Oct 5 – Memorial for St. Faustina Kowalska, Virgin, religious, Christian Mystic
Maria Faustyna Kowalska (born Helena Kowalska; 25 August 1905 – 5 October 1938), also known as Saint Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament and popularly spelled Faustina, was a Polish Roman Catholic nun and mystic. Her apparitions of Jesus Christ inspired the Roman Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy and earned her the title of “Secretary of Divine Mercy”.
Throughout her life, Kowalska reported having visions of Jesus and conversations with him, which she noted in her diary, later published as The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul. Her biography, submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, quoted some of the conversations with Jesus regarding the Divine Mercy devotion.
At the age of 20 years, she joined a convent in Warsaw. She was later transferred to Płock and then to Vilnius, where she met Father Michał Sopoćko, who was to be her confessor and spiritual director, and who supported her devotion to the Divine Mercy. With this priest’s help, Kowalska commissioned an artist to paint the first Divine Mercy image, based on her vision of Jesus. Father Sopoćko celebrated Mass in the presence of this painting on Low Sunday, also known as the Second Sunday of Easter or (as established by Pope John Paul II), Divine Mercy Sunday.
The Catholic Church canonized Kowalska as a saint on 30 April 2000. The mystic is classified in the liturgy as a virgin and is venerated within the church as the “Apostle of Divine Mercy”. Her tomb is in Divine Sanctuary, Kraków-Łagiewniki, where she spent the end of her life and met confessor Józef Andrasz, who also supported the message of mercy.
- Wikipedia
Neh 8:1-12
Lk 10:1-12
If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
Today, we commemorate the life of St. Faustina Kowalska. At the age of 19, she experienced a profound vision of Jesus, telling her to journey to Krakow and dedicate herself to a life of devotion in a convent. Responding to this divine calling, she wholeheartedly embraced her faith, taking her vows and embarking on a journey of spiritual dedication as a nun. She died on this day in 1938, at the age of 33. I have a special affinity with St. Faustina, since her memorial day falls on my birthday. It is by grace that I have this special connection with this saintly figure and her enduring legacy.
As I think of St. Faustina’s mission, I reflect on today’s gospel; as Jesus teaches us about mission and vocation. We are reminded not to be discouraged by the indifference or resistance of others. Instead, we are encouraged to share the transformative love of God that we have encountered through our relationship with Jesus Christ.
I think of my own simple mission. I believe that as Christians, we are called to be the face of Christ to the people we meet. Some 4 years ago, I moved into my new home. Being the newbie on the block, I bought a box of cake each for my neighbours. Some thanked me for the gesture, some viewed me quizzically. But there was this one neighbor, who absolutely refused my gesture. I tried to convince him that it’s just cake, nothing fancy. Still he refused me. I thought that it was a strange and rude response, but just I left it at that and didn’t think about it further.
Fast forward to today, I learnt that this neighbor and his family are somewhat strange and difficult. I guess we will encounter all sorts in a community. He is passive aggressive and does his level best to make my stay here very uncomfortable. Till today, I have no idea what I have done. We don’t even have a cordial neighbourly relationship. We simply ‘see through’ each other.
In today’s gospel, Jesus teaches us about mission and vocation. We are called to be simple and humble in our ministry. When people ignore us, we should not be discouraged. Yet, I find it so hard to be a good neighbour to this one individual. I am not just discouraged, I am annoyed each time I see him. But Pope Francis reminds us in the Joy of the Gospel that every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered God’s love in Jesus Christ. Regardless of our differences, are we willing to embrace the responsibility of carrying out his mission and ministry? Today, Jesus challenged each of us to not only believe in Him, but also to spread the good news throughout the world.
It is not, however, always an easy journey. We must be prepared to confront hardships as missionaries. Our neighbours, friends, and even family members may not understand or embrace our message at times. So, how do we respond to persecution or indifference?
I draw strength and comfort from this verse – If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. We don’t live in a perfect world and not everyone will like us. However, I must strive to be a good Christian missionary. We must recall Jesus’ humility throughout His ministry. He was not looking for recognition, fortune, or power. Instead, He walked among the people in humility, offering love, healing, and forgiveness. Therefore, we must not be discouraged by rejection or skepticism in my mission. Instead, we must remain strong in our determination to spread the good news.
Furthermore, we might be encouraged by Jesus’ example of perseverance. He was confronted with hostility, betrayal, and even crucifixion, but He never wavered in His objective. Even in the face of difficulty, we must endeavour to model His unwavering dedication to our mission. Our faith in the transformational power of God’s love should be our guiding light.
I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
In times of persecution or indifference, it is important to remember that our mission is not mainly about persuading others to think as we do. It entails sowing seeds of love, compassion, and hope. We may not see immediate results, but every act of kindness, every word of encouragement, and every act of love helps God’s kingdom flourish.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Geraldine Nah)
Prayer: Jesus, as you have entrusted us each with a sacred mission and vocation, I pray that you give me the grace, fortitude and temperance to carry out this mission. As I am called to minister to others through my words, actions and life, help me embrace this mission with humility, perseverance, and a deep trust in how Your love can transform me.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Jesus, for choosing me to be your disciple and missionary.
OXYGEN 
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