We have put a map of the Shrine after the text.

We are now in the Convent’s graveyard, which was founded in the Congregation’s grounds in 1892. This is the place where Sisters, the Community’s pupils and charges, chaplains and other persons associated with the Congregation have been laid to rest. There are many secrets associated with this graveyard, the last resting place of persons who dedicated their lives to God in a variety of intentions, such as for the conversion of persons in the Congregation’s apostolic care, for the safe-keeping of the City of Kraków during the Second World War, or in atonement for their sins. One of the persons who were buried here was Sister Faustina, whom Jesus asked to offer up her life for sinners, especially those who had lost hope in Divine mercy and were at risk of forfeiting eternal life with God. One day when Sister Faustina visited the graveyard, she said the following in spirit to the Sisters buried there, “You must be very happy?” The reply she got was, “We are happy insofar as we did the will of God” (Diary 515).

Sister Faustina’s funeral was held on 7 October 1938, and her body was laid to rest in this graveyard in the Community’s tomb with the statue of Our Lady. Her fame for the holiness of her life and the graces wrought through her intercession  drew crowds of pilgrims to this place. In November 1966, when Sister Faustina’s beatification process started at the diocesan level,  her body was exhumed and transferred to the Chapel. Today St. Faustina’s mortal remains are in the little marble coffin below the mensa of the altar with the Holy Picture of the Merciful Jesus.

On  18 April 1993, when the Roman stage of Sister Faustina’s beatification  process concluded after the heroic nature of her virtues had been proved and a sign for heaven had been sent in the form or a miracle, Pope John Paul raised her up to the glory of the altar as a Blessed, and on 30 April 2000 he canonised her. On that occasion, he said the following: “Today my joy is truly great in presenting the life and witness of Sr Faustina Kowalska to the whole Church as a gift of God for our time.” As he passed on the message of Mercy which Jesus entrusted to Sister Faustina, sending it out to the whole world, the Pope said the following prophetic words, “What will the years ahead bring us? What will Man’s future on earth be like? We are not given to know. However, it is certain that in addition to new progress there will unfortunately be no lack of painful experiences. But the light of Divine mercy, which the Lord in a way wished to return to the world through Sr Faustina’s charism, will illumine the way for the men and women of the third millennium.”

1. Main entrance to the Shrine
2. Sister Faustina’s House: hotel & museum
3. Convent
4. Antoninek House: Faustinum Association

5. Merciful Jesus Chapel & Saint Faustina’s Tomb: Heart of the Shrine

6. Oratory: room where Saint Faustina died
7. Chapel of the Lord’s Passion
8. Divine Mercy Basilica
9. Saint Faustina’s Chapel
10. The Communio Sanctorum Chapel
11. Saint Andrew’s Chapel
12. The Holy Cross Chapel
13. The Chapel of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows
14. Perpetual Adoration Chapel
15. Viewing Tower
16. Convent Graveyard
17. Sister Faustina’s House: restaurant, souvenirs & meeting hall
18. Pastoral Lodge: hotel & restaurant
19. Mercy House
20. Information Booth
21. Souvenirs & Misericordia Bookshop
22. Saint John Paul II Hall
23. Car park
24. Car and coach park
25. Toilets
26. Bridge of Mercy, for the Saint John Paul II Shrine & tram stop