Maria Faustyna Kowalska
- Born:
- August 25, 1905, Głogowiec, Poland
- Died:
- October 5, 1938, Kraków, Poland
- Nationality:
- Polish
- Profession(s):
- Roman Catholic Religious Sister, Mystic
Early Life and Education
- Born Helena Kowalska, the third of ten children in a poor peasant family.
- Received only three years of formal education.
- Worked as a domestic servant from a young age to support her family.
- Experienced her first vision of Jesus Christ at the age of seven.
Career and Major Achievements
- Entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw on August 1, 1925.
- Took the religious name Sister Maria Faustyna of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
- Worked in various convents of the Congregation, including Warsaw, Płock, and Kraków, performing tasks such as cooking, gardening, and serving as a portress.
- Received a series of private revelations from Jesus Christ, which she recorded in her diary at the direction of her spiritual directors.
- These revelations emphasized God's mercy and called for its proclamation to the world.
- Promoted the Divine Mercy devotion, including the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Feast of Divine Mercy.
Notable Works
- Divine Mercy in My Soul: The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska (Diary) - a detailed record of her spiritual experiences and the messages she received from Jesus Christ. This is the primary source of information about "saint faustina kowalska facts."
Legacy and Impact
Maria Faustyna Kowalska's legacy is centered on the promotion of the Divine Mercy devotion, which has become a widespread practice within the Catholic Church. Her diary has been translated into numerous languages and has inspired countless people worldwide. She was beatified on April 18, 1993, and canonized on April 30, 2000, by Pope John Paul II.