What do you think?
Rate this book
The Life of Faustina Kowalska: The Authorized Biography
The extraordinary visions of this humble Polish nun gave rise to The Divine Mercy devotion which has become increasingly popular among Catholics today.
Who was Sister Faustina H. Kowalska (1905-1938)? In this authorized biography, you will encounter the young woman, born Helena, and her family, and read of many other people who influenced her spiritual formation. Sister Faustina's devotion to the Lord and her tireless efforts to promulgate the messages she received from Him and from Our Lady have borne rich fruit and continue to touch the lives of millions around the world.
This 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 twentieth-century saint.
Who was Sister Faustina H. Kowalska (1905-1938)? In this authorized biography, you will encounter the young woman, born Helena, and her family, and read of many other people who influenced her spiritual formation. Sister Faustina's devotion to the Lord and her tireless efforts to promulgate the messages she received from Him and from Our Lady have borne rich fruit and continue to touch the lives of millions around the world.
This 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 twentieth-century saint.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 12, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 5, 2023
A DETAILED BIOGRAPHY OF THE POLISH MYSTIC
The author’s younger brother wrote in the Preface to this 1987 book, “As an apostle, prophet, and mystic, Blessed Faustina Kowalska is one of the most remarkable people of our time… Although she had hardly two winters of schooling after she was twelve years old, Blessed Faustina left behind a spiritual diary which is counted among the outstanding works of mystical literature… However, very few of the faithful have an appreciation of her prophetic role in the life of the Church… if we are to believe the revelations Blessed Faustina received as true, which he beatification seems to warrant, we must also see the humble servant of God as one who is destined … to play a most special role in the history of the Church…”
The Introduction explains, “She was born Helena Kowalska, in … Poland, in 1905… she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw… at the age of twenty… She accepted the invitation of Jesus to become His apostle and secretary, and to announce anew to mankind the Gospel message of God’s mercy. In 1934, obeying her spiritual director… Sister Faustina began to record her experiences… This new biography of Sister Faustina … is a chronological presentation… this presentation may help those who want to make a more detailed study of the Diary…”
The book recounts that in 1924, “she heard the words: ‘Go at once to Warsaw; you will enter a convent there.’ She arose from her prayers and went to pack her belongings. In the morning she went to say goodbye to her sister and then returned to her uncle’s home and said to him, ‘I am going to Warsaw to enter a convent…. What I am wearing is enough. Jesus will take care of all my needs.’” (Pg. 23)
The author recounts, “As with Catherine of Siena, St. Joan of Ac and others, as also Sister Faustina’s spiritual experiences appear intimate that the lives of holy people are closely bound with the lands of their origin. She often heard Jesus and his Mother Mary telling her to pray for her native land, Poland. On one occasion, Jesus told her to ask the Mother Superior for permission to make an hour’s adoration daily for nine days and during this adoration to unite her prayers with those of His Mother.” (Pg. 41)
She notes, “Because she did not want to fall prey to possible illusions, Sister Faustina would at times try to distract herself from the interior inspirations she encountered in her soul. The Lord, however, kept pursuing her … so that she experienced alternate moments of anguish and joy throughout her two and one half years in Plock. But when the various sufferings came to a peak one day, Sister Faustina resolved to put an end to all her doubts before her profession of perpetual vows.” (Pg. 47)
Later, “The inner struggle concerning the leaving of her beloved community to begin a new community, which she felt God was asking her to found, remained constantly with Sister until only a few months before her death.” (Pg. 103) She adds, “Sister felt an urge to set to work and fulfill the Lord’s demands. For about a month she worked on the rules and regulations that were meant to govern the new community.” (Pg. 113)
She reports, “The interweaving of suffering and grace continued. The doctor… who diagnosed her illness as tuberculosis, ordered that Sister Faustina be separated from the other sisters in order to prevent the spread of the disease. She was placed in the infirmary section of the convent, but was not relieved of her daily tasks.” (Pg. 133)
In 1937, “Jesus brought her out of her fear during this time of prayer and gave her to know what great glory the work of mercy would bring Him… Sister Faustina again resolved to … act as Jesus would in such and such an instance; and in spirit to envelop the whole world, especially Russia and Spain… She would not allow sickness excuse her from striving to fulfill them.” (Pg. 152-153)
She recounts, “Her illness intensified. She was forced to remain in bed… Violent coughing made her so weak that she could not even walk… After she had received Holy Communion, she felt an urge to pray … As Faustina was praying, she suddenly felt as if something were jolting her whole organism and, in an instant, she felt completely well. Her lungs felt clear and she had no pain. It was a sign for her to set about the work of beginning the new congregation.” (Pg. 176)
She explains, “From [her] Diary we learn that Sister’s physical pain was intense. But, in imitation of the Lord… her true physical state remained hidden from others… In silence, in suffering, but in God’s strength and mercy Sister Faustina continued to live from day to day…” (Pg. 210-211)
In 1938, “Sister Faustina was too ill to go to chapel for the night adoration. As she could not sleep the whole night through, she spent it with Jesus in the dark dungeon.” (Pg. 225)
She continues, “Sister’s sufferings increased. She united even more closely with the suffering Savior, asking for mercy for the world gone mad in its malice. The pain from the crown of thorns remained with her all day, and she could not put her head on the pillow when she tried to lie down.” (Pg. 244)
She continues, “the Friday after the Feast of Corpus Christi, Sister Faustina was so ill that she was certain the longed-for moment was approaching. She was very feverish and spewed up much blood during the night. Though she was still able to go to Holy Communion, she was too weak to remain for the Mass.” (Pg. 264)
She recounts, “Sister Faustina … frequently asked her fellow sisters and the girls to pray for Poland, affirming that a long and terrible war was soon to come… The sisters… could not understand her constant concern about an approaching war… During the long war, which began a year after Sister Faustina’s death, the sisters were indeed threatened three times with eviction by the Nazis. Then they recalled Sister Faustina’s words.” (Pg. 269)
She concludes, “Sister Faustina’s mission truly began after her death, just as she had said it would. During the war, the convent chapel was open to the public. From then on, her grave was visited constantly by people from all regiments of society, who wished to ask for her intercession, or thank you for a grace received or just simply to pray.” (Pg. 274)
This book will interest students of Catholic mysticism.
The author’s younger brother wrote in the Preface to this 1987 book, “As an apostle, prophet, and mystic, Blessed Faustina Kowalska is one of the most remarkable people of our time… Although she had hardly two winters of schooling after she was twelve years old, Blessed Faustina left behind a spiritual diary which is counted among the outstanding works of mystical literature… However, very few of the faithful have an appreciation of her prophetic role in the life of the Church… if we are to believe the revelations Blessed Faustina received as true, which he beatification seems to warrant, we must also see the humble servant of God as one who is destined … to play a most special role in the history of the Church…”
The Introduction explains, “She was born Helena Kowalska, in … Poland, in 1905… she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw… at the age of twenty… She accepted the invitation of Jesus to become His apostle and secretary, and to announce anew to mankind the Gospel message of God’s mercy. In 1934, obeying her spiritual director… Sister Faustina began to record her experiences… This new biography of Sister Faustina … is a chronological presentation… this presentation may help those who want to make a more detailed study of the Diary…”
The book recounts that in 1924, “she heard the words: ‘Go at once to Warsaw; you will enter a convent there.’ She arose from her prayers and went to pack her belongings. In the morning she went to say goodbye to her sister and then returned to her uncle’s home and said to him, ‘I am going to Warsaw to enter a convent…. What I am wearing is enough. Jesus will take care of all my needs.’” (Pg. 23)
The author recounts, “As with Catherine of Siena, St. Joan of Ac and others, as also Sister Faustina’s spiritual experiences appear intimate that the lives of holy people are closely bound with the lands of their origin. She often heard Jesus and his Mother Mary telling her to pray for her native land, Poland. On one occasion, Jesus told her to ask the Mother Superior for permission to make an hour’s adoration daily for nine days and during this adoration to unite her prayers with those of His Mother.” (Pg. 41)
She notes, “Because she did not want to fall prey to possible illusions, Sister Faustina would at times try to distract herself from the interior inspirations she encountered in her soul. The Lord, however, kept pursuing her … so that she experienced alternate moments of anguish and joy throughout her two and one half years in Plock. But when the various sufferings came to a peak one day, Sister Faustina resolved to put an end to all her doubts before her profession of perpetual vows.” (Pg. 47)
Later, “The inner struggle concerning the leaving of her beloved community to begin a new community, which she felt God was asking her to found, remained constantly with Sister until only a few months before her death.” (Pg. 103) She adds, “Sister felt an urge to set to work and fulfill the Lord’s demands. For about a month she worked on the rules and regulations that were meant to govern the new community.” (Pg. 113)
She reports, “The interweaving of suffering and grace continued. The doctor… who diagnosed her illness as tuberculosis, ordered that Sister Faustina be separated from the other sisters in order to prevent the spread of the disease. She was placed in the infirmary section of the convent, but was not relieved of her daily tasks.” (Pg. 133)
In 1937, “Jesus brought her out of her fear during this time of prayer and gave her to know what great glory the work of mercy would bring Him… Sister Faustina again resolved to … act as Jesus would in such and such an instance; and in spirit to envelop the whole world, especially Russia and Spain… She would not allow sickness excuse her from striving to fulfill them.” (Pg. 152-153)
She recounts, “Her illness intensified. She was forced to remain in bed… Violent coughing made her so weak that she could not even walk… After she had received Holy Communion, she felt an urge to pray … As Faustina was praying, she suddenly felt as if something were jolting her whole organism and, in an instant, she felt completely well. Her lungs felt clear and she had no pain. It was a sign for her to set about the work of beginning the new congregation.” (Pg. 176)
She explains, “From [her] Diary we learn that Sister’s physical pain was intense. But, in imitation of the Lord… her true physical state remained hidden from others… In silence, in suffering, but in God’s strength and mercy Sister Faustina continued to live from day to day…” (Pg. 210-211)
In 1938, “Sister Faustina was too ill to go to chapel for the night adoration. As she could not sleep the whole night through, she spent it with Jesus in the dark dungeon.” (Pg. 225)
She continues, “Sister’s sufferings increased. She united even more closely with the suffering Savior, asking for mercy for the world gone mad in its malice. The pain from the crown of thorns remained with her all day, and she could not put her head on the pillow when she tried to lie down.” (Pg. 244)
She continues, “the Friday after the Feast of Corpus Christi, Sister Faustina was so ill that she was certain the longed-for moment was approaching. She was very feverish and spewed up much blood during the night. Though she was still able to go to Holy Communion, she was too weak to remain for the Mass.” (Pg. 264)
She recounts, “Sister Faustina … frequently asked her fellow sisters and the girls to pray for Poland, affirming that a long and terrible war was soon to come… The sisters… could not understand her constant concern about an approaching war… During the long war, which began a year after Sister Faustina’s death, the sisters were indeed threatened three times with eviction by the Nazis. Then they recalled Sister Faustina’s words.” (Pg. 269)
She concludes, “Sister Faustina’s mission truly began after her death, just as she had said it would. During the war, the convent chapel was open to the public. From then on, her grave was visited constantly by people from all regiments of society, who wished to ask for her intercession, or thank you for a grace received or just simply to pray.” (Pg. 274)
This book will interest students of Catholic mysticism.
March 9, 2023
What a joy !
This book will inspire all who read it in good faith. It will encourage them to understand and speak about God’s mercy…..and this will give peace to suffering souls. And in this way, as Pope St John Paul II said, we will ‘show mercy’ to Jesus.
This book will inspire all who read it in good faith. It will encourage them to understand and speak about God’s mercy…..and this will give peace to suffering souls. And in this way, as Pope St John Paul II said, we will ‘show mercy’ to Jesus.
August 14, 2023
Sr. Faustiana
After saying the Divine Mercy Chaplet for awhile I needed to know more about it. This book has helped me grow in my Catholic faith. I'm extremely happy I took time to read about Sisr?yes Faustina
After saying the Divine Mercy Chaplet for awhile I needed to know more about it. This book has helped me grow in my Catholic faith. I'm extremely happy I took time to read about Sisr?yes Faustina
August 30, 2025
Excellent. This was one of two St Faustina books suggested for a Consecration to St. Joseph. I'm looking forward to reading her Diary next. I was very ignorant about the Divine Mercy.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews