread the message of Divine Mercy and her efforts to have a divine portrait painted as depicted in her visions. [00:14:49]
Chapter 9: Final Years and Legacy – The concluding years of Sister Faustina’s life, her ongoing health challenges, and the spiritual legacy she left behind, including the introduction of the Divine Mercy image and feast. [00:17:04]
Chapter 10: Divine Plan and Canonization – Covers how Sister Faustina’s life and mission aligned with key historical figures like Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) and her eventual canonization. [00:22:22]
Chapter 11: Call to Divine Mercy – Tom emphasizes the messages of Divine Mercy delivered through Saint Faustina by Jesus, focusing on the established feast and the divine promises associated with it. [00:24:45]
Saint Faustina Kowalska was a Polish nun and mystic who lived from 1905 to 1938. She was born into a poor family and began working at a young age to support them. At the age of 20, she felt a calling to religious life and joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. Throughout her life, she experienced numerous visions and conversations with Jesus, who revealed to her the message of Divine Mercy. Faustina faithfully recorded these revelations in her diary, which later became a source of inspiration for millions of people around the world.
She tirelessly promoted the message of God’s mercy, encouraging everyone to trust in Jesus and seek His forgiveness. Despite facing many challenges and health issues, Saint Faustina remained devoted to her mission until her death at the age of 33. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000, and her efforts continue to touch countless lives through the spreading of the devotion to Divine Mercy.
Tom Shrewsbury (1930-2012) was born in Springfield, MO. He spent several years in the professional theatre where he worked with such celebrities as Vincent Price, Lucille Ball, and Carol Burnett.
An initiative of Covenant Network