by Dick Matulis

The seeds for this article were actually planted last summer during a Sunday trip to Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts with several friends. The main purpose for our excursion was to hear the Boston Symphony Orchestra perform. In fact, it turned out to be a guest appearance by the New York Philharmonic with Kurt Masur as conductor.

We stayed overnight in Lenox. On Monday, we toured the beautiful surrounding area, including the town of Stockbridge, famous for the Red Lion Inn and the Norman Rockwell Museum.

We also visited the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy on Eden Hill and the Congregation of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. While we were on the grounds, the clock struck three. Each day at that time, a Daily Novena and repetitive prayers called "chaplets" are recited in praise of the Lord and in remembrance of the Order's recently canonized saint, Sister Mary Faustina of Poland.

Later, I learned that several of our close friends were financial contributors to the Order. One of them gave me a fascinating mystical publication to read. It was entitled "Divine Mercy in My Soul," and is the diary of Sister Mary Faustina Kowalska. This voluminous six-hundred page publication became the primary source for this article.

The story of Sr. Faustina began on August 25, 1905. She was born Helen Kowalska in her native Poland. Helen seemed to have a vocation for religious life at a very early age. She was, however, dissuaded from entering the convent by her parents who eventually relented. Helen entered the Sisters of Divine Mercy, a cloistered order.

Once there, even her superiors told her to spend a year in the outside workforce to help determine whether she had a real vocation and also to provide the Order with a stipend for her room and board. After her temporary vows, she professed them permanently and took the name of Mary Faustina. During the novitiate, she experienced a "spiritual darknight" centering around temptations by Satan and his retinue of diabolical associates.

In 1931, Sr. Faustina experienced an apparition of the Lord Jesus, who asked her to paint an image of Him, according to the vision she had seen. In 1933, she professed her perpetual vows. A year later, with the Order's permission, she found an artist who painted the portrait of Jesus, according to Sister's description of him.

Spiritual chaplains of her Order came regularly to say Mass and hear confessions. In Sr. Faustina's case, her revelations of visions became so time-consuming in relation to the confession schedule that the priests asked her to keep a diary of these spiritual visitations. That way, the chaplains could read the happenings in advance of her reconciliation. The end result was six full notebooks, as well as Sr. Faustina' s own guide for preparation to receive Holy Communion properly.

In her published diary, the times when Jesus addressed her in visions appear in bold print, with .messages from Our Blessed Mother in italicized print. Her visions run the gamut from a horrific description of the descent into Hell to a virtually indescribable description of a look at what Heaven would be like.

During this period, Sr. Faustina's health deteriorated; she came down with tuberculosis, which at that time was known as "consumption," and she suffered greatly in an Order that practiced strict penance and mortification of the body. Her physical deterioration seemed offset by her ascent in sanctity.

The central theme of Jesus' visits to her focused on the importance of obedience to superiors. This seemed to transcend even the noble acts that Sr. Faustina performed. As she prayed, Jesus appeared to her, citing the efficacy of her prayers and including specific references to favors granted to others, thanks to her intercession.

Of those to whom much has been given, much is expected, even as it applies to spiritual graces used on the road toward personal salvation. Much like a comet in the heavens, the brightness of Sr. Faustina's soul reached its zenith as she succumbed to her physical disabilities on October 15, 1938 at the age of 33, the same age St. Catherine of Siena and Jesus Christ were when they died.

Our Savior's death took place at 3:00 p.m. Accordingly, Sr. Faustina was told to espouse the recitation of the chaplet at that hour. She was promised that great spiritual graces would flow as a result. The chaplet consists of a series of prayers centered around the Rosary.

Twenty-seven years after Sr.. Faustina's death, an informative process on her life and virtues was initiated under the delegation of Archbishop Karol Wojtyla of Cracow, Poland, who eventually would become Pope John Paul II, our present Pontiff. In 1968, the process for Sr. Faustina's beatification was launched in Rome. At a recent Papal visit to Poland, Pope John Paul II paid special tribute at the birthplace of the now Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska.

As mentioned previously, the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy is located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. On Low Sunday, a week after Easter, special tribute is paid to Saint Faustina, the patron saint of the Order.

The patron saints of the Congregation and their feast days are: Our Lady of Mercy, August 5; St. Ignatius of Loyola, July 31; St. Joseph, March 19; St. Michael the Archangel, September 29; St. Mary Magdalene, July 22; St. Theresa of Jesus, October 15; and St. Anthony of Padua, June 13.

The image of the Divine Mercy is on the main altar of the Chapel. Stained glass windows depict God's mercy toward the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan. One of the side chapels is dedicated to St. Joseph and the other to St. Michael the Archangel.

The icon on the right side of the sanctuary depicts the "Great Apostle of Mercy," Sr. Mary Faustina. On the left side will be the likeness of Blessed George Matulaitis a Lithuanian priest who was known as "the Renovator" of the Congregation of Marians. He was recently beatified, and his relics will be placed on the altar at the Stockbridge shrine.

On the grassy knoll of the grounds is the statue of St. Peregrine, the patron saint of those afflicted with cancer. On a winding path is the Lourdes grotto, a replica of the site where the Blessed Virgin Mary declared to St. Bernadette, "I am the Immaculate Conception."

For spiritual inspiration, as well as appreciation for the natural beauty of the surrounding area, I recommend a visit to these beautiful grounds in the Berkshires, located some 150 miles from Boston. For more information, one might call (413) 298-3931 or surf the web at www.marian.org. To obtain a catalogue, call toll free 1-888-484-1112.

St. Faustina, we salute you and ask you to remember us to the Divine Mercy.