On January 13, another Monday’s meeting will be held at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, dedicated to contemplating the Catechism of the Catholic Church and prayer at the miracle-famous Divine Mercy image and the tomb of St. Faustina for the recovery of faith in the Eucharistic presence of Jesus, and for priests. At 6.45 pm, Fr. Janusz Kościelniak will lead a short meditation based on the articles of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The focal point of the program will be the encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with individual blessing. Those who cannot physically come to Łagiewniki, can connect to the on-line broadcast at www.saint-faustina.org .
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The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy would like to thank all the collaborators, benefactors and donors, thanks to whom www.faustyna.pl was created and has now been updated in nine languages, along with all the works of mercy which are possible thanks to them. These include, above all, our “Chaplet for the dying” and the on-line transmissions from the chapel of the miracle-famous Image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina in the Łagiewniki Shrine. We all participate in the mission of Jesus, who is revealing the merciful love of the Heavenly Father to the world and bestowing His Mercy on His people. Dear IT professionals, translators, Benefactors and Donors, it is also through you that God’s Mercy is poured into the world. Let this Christmas be a time of special joy and peace, for the Lord has come to earth. He is here with us and lives in us when we are in a state of grace. May the New Year 2025, the Jubilee of Mercy, be rich in God’s grace and in mercy provided to our neighbors.
At www.faustyna.pl and its 8 language versions, Patron Draw for 2025 is open. As of January 6, already 288,100 users have participated, including almost 189,400 people from Poland. The Spanish version was accessed by more than 44,400 persons, the Slovak one by 44,300, the Italian one by over 3,700, while others used the remaining language versions. As witnesses show, the Patrons deliver special responses to people’s lives and situations. It is worth it having such a holy company, because the Inhabitants of Heaven are willing and helpful if we ask them. Numerous testimonials attest to their effectiveness.
On January 12, a solemn introduction of the relics of St. Sister Faustina will take place at the parish of Our Lady Queen of Families in Dziekanów Leśny (Archdiocese of Warsaw). On this occasion, Sr. Livia Mikołajczyk and Sr. Simona Kras from the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki will share with the faithful of this parish the message of Mercy and the spiritual heritage of St. Sister Faustina, recorded in her “Diary.”
In this series, from January 10 to 12 this year, there will be a retreat under the motto: “A Source of Hope in the Desert of the World.” The theme is the words of Jesus recorded in the “Diary”: “When you feel that your strength is fading, come to the Source of Mercy and refresh your soul, and you will not falter on the way” (Diary, 1486). Participants in these spiritual exercises are invited to discover that only the merciful God is the true source of hope and strength to overcome their weakness, all difficulties, and painful experiences. The retreat will be led by Father Dr. Michał Legan, a Pauline monk, Head of the Department of Media Theology at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of John Paul II, Head of the Catholic Broadcast Editorial Office at Polish Television, and Sister M. Eliana Chmielewska from the Krakow community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, serving in the “Faustinum” association.
Although the dates for these visits can change from year to year, the priests traditionally visit the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy on the Solemnity of the Epiphany (Three Kings’ Day). On that holiday, priests acting as chaplains for the Congregation, accompanied by Christmas carolers, visit the convent’s assembly halls and other common areas, the sisters’ cells, workshops and guest rooms to bless them with holy water and incense, praying for God’s blessings for all the residents and guests in this next year of their apostolic ministry.
Every year on January 1st, in the convents of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, a drawing of annual patron Saints takes place. The Diary tells us how important this was for St. Faustina. Her desire was to be accompanied and supported by Someone from Heaven on all her days of the new year. In the morning during meditation, she wrote, there arose within me a secret desire that the Eucharistic Jesus be my special Patron for this year also, as in the past. But, hiding this desire from my Beloved, I spoke to Him about everything else but that. When we came to refectory for breakfast, we blessed ourselves and began drawing our patrons. When I approached the holy cards on which the names of the patrons were written, without hesitation I took one, but I didn’t read the name immediately as I wanted to mortify myself for a few minutes. Suddenly, I heard a voice in my soul: “I am your patron”. Read. I looked at once at the inscription and read, “Patron for the Year 1935-the Most Blessed Eucharist.” My heart leapt with joy (Diary, 360).
People associated with the Congregation: priests, collaborators, Faustinum members and volunteers, friends, guests… etc. albo participate in the Patron draw, as do our online visitors at www.saint-faustina.org. Along with the Patron, they receive a message, most often from the Diary of St. Sister Faustina, and a practice of mercy, most often an intention to pray.
May the Patron Saints aid us, may they help us more and more fully; participate in the life and mission of Jesus; revealing the merciful love of God to the world!
Christmas is associated with the custom of decorating the Christmas tree that adorns the interiors of churches, homes, in addition to city squares and other public places. The coniferous tree is a symbol of life, rebirth, longevity and fertility in many cultures. A decorated fir or spruce tree has become Europe’s most recognizable symbol of Christmas. The living tree has also become a Christian symbol of Christ as the source of life. But also some Christmas tree decorations have their own symbolic meanings, although not always recognized today: for example, the star placed on top of the tree was supposed to show the way back home from far away, the lights point to Christ, who is the light of the world, the angels are the ones who take care of the household, the paper chains reminded people about the enslavement of sin from which Jesus frees us… In modern culture, however, presents placed under the Christmas tree seem to be more important. And yet, they are also a foreshadowing of the gifts of Heaven. It is worth to look at the Christmas tree remembering about its symbolic value, which Christian culture carries, to better and more fruitfully live the joyful mystery of Christmas.
I too came down from heaven out of love for you; I lived for you, I died for you, and I created the heavens for you, said Jesus to St. Faustina, addressing these words to every human being as well. On the occasion of Christmas and the approaching 2025, we would like to express our heart-felt wishes to our collaborators, benefactors, donors, all those involved with various apostolic works of the Congregation (such as our Chaplet for the Dying and Perpetual Chaplet), online visitors to our website. May you continually discovery the presence of Immanuel – God with us – and recognize signs of His merciful love in all circumstances of your life. May you share your everyday life with Him. We also wish you all the temporal favors so that they bring you joy and lead you to an even greater love of God and fellow human beings. May the New Year be rich in God’s graces and human mercy provided to those in need. We embrace you all in our prayers. May God’s Mercy be praised in us and through us!
This is how the mystery of the incarnation and birth of the Son of God was referred to by St. Faustina. In a beautifully poetic way, it was expressed by Franciszek Karpiński in the Polish Christmas carol:
Bóg się rodzi, moc truchleje,
Pan niebiosów obnażony.
Ogień krzepnie, blask ciemnieje,
Ma granice Nieskończony.
Wzgardzony, okryty chwałą,
Śmiertelny Król nad wiekami.
A Słowo ciałem się stało,
i mieszkało między nami.
[God is born and the night is shaken,
The Lord of Heaven lies naked,
Fire is frozen, light is veiled
The Eternal now has its limits.
He was scorned, yet clothed with glory,
Mortal King of the Ages!
And the Word was made flesh,
And dwelt among us.]
Infinite and eternal God took human form and became a man. No other religion in the world has such a god who is the Creator and Lord of all that exists, who is the One, holy, infinite, transcendent, all-powerful and all-knowing, ineffable by human or angelic reason, and at the same time so close to man in His Son embodied as a human person. The contemplation of Divine Mercy in this mystery brings the ineffable joy and awe, because God dwells among us, the Word of God, Mercy Incarnate (Diary, 1745).
Merciful love of God revealed in the nativity of Jesus is sung in liturgical hymns, and also in Christmas carols that are more secular. A particularly rich repertoire of hundreds of Christmas carols is inscribed in Polish national and religious culture. They are sung in every home, not only at the table on Christmas Eve, but also during Christmas time in churches, accompanying the liturgy and at various festive meetings. Many of these songs have lyrics and music composed by recognized poets and composers, and each year new are created. Christmas carols create a unique atmosphere of the holiday season, helping in prayer, contemplation and living the mystery of God’s Mercy revealed in the fact of the incarnation and nativity of the Son of God.
As is tradition, on December 31 at 9:00 pm at the Shrine of Divine Mercy, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will begin in the chapel of the famous Divine Mercy image and the tomb of St. Faustina. Adoration this year will be led by the sisters and will conclude at midnight with the celebration of the first Mass. Those unable to come to the shrine can join us by watching our online broadcast beginning with vespers at 7:00 pm and continuing with adoration and Mass. Please visit www.saint-faustina.org for more information.
Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski, Metropolitan of Krakow, after consulting the Polish Bishops’ Conference and receiving the consent of the Holy See, issued an edict on November 12, 2024, to begin the beatification and canonization process of the Servant of God, Fr. Józef Andrasz SJ, a Krakow-based confessor and spiritual director of St. Faustina Kowalska. In this document, he calls on all who possess any documents, writings, or information about the Servant of God, whether positive or negative, to submit them to the Metropolitan Curia in Krakow by December 30, 2024.
The vice-postulator of the process is Fr. Mariusz Balcerak SJ, while the general postulator for the entire Jesuit order is Fr. Pascual Cebollada SJ, who oversees all processes of Jesuit candidates for sainthood on behalf of the General Curia in Rome.
People from many countries of the world participating in the work of the Perpetual Chaplet of Divine Mercy are praying not only in their own intentions, but also asking for “mercy on us and the whole world”. Specific intention for December: For a spiritually fruitful experience of Advent and Christmas for us and our families, as well as for the grace of conversion and confession for those who have long not used this sacrament to make Christmas happen in their hearts too.
The work of Perpetual Chaplet is a response to the request of Jesus to constantly implore for mercy “for us and the whole world”. The work has been operated by the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy at: www.faustyna.pl since 2011. Anyone can participate in it by filling out a short form and declare to say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which Jesus dictated to St. Faustina—at least once.
On Sunday, the octave of Christmas, which this year is December 29, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Family, that is, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. It is also a celebration of every human family, which, like the Family of Nazareth is the work of the Heavenly Father and is intended to lead people to Him, and to be faced with many difficulties in this earthly life. Today, in times of a massive attack on the family, the crisis of marriage and family life, the Holy Family shows a happy model of community life, in which the first place is the Lord God, and relationships between people apply the principle of love and mutual trust.
On this day, we thank God’s Mercy in a special way for the gift of our families and ask for the necessary graces for those who are experiencing difficulties and crises, and for the conflicted and broken families we ask for the grace of reconciliation, mutual forgiveness, a return on the path of mutual love and imitation of the life of the Holy Family of Nazareth. In this intention, at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki, at the Image of Divine Mercy and the tomb of St. Faustina, a daily Rosary is recited at 8:30 pm, and the second Saturday of the month at 5pm Holy Mass is celebrated. You can join in this prayer online at www.saint-faustina.org where it is be broadcast.
The most important aspect of preparing for Christmas is concern about spiritual matters, so as to prepare for the new birth of the Son of God in your soul. This is why during this period we make a number of resolutions intended to organize our spiritual life, attend retreats and participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In many shrines of Divine Mercy, including the ones in Krakow-Łagiewniki and Plock, as well as in other churches, long lines are setting up for confession. Without this, preparations for Christmas will be deprived of the deepest joy that is the presence of God in your soul and they might become just two days off from work and an opportunity to give presents which fill you with joy only briefly. You do believe that God was born in a Bethlehem manger, but woe to you if He is not born in you, wrote the poet Adam Mickiewicz.
On December 16 a novena to the Infant Jesus will start in all the convents of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, including the chapel of the miracle-famous Image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina in the Shrine of Divine Mercy. Traditionally, the antiphons sung and the Litany of the Infant Jesus recited there prepare the faithful spiritually for Christmas.
The very word for “eve” in Polish, wigilia, comes from the word “vigil”. This particular vigil is filled with prayer, fasting and other mortifications undertaken out of love for Jesus, as a direct preparation for the celebration of His birth in the human form. According to Christian tradition, when the first star appears in the sky (referring symbolically to the Star of Bethlehem, which heralded the birth of Jesus), Poles sit down to supper in their homes, religious orders and various other communities. The wafer that Poles break with their dear ones as they exchange greetings provides an opportunity for forgiveness and reconciliation and creates an atmosphere of love in which God is present. Saint Faustina described several Christmas Eves in her Diary. She commented on her last one, which she experienced in 1937 in Krakow: Before supper, I went into the chapel for a moment to break the wafer spiritually with those beloved persons, so dear to my heart, though far away. First, I steeped myself in a profound prayer and asked the Lord for graces for them all as a group and then for each one individually. Jesus gave me to know how much this pleased Him, and my soul was filled with even greater joy to see that God loves in a special way those whom we love. After I had gone into the refectory, during the reading, my whole being found itself plunged in God. Interiorly, I saw God looking at us with great pleasure. I remained alone with the Heavenly Father. At that moment, I had a deeper knowledge of the Three Divine persons, whom we shall contemplate for all eternity and, after millions of years, shall discover that we have just barely begun our contemplation. Oh, how great is the mercy of God, who allows man to participate in such a high degree in His divine happiness! At the same time, what great pain pierces my heart [at the thought] that so many souls have spurned this happiness (Diary, 1438-1439). May God be invited to every home, every Christmas table and every human heart! Only in Him and His Mercy will the world ever find peace and man will find happiness!
It is a tradition that a solemn Mass named Pasterka („Shepherds’ Mass”) is celebrated at midnight on Christmas Eve in Polish churches and chapels, including the ones of our Congregation. It is the first Eucharist of Christmas, which commemorates the expectation and prayer of the Bethlehem shepherds arriving to greet the Son of God born in flesh. A mystical experience of Sister Faustina described in her Diary brings us closer to the joyful mystery of Jesus’ coming to earth and living in clean hearts: As Holy Mass began, I immediately felt a great interior recollection; joy filled my soul. During the offertory, I saw Jesus on the altar, incomparably beautiful. The whole time the Infant kept looking at everyone, stretching out His little hands (Diary, 347). After Holy Communion, she writes elsewhere, I heard the words: I am always in your heart; not only when you receive Me in Holy Communion, but always (Diary, 575). We would like to wish you all to experience the joy that comes from the presence of God in our souls during the Midnight Mass, throughout the holidays and on every day of the New Year!
During the fourth week of Advent, St. Faustina will lead us deep into our souls, which also became the birthplace of Jesus in us. Jesus came to this world to be born in every human heart and make it happy. “I seek no happiness except in my interior”, she wrote, “in which God abides. I rejoice in God within me. Here I dwell constantly with Him; here I am at my most intimate with Him; here I safely dwell with Him, here is a place beyond the reach of human gaze. The Blessed Virgin is encouraging me to abide with God in this manner” (Diary, 454). Let us try to make the last days of Advent a time of the new birth of Jesus not only in our hearts through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but let us strive to make sure that He finds a place in many human souls through our prayer and sacrifice.
The Polish name for the votive Mass celebrating the Virgin Mary, celebrated in Advent is “roraty”. The name comes from the words of the introit which begins with: rorate caeli desuper – “Drop down ye heavens from above”. At the altar, a special candle decorated with a white ribbon is lit, symbolizing the Virgin, and the faithful hold lighted candles that illuminate the darkness inside the church while they are waiting for a sign of the coming of Christ. This candle is referred to as “roratka”. At the Shrine of Divine Mercy, this Mass is celebrated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 6.30 am. Internet users can get involved in the prayer online at www.saint-faustina.org .
Let us spend the third week of this Advent contemplating the mystery of Divine Mercy in the Nativity of Christ. Sister Faustina wrote: “And the uncomprehended miracle of Your mercy is accomplished, O Lord: the Word is made Flesh, God – the Word of God, Mercy Incarnate – has come to dwell among us. You have raised us up to Your Divinity by stooping down to us here is the surfeit of Your love, the infinite depth of Your mercy. The Heavens are astounded at the surfeit of Your love. No longer does anyone fear to approach You. You are the God of mercy; You take pity on our wretchedness; You are our God, and we are Your people. You are a Father unto us, and we are Your children by Your grace; may Your mercy be praised for Your gracious coming down to us” (Diary, 1745). Let us follow St. Faustina in considering the merciful love of God in the miracle of the Son of God being born in the stable in Bethlehem and in the soul of man. Let us thank Him for wanting to be so close to us from birth through all the events of life until death, to live with us in the Father’s house and make us heirs to Heaven.
This is the title under which the sisters of the Petropavlovsk community of the Congregation of the Mother of God of Mercy are conducting Advent preparations for Christmas on Instagram. The guide for the initiative is St. Sister Faustina. Each day, a different passage from her Diary is read in Russian, accompanied by a short commentary. The initiative has garnered significant interest and is being followed even by people who do not have an Instagram account.
In December, the young people’s meeting “Łagiewnicka 22” at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki will take place a day earlier, on Saturday, the 21st of the month. It will begin at 7:00 PM in the chapel with the miraculous image of the Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina. The meeting will be led by the sisters of the Kraków community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The program includes a lecture by Sr. Tobiana Domiter on the spiritual childhood of St. Faustina, silent prayer, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with praise of Divine Mercy, and an agape with delicious food and a Q&A session.
On Tuesday, December 17, a formation meeting for members and volunteers of the “Faustinum” association will take place in Sabinov, in eastern Slovakia. The group operates at the parish of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist. The meeting will begin with communal prayer during the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The group will commence permanent formation in the rhythm of lectio divina, combined with sharing the Word of God. The formation is led by Sr. Mariela Lengyelová from the Košice community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.
This is the theme of the Advent retreat in the series “Mercy in the Bible and the Diary,” which will take place on December 13–15 at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki. The retreat will be accompanied by the words of St. Faustina: “I wait with great longing for the Lord’s coming” (Diary, 793) and St. Joseph, who will help participants deepen their Advent waiting and better prepare for Christmas. The retreat will be led by Sr. Maria Faustyna Ciborowska from the Kraków community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, a doctor of biblical studies. The organizer is the Association of Apostles of Divine Mercy “Faustinum.”
This verse from the “Song of Songs” will serve as the motto for a women’s retreat in Kazakhstan, organized as part of the Samaritan project from December 13–15 at the parish of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the town of Konaev, Diocese of Almaty. The retreat will be led by Sr. Anastasis Omelchenko and Sr. Bakhita Voronava from the Pietropavlovsk community of the Congregation of the Mother of God of Mercy, as well as Sr. Kazimiera Wanat, a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. The program includes conferences, meditations on the Word of God, bibliodrama, and meetings with children and youth in orphanages located within the parish.
The community of sisters from the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy in Camagüey, Cuba, together with the Project Esperanza, are organizing a retreat for women titled “Woman – Clay Vessel” on Saturday, December 14. It will be led by Sr. Filipa Bąk, along with psychologist América Santoya Arévalo and psychiatrist Eduardo Barranco Masías. The meeting aims to help Cuban women discover their dignity, beauty, and richness, and most importantly, their immense value in the eyes of God. The retreat is open to all women from the diocese.
In the second week of Advent with St. Faustina, we would like to invite you to consider Divine Mercy in the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God. “God, You did not allow Man to perish after his fall, but in Your mercy forgave him; You forgave him in a Divine manner, not only forgiving his sin but also bestowing all manner of graces upon him. Mercy prompted You to come to come down to us Yourself and lift us up out of our wretchedness. God, the Lord of Lords, is to come down on Earth, the Immortal One is to stoop down. But where will You come down, O Lord? To Solomon’s temple? Will You have a new abode built for You? Where do You intend to come down? O Lord, what kind of abode shall we build You, if the whole Earth is Your footstool? You have prepared an abode for Yourself: the Holy Virgin, Her immaculate womb is Your dwelling” (Diary, 1745). During this week, let us follow St. Faustina in contemplating the Mercy of God in the mystery of the incarnation of His Son, Who took on a human form in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Let’s be thankful that human nature became elevated in this way, and has been present in the mystery of the Trinity through Jesus ever since.
On Friday, December 13, at 3:20 PM, the monthly Holy Mass for the Association of Apostles of Divine Mercy “Faustinum” in Slovakia will be celebrated. The Mass at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Košice, in the KVP district, will be officiated by Fr. Tomáš Svat. Monthly Masses for the intentions of “Faustinum” in Slovakia have been celebrated since 2006. After the Mass, a traditional formation meeting for the local “Faustinum” group will take place, led by Sr. M. Benediktína Fečová from the Košice community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.
