Maria Faustina Kowalska was born on August 25, 1905, in the small village of Głogowiec, Poland. She grew up in a poor but devout Catholic family, the third of ten children. From an early age, Faustina felt a deep desire to dedicate her life to God. Despite financial challenges, she persevered and, in 1925, Jesus enabled her to enter the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.

In the convent, Faustina received the name “Sr. Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament.” Her work was simple—she often served as a cook, gardener, or porter—but her spiritual life was extraordinary. It was during these years she began receiving messages from Jesus, which she recorded in her now-famous Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska.

In the evening of February 22, 1931, on the First Sunday of Lent, Jesus directed Faustina to have painted an image according to how he appeared to her that night: with rays of red and white light streaming from his heart. This image, now known as the “Divine Mercy Image,” can be found in churches, homes, and schools across the world.

The image, which serves as reminder of God’s mercy, has an inscription at the bottom: “Jesus, I trust in You.” The rays represent the blood and water that flowed from Christ’s side during his crucifixion, symbolizing the sacraments of the Eucharist and Baptism, respectively. Jesus promised that anyone who venerates this image would receive great graces.

Faustina also documented several related miracles, including one in which she bilocated to the bedside of a tormented man near death. She prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and helped the man find peace and reconciliation with God in his final moments. These accounts, coupled with her visions, underscore the importance of trusting in God’s mercy, no matter how far one has strayed.

St. Faustina’s feast day is October 5, the day she died in 1938. She was only thirty-three, the same age as Christ when he was crucified. Despite her young age, Faustina’s short life was filled with profound spiritual insights and also suffering, which she offered for the salvation of souls.

On April 18, 1993, Pope St. John Paul II beatified Faustina, and, just seven years later, on April 30, 2000, he canonized her as the first saint of the new millennium. During her canonization, the pope proclaimed the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday, fulfilling Jesus’ request to Faustina.

St. Faustina is known as the patron saint of Divine Mercy or, more formally, the Patron Saint of Mercy. Through her life and writings, and especially in her Diary, she has taught the world about the depths of God’s merciful love. Jesus Himself entrusted her with the mission of spreading his message of compassion and forgiveness, making her a powerful advocate for sinners seeking reconciliation with God.

© LPi , Biography from https://www.catholic.com/tract/st-faustina-apostle-of-divine-mercy