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The Life of Faustina Kowalska: The Authorized Biography
As a nun, mystic, prophet, and finally a saint, Saint Faustina Kowalska lived an extraordinary life. From poor a humble Polish nun to a Christian role model, she has inspired millions. During her beatification in 1993, Pope John Paul II even declared that she was one of the greatest apostles of the Twentieth Century. Jesus used her as a voice, sending her revelations that she began to record. Though she was completely uneducated, Sister Faustina compiled notebooks with these messages that are known today as the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. This diary contained God's loving message of Divine Mercy. This moving and inspirational book has become increasingly popular among Catholics today. This authorized biography (formerly titled "Mercy My Mission"), includes many excerpts from Faustina's famous diary. Whether read alone or as a study aid to reading the diary itself, this book is an inspiring and reliable introduction to this remarkable saint. The words of Sister Faustina and the Lord Jesus Christ are quoted extensively throughout this account. There is little feedback from the author because their words are powerful enough without interruption. It is meant to help those who want to pursue a more detailed study of Sister Faustina’s work. This easy-to-follow biography is meant to touch the hearts and lives of those who've read it and inspire them to promote the actions and words of this exceptional woman.
282 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1987
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August 7, 2021
Mercy is My Mission recounts the life of St. Maria Faustina Kowsalka relying primarily on extracts from her lengthy diary, Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul. Those familiar with this unwieldy text might appreciate a ‘reader’s digest’ version, especially anyone without the time to read the full 730 pages. Sr. Sophia Michalenko selected all my favorite quotes and conversations from the original. To these she added details of St. Faustina’s life which are not contained in the Diary and a brief account of how the devotion spread after Faustina’s death in 1938.
Written in 1987, Mercy is My Mission isn’t the most up-to-date* book on Sr. Faustina or the Divine Mercy message. Still its real value lies in being a condensed version of the Diary.
*For example, at the end of the text the author includes a gentle reminder that a Feast of Divine Mercy on the first Sunday after Easter be officially established in the Church, and that the Image of Divine Mercy be blessed on that day. St. Pope John Paul II has not only done that (in 2000 when he canonized St. Faustina the first saint of the new millennium) he's also consecrated the entire world to Divine Mercy when he dedicated the Shrine of Divine Mercy on August 17, 2002 in Kraków-Łagiewniki, Poland.
Written in 1987, Mercy is My Mission isn’t the most up-to-date* book on Sr. Faustina or the Divine Mercy message. Still its real value lies in being a condensed version of the Diary.
*For example, at the end of the text the author includes a gentle reminder that a Feast of Divine Mercy on the first Sunday after Easter be officially established in the Church, and that the Image of Divine Mercy be blessed on that day. St. Pope John Paul II has not only done that (in 2000 when he canonized St. Faustina the first saint of the new millennium) he's also consecrated the entire world to Divine Mercy when he dedicated the Shrine of Divine Mercy on August 17, 2002 in Kraków-Łagiewniki, Poland.
August 7, 2014
I started reading the diary of St. Faustina before I began this biography. The diary contained so much within only a single page or two that my progress with it was slow. I often found it necessary to set the book down and allow what I had just read to sink in. However, I found this biography to be much more approachable and easier to digest. The narrative accompanying the entries is helpful in understanding the diary.
St. Faustina is an incredible and inspiring saint. One can't help but feel almost jealous of the special way in Jesus chose to commune with this little and humble soul. Jesus' words, as well as her own writings, are both filled with encouragement and beauty, and are very much worth meditating upon. The degree to which St. Faustina had to endure sufferings is almost painful in itself to read. Despite her constant and terrible sufferings, she never ceased to offer her pain for the conversion of sinners. She desired nothing more than to be united with God's will, and for souls to be saved through God's infinite and unfathomable mercy. She accepted whatever suffering He saw fit to send to her, especially if it benefited other souls. She even asked for her suffering to increase, if it meant more souls could be saved. Despite the great suffering she endured, she never lost her joy. She could not help but be joyful, as her soul delighted so much in loving Jesus and being loved by Him. Humility, purity, and obedience were the dominate themes of her life. Even when illness overcame her to the degree that she could not get out of bed, she immersed herself in constant prayer and sacrifice. She desired for her heart to become a dwelling place for Jesus alone, for nothing else to occupy it. She referred to her heart as a "repose" for Jesus to rest, like that of a beautiful garden -- and as a "temple" where Jesus could dwell continuously. Faustina was often very poetic with her words, and in fact she wrote many poems (which are contained in her diary.)
I found the prayers she wrote on the New Year each year to be particularly inspiring and beautiful, as well as the prayers she authored immediately following Holy Communion. She had a great love and devotion for Christ in the Eucharist, stating that "all that is good in me is due to Holy Communion" and "all the strength of my soul flows from the Blessed Sacrament." In fact, she is my inspiration for attending daily Mass and receiving the Eucharist daily. In addition, my appreciation and knowledge of the devotion to the Divine Mercy has increased and expanded. I also do not want to go a day without praying this profound chaplet.
Sister Faustina's life, and the account of the things she experienced, cannot fail to draw your soul closer to Christ and closer to His Divine Mercy. I have always been enriched and inspired by the lives of the Saints - these holy people who seek to align their lives with God's will - but I find St. Faustina to be a particularly beautiful inspiration, one that has penetrated my soul on a deep level. Like a bee extracts precious nectar from a flower, there is much to learn from her struggles, her incredible faith, and the very important message of Divine Mercy.
St. Faustina is an incredible and inspiring saint. One can't help but feel almost jealous of the special way in Jesus chose to commune with this little and humble soul. Jesus' words, as well as her own writings, are both filled with encouragement and beauty, and are very much worth meditating upon. The degree to which St. Faustina had to endure sufferings is almost painful in itself to read. Despite her constant and terrible sufferings, she never ceased to offer her pain for the conversion of sinners. She desired nothing more than to be united with God's will, and for souls to be saved through God's infinite and unfathomable mercy. She accepted whatever suffering He saw fit to send to her, especially if it benefited other souls. She even asked for her suffering to increase, if it meant more souls could be saved. Despite the great suffering she endured, she never lost her joy. She could not help but be joyful, as her soul delighted so much in loving Jesus and being loved by Him. Humility, purity, and obedience were the dominate themes of her life. Even when illness overcame her to the degree that she could not get out of bed, she immersed herself in constant prayer and sacrifice. She desired for her heart to become a dwelling place for Jesus alone, for nothing else to occupy it. She referred to her heart as a "repose" for Jesus to rest, like that of a beautiful garden -- and as a "temple" where Jesus could dwell continuously. Faustina was often very poetic with her words, and in fact she wrote many poems (which are contained in her diary.)
I found the prayers she wrote on the New Year each year to be particularly inspiring and beautiful, as well as the prayers she authored immediately following Holy Communion. She had a great love and devotion for Christ in the Eucharist, stating that "all that is good in me is due to Holy Communion" and "all the strength of my soul flows from the Blessed Sacrament." In fact, she is my inspiration for attending daily Mass and receiving the Eucharist daily. In addition, my appreciation and knowledge of the devotion to the Divine Mercy has increased and expanded. I also do not want to go a day without praying this profound chaplet.
Sister Faustina's life, and the account of the things she experienced, cannot fail to draw your soul closer to Christ and closer to His Divine Mercy. I have always been enriched and inspired by the lives of the Saints - these holy people who seek to align their lives with God's will - but I find St. Faustina to be a particularly beautiful inspiration, one that has penetrated my soul on a deep level. Like a bee extracts precious nectar from a flower, there is much to learn from her struggles, her incredible faith, and the very important message of Divine Mercy.
May 18, 2023
This book is truly wonderful and provides so much insight into St. Faustina’s life and her diary. I hope the devotion to the divine mercy chaplet and Divine Mercy Sunday continues to grow.
January 14, 2023
A must read for everyone.
It is the beautiful account of the secret life of sister Faustina during her time at the convent of The Sister of Our Lady of Mercy. On the outside, she seemed like a simple human dutifully completing her daily obligations. On the inside, she was experiencing both Hell and Heaven.
The message she was appointed to share with us is the most important thing you will ever hear.
Sister Faustina’s complete trust in God and his Mercy is so inspiring.
What stood out to me the most is that the lives of Sister Faustina and Sister Lucia (and for the early part Francisco and Jacinta) overlap in history occurring at approximately the same time, but in different countries. In both their encounters, humans are called to repentance, warnings of a big coming war were being given (and they came true in WWII), powerful prayers were given to us (the rosary & the divine mercy chaplet), and both had prophesies come true in Pope John Paul II.
Absolutely beautiful.
Another book to read would be the Diary of St Faustina, which is a combined collection of several of her notebooks in which she wrote down her prayers and encounters.
There are also archives on perspectives of different witnesses from the life of St Faustina.
Read it and share it 💗
It is the beautiful account of the secret life of sister Faustina during her time at the convent of The Sister of Our Lady of Mercy. On the outside, she seemed like a simple human dutifully completing her daily obligations. On the inside, she was experiencing both Hell and Heaven.
The message she was appointed to share with us is the most important thing you will ever hear.
Sister Faustina’s complete trust in God and his Mercy is so inspiring.
What stood out to me the most is that the lives of Sister Faustina and Sister Lucia (and for the early part Francisco and Jacinta) overlap in history occurring at approximately the same time, but in different countries. In both their encounters, humans are called to repentance, warnings of a big coming war were being given (and they came true in WWII), powerful prayers were given to us (the rosary & the divine mercy chaplet), and both had prophesies come true in Pope John Paul II.
Absolutely beautiful.
Another book to read would be the Diary of St Faustina, which is a combined collection of several of her notebooks in which she wrote down her prayers and encounters.
There are also archives on perspectives of different witnesses from the life of St Faustina.
Read it and share it 💗
April 13, 2020
This is called "the authorized biography" of a great saint of the Catholic Church, and it has readily earned that moniker.
Sister Sophia brings Helena Kowalska to life in these pages, shedding light on a remarkable woman whose love for God was reflected in an unquenchable thirst to draw closer and closer to Him through suffering and self-sacrifice.
The author weaves in excerpts from St. Faustina's diary, which is more famous than any biography written about her. The excerpts are well-chosen and show her growth, her struggles, her desire to aid sinners and her deep love for both humanity and her native Poland.
St. Faustina is known as the great apostle of Divine Mercy, and we are with her in these pages as struggles to grasp and then accomplish what Jesus has asked her to do: tell the world about the fathomless mercy He wants to share with all who come to Him.
St. Faustina was canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II, himself a native son of Poland. If you want to learn about her, this biography is a good place to start. If you're like me, you'll be returning to the pages again and again to learn from and be inspired by St. Faustina.
Sister Sophia brings Helena Kowalska to life in these pages, shedding light on a remarkable woman whose love for God was reflected in an unquenchable thirst to draw closer and closer to Him through suffering and self-sacrifice.
The author weaves in excerpts from St. Faustina's diary, which is more famous than any biography written about her. The excerpts are well-chosen and show her growth, her struggles, her desire to aid sinners and her deep love for both humanity and her native Poland.
St. Faustina is known as the great apostle of Divine Mercy, and we are with her in these pages as struggles to grasp and then accomplish what Jesus has asked her to do: tell the world about the fathomless mercy He wants to share with all who come to Him.
St. Faustina was canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II, himself a native son of Poland. If you want to learn about her, this biography is a good place to start. If you're like me, you'll be returning to the pages again and again to learn from and be inspired by St. Faustina.
July 13, 2019
I had this book for a while before I actually started reading it. I borrowed it from church, and therefore there was no due date, so I took my time before I began reading it, and then it became my book-in-between-books from the library, which have due dates, so then I took my time while reading it. Despite the length of time I have had the book in my possession, it was a quick read when I made the time for it. I learned a lot about Saint Faustina and the history of Divine Mercy. Saint Faustina's life is certainly commendable, and she is a good model of selflessness and faithfulness. She set the bar high in these areas.
In the introduction, it is written that Saint Faustina "often repeated herself" in her journals, and this is evident also in the book, which I hoped would be avoided since it was pointed out. I am not sure if the repetition is due to Saint Faustina forgetting what she had already recorded, or if similar events happened multiple times. Regardless, I thought the author would maybe try to cut some of the repetition out.
In the introduction, it is written that Saint Faustina "often repeated herself" in her journals, and this is evident also in the book, which I hoped would be avoided since it was pointed out. I am not sure if the repetition is due to Saint Faustina forgetting what she had already recorded, or if similar events happened multiple times. Regardless, I thought the author would maybe try to cut some of the repetition out.
June 21, 2024
Excellent biography! Very inspiring. St. Faustina truly trusted in God's mercy, and her life is full of examples of both suffering and God's faithfulness to his promises to her.
It's long, but I didn't want it to end (and it's not as long as her Diary). My 15-year-old daughter also read and enjoyed it.
The author quotes heavily from the Diary but also includes a lot of biographical material that isn't in the Diary; the biographical information gives the Diary excerpts context and a narrative structure that the Diary lacks. Great complement to the Diary.
It's long, but I didn't want it to end (and it's not as long as her Diary). My 15-year-old daughter also read and enjoyed it.
The author quotes heavily from the Diary but also includes a lot of biographical material that isn't in the Diary; the biographical information gives the Diary excerpts context and a narrative structure that the Diary lacks. Great complement to the Diary.
January 6, 2026
This book was so beautiful and truly pivotal in my prayer life!
While I haven’t read St. Faustina’s actual diary, this was a beautiful summary of it and put it into the narrative of her life. It was intriguing to read about her life, while this book was also filled with so much wisdom and beauty. Faustina’s relationship with the Lord and perspective on suffering was truly admirable.
I recommend this book to everyone!
While I haven’t read St. Faustina’s actual diary, this was a beautiful summary of it and put it into the narrative of her life. It was intriguing to read about her life, while this book was also filled with so much wisdom and beauty. Faustina’s relationship with the Lord and perspective on suffering was truly admirable.
I recommend this book to everyone!
September 11, 2025
I love St. Faustina!! I finished another one of her books in tears, overwhelmed by the divine mercy of our Lord! Every human should read this book and her diary to see the real and true beauty of God’s mercy for humanity! She’s definitely my saint and from Heaven she’s teaching me and all who read about her life what it means to really live in the mercy of the Lord!
April 25, 2024
I wasn't quite ready to take the plunge with the full Diary of St. Faustina but this gave a lot of excerpts from that while also filling out the details of St. Faustina's life. What an inspiring woman! Great adoration reading.
October 17, 2024
This biography was so enriching and so detailed. I have deepened my devotion to the Divine Mercy and to the intercession of St. Faustina as a result. I had many little spiritual moments reading about her life. Thank you, Sr. Sophia, for your work.
November 22, 2019
Such a good read🖤
November 28, 2023
life changing book. Puts the experiences from the diary in the particular moments of her life and what she was living at that time. Really helpful and inspiring.
December 23, 2023
This biography had me crying by the end of it. What a woman she was.
September 14, 2013
If you want to learn of the unfathomable depths of the Divine Mercy then read this book. Jesus communicated his messages to this world to prepare us for His second coming, and to pour out his graces so souls could be redeemed.... even the greatest sinners.
This book compels my soul to more action in praying for sinners, for the dying, and for always being merciful. If you've wondering if God really exists, this book of explicit living instructions should give you the grace to understand that the Divine Mercy, Jesus, lives and loves us completely.
This book compels my soul to more action in praying for sinners, for the dying, and for always being merciful. If you've wondering if God really exists, this book of explicit living instructions should give you the grace to understand that the Divine Mercy, Jesus, lives and loves us completely.
May 3, 2010
I had not idea about this saint and last year when we had the chapel of divine mercy done at our church I decided to read about the person who worked with Jesus to form this wonderful prayers. Excellent Catholic Read. I think if more people read about the chaplet they would pray it more.
Want to read
April 29, 2010Jim Castro is reading (April 2010) and says it is great.
September 24, 2012
inspiring, riveting, something to really ponder on...
you cannot read it from cover to cover in one sitting...
every page must be ruminated to sink in your heart...
you cannot read it from cover to cover in one sitting...
every page must be ruminated to sink in your heart...
April 30, 2009
A good introdution to read before you read Faustina's diary.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews