501 Oh, how great is Your beauty, Jesus my Spouse! Living Flower enclosing life-giving
dew for a thirsting soul! My soul is drowned in You. You alone are the object of
my desires and strivings. United me as closely as possible to Yourself, to the
Father, and to the Holy Spirit. Let me live and die in You.
502 Only love has meaning; it raises up our smallest actions into infinity.
503 My Jesus, truly I would not know how to live without You – my spirit is welded to
Yours. No one can really understand this; one must first live in You in order to
recognize You in others.
(206) Cracow,
October 25,
1935
Retreat Resolutions.
504 Not to do anything without the permission of my confessor and the consent of my
superiors in all things, but especially regarding these inspirations and demands of
the Lord.
All my free time I will spend with the Divine Guest within my soul; I will safeguard
my interior and exterior silence so that Jesus can rest in my heart.
My sweetest repose will be in serving and obliging the sisters, in forgetting about
myself and thinking of how to please the sisters.
I will not offer explanations on my own behalf or seek to vindicate myself when
criticized; I will let others judge me as they will.
I have only one trusted Friend in whom I confide everything, and that is Jesus – the
Eucharist, and His representative – my confessor.
In the midst of all sufferings, both physical and spiritual, as well as in darkness and
desolation, I will remain silent, like a dove, and not complain.
146
I will empty myself continually at His feet in order to obtain mercy for poor souls.
505 All my nothingness is drowned in the sea of Your mercy. With the confidence of a
child, I throw myself into Your arms, O Father of Mercy, to make up for the unbelief
of so many souls who are afraid to trust in You. Oh, how very few souls really
know You! How ardently I desire that the Feast of Mercy be known by souls!
Mercy is the crown of Your works; You provide for all with the love of a most tender
mother.
+
(207) J.M.J. Cracow, October 27, 1935
Father Andrasz – Spiritual Counsel.
506 “Do nothing without the consent of the superiors. One must think this matter over
thoroughly and pray much. One must be very careful about these things because,
in your present situation, Sister, the will of God is certain and clear, for you are in
fact bound to this Congregation by vows, and perpetual vows at that; so there
should be no doubt. What you are experiencing interiorly, Sister, are only the
glimmerings of a project. God can make some alterations, but such things are very
rare. Don't be in a hurry, Sister, until you have received more precise knowledge.
The works of God proceed slowly, but if they are of Him, you will surely recognize
them clearly. If they are not, they will disappear; and you, by being obedient, will
not go astray. Speak frankly about everything to your confessor and obey him
blindly.
“For the present, Sister, there is nothing more for you to do than accept the
suffering until the time when everything will become clear; that is, all things will be
resolved. You are well disposed as regards these matters, and so continue in this
simplicity and spirit of obedience; this is a good sign. If you continue in this
attitude, God will not allow you to fall into error. Still, as much as is possible, keep
far away from these things, but if despite that they still come your way, receive
them calmly and do not fear anything. You are in the good hands of a very good
God. In all that you have told me, I do not see any illusion or anything contrary to
faith. These are things which are good in themselves, and it would indeed be good
if there were a group of souls pleading with God for the world, as well all are in
need of prayer. You have a good director; stay with him and be at peace. Be
faithful to God‟s will and carry it out. As to your duties, always do what you are told
to do and as you are told to do it, no matter how humiliating or toilsome it might be.
Always choose the last place, and then they themselves will say to you, „Go up
higher‟ In spirit and in your demeanor, consider yourself the least in the whole
house and in the entire Congregation. In everything and at all times, be most
faithful to God.”
507 (208) I desire, O my Jesus, to suffer and burn with the flame of Your love in all the
circumstances of my life. I am Yours, completely Yours, and I wish to disappear in
You, O Jesus, I wish to be lost in Your divine beauty. You pursue me with Your
love, O Lord; You penetrate my soul like a ray of the sun and change its darkness
into Your light. I feel very vividly that I am living in You as one small spark
147
swallowed up by the incomprehensible fire with which You burn, O inconceivable
Trinity! No greater joy is to be found than that of loving God. Already here on
earth we can taste the happiness of those in heaven by an intimate union with
God, a union that is extraordinary and often quite incomprehensible to us. One
can attain this very grace through simple faithfulness of soul.
508 When a reluctance and a monotony as regards my duties begins to take
possession of me, I remind myself that I am in the house of the Lord, where
nothing is small and where the glory of the Church and the progress of many a
soul depend on this small deed of mine, accomplished in a divinized way.
Therefore there is nothing small in a religious congregation.
509 In the adversities that I experience, I remind myself that the time for doing battle
has not yet come to an end. I arm myself with patience, and in this way I defeat
my assailant.
510 In no way do I seek perfection inquisitively, but I probe into the spirit of Jesus and
fix my eyes on His deeds as summarized in the Gospel. Even if I live a thousand
years, I would not exhaust what is contained there.
511 When my intentions are not recognized, but rather condemned, I am not too much
surprised, for I know that it is only God who scrutinizes my heart. Truth will not die;
the wounded heart will regain peace in due time, and my spirit is strengthened
through adversities. I do not always listen to what my heart tells me, but I keep
asking God for light; and when I feel I have regained my equilibrium, then I say
more.
512 (209) The day of the renewal of vows. The presence of God flooded my soul.
During Holy Mass I saw Jesus, and He said to me, You are My great joy; your love and your humility make Me leave the heavenly throne and unite Myself with you. Love fills up the abyss that exists between My greatness and your nothingness.
513 Love is flooding my soul; I am plunged into an ocean of love. I feel that I am
swooning and becoming completely lost in Him.
514 Jesus, make my heart like unto Yours, or rather transform it into Your own Heart
that I may sense the needs of other hearts, especially those who are sad and
suffering. May the rays of mercy rest in my heart.
515 In the evening, when I was walking in the garden saying my rosary and came to
the cemetery, 102 I opened the gate a little and began to pray for a while, and I
asked them interiorly, “You are very happy and you not? Then I heard the words,
“We are happy in the measure that we have fulfilled God's will” – and then silence
as before. I became introspective and reflected for a long time on how I am
fulfilling God‟s will and how I am profiting from the time that God has given me.
516 On the evening of that same day, when I had already gone to bed, a certain soul
came to me, woke me up by tapping on the night table and asked me to pray for
her. I wanted to ask who she was, but I mortified my curiosity and joined this little
mortification to my prayer and offered them for her.
148
517 Once, when visiting a sick sister 103 who was eighty-four and known for many
virtues, I asked her, “Sister, you are surely ready to stand before the Lord, are you
not?” She answered, “I have been preparing myself all my life long for this last
hour.” And then she added, “Old age does not dispense one from the combat.”
518 (210) + Before all Souls‟ Day, I went to the cemetery at dusk. Although it was
locked, I managed to open the gate a bit and said, “If you need something, my
dear little souls, I will be glad to help you to the extent that the rule permits me.” I
then heard these words, “Do the will of God; we are happy in the measure that we
have fulfilled God‟s will.”
519 In the evening, these souls came and asked me to pray for them, and I did pray
very much for them. In the evening, when the procession was returning from the
cemetery, I saw a great multitude of souls walking with us into the chapel and
praying with us. I prayed a good deal, for I had my superiors, permission 104 to do
so.
520 During the night, a soul I had already seen before visited me. However, it did not
ask for prayer, but reproached me, saying that I used to be very haughty and
vain…. “and now you are interceding for others while you yourself still have certain
vices.” I answered that I indeed had been vain and haughty, but that I had
confessed this and had done penance for my stupidity, and that I trusted in the
goodness of my God, and that if I still fell occasionally, this was indeliberate and
never premeditated, even in the smallest things. Still, the soul continued to
reproach me, saying, “Why are you unwilling to recognize my greatness? Why do
you alone not glorify me for my great deeds as all others do?” Then I saw that this
was Satan under the assumed appearance of this soul and I said, “Glory is due to
God alone; begone Satan!” And in an instant this soul fell into an abyss, horrible
beyond all description. And I said to the wretched soul that I would tell the whole
Church about this.
521 On Saturday we left Cracow and returned to Vilnius. On the way we visit
Czestochowa. When I was praying before the miraculous picture, I felt that…. Are
pleasing…. [unfinished thought].
[End of Notebook 1]
149
The Mercy of the Lord I Will Sing Forever
Divine Mercy in my soul
Sr. M. Faustina
Diary
150 Notebook II
NOTEBOOK II
(1 )
J.M.J.
522 + The mercy of the Lord I will sing forever,
Before all the people will I sing it,
For it is God‟s greatest attribute
And for us an unending miracle.
You gush forth from the Divine Trinity,
But from one single womb filled with love.
The mercy of the Lord will be revealed in the soul
In all its fullness, when the veil falls.
From the fountain of Your mercy, O Lord,
Flows all happiness and life,
And thus, all creatures and the whole of creation
Sing out in ecstasy a song of mercy.
The bowels of God‟s mercy are opened for us
Through the life of Jesus, stretched on the cross.
O sinner, you must not doubt or despair,
But trust in mercy, for you also can become holy.
Two streams in the form of rays
Have gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus
Not for Angels, nor Cherubim, nor Seraphim,
But for the salvation of sinful man.
151
(2) +
J.M.J.
523 O will of
God,
be my
love.
My Jesus, You know that of myself I would not have written a single letter, and if I
do write, it is only because of a clear command of holy obedience.
God and Souls
S. M. Faustina
Of the Blessed Sacrament105
524 + O Jesus, hidden God,
My heart perceives You
Though veils hide You;
You know that I love You.
(3) +
J.M.J.
Vilnius, November 24,
1935
+ Notebook
Two
Blessed Be God!
525 O Holy Trinity, in whom is contained the inner life of God, the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit, eternal joy, inconceivable depth of love, poured out upon all
creatures and constituting their happiness, honor and glory be to Your holy name
forever and ever. Amen.
When I consider Your greatness and beauty. O my God, I rejoice exceedingly that
the Lord I serve is so great. With love and joy I carry out His will, and the more I
come to know Him, the more I desire to love Him. I burn with the desire to love
Him ever more and more.
152
526 (4) + The 14th. This Thursday, when we were having nocturnal adoration, at first I
could not pray; a sort of dryness engulfed me. I could not meditate on Jesus‟
sorrowful Passion. So I lay prostrate and offered the most sorrowful Passion of the
Lord Jesus to the heavenly Father in reparation for the sins of all the world. When
I got to my feet after this prayer and walked to my kneeler, I suddenly saw Jesus
next to it. The Lord Jesus appeared as He was during the scourging. In His hands
He was holding a white garment with which He clothed me and a cord with which
He girded me, and He covered me with a red cloak like the one He was clothed
with during His Passion and a veil of the same color, and He said to me, This is how you and your companions are going to be clothed. My life from birth to death on the Cross will be the rule for you. Fix your eyes upon Me and live according to what you see. I desire that you penetrate into My spirit more deeply and understand (5) that I am meek and humble of heart.
527 On one occasion, I felt an urge to set to work and fulfill whatever God is
demanding of me. I entered the chapel for a moment and heard a voice in my soul
saying, Why are you afraid? Do you think that I will not have enough omnipotence to support you? At that moment, my soul felt extraordinary
strength, and all the adversities that could befall me in carrying out God's will
seemed as nothing to me.
528 On Friday, during Mass, when my soul was flooded with God‟s happiness, I heard
these words in my soul: My mercy has passed into souls through the divine human Heart of Jesus as a ray from the sun passes through crystal. I felt in
my heart and understood that every approach to God is brought about by Jesus, in
Him and through Him.
529 (6) On the evening of the last day [November 15] of the novena at Ostra Brama,
after the singing of the litany, one of the priests exposed the Blessed Sacrament in
the monstrance. When he placed it on the altar, I immediately saw the Infant
Jesus, stretching out His little arms, first of all toward His Mother, who at that time
had taken on a living appearance. When the Mother of God was speaking to me,
Jesus stretched out His tiny hands toward the congregation. The Blessed Mother
was telling me to accept all that God asked of me like a little child, without
questioning; otherwise it would not be pleasing to God. At that moment, the Infant
Jesus vanished, and the Mother of God was again lifeless, and Her picture was the
same as it had been before. But my soul was filled with great joy and gladness,
and I said to the Lord, “Do with me as You please; I am ready for everything, but
You, O Lord, must not abandon me even for a moment.”
(7) +
J.M.J.
530 To the Glory of the Holy Trinity.
I asked Mother Superior [Borgia] to permit me to make a forty-day fast, taking once
a day a piece of bread and a glass of water. However, following the advice of my
confessor [Father Sopocko], Mother Superior did not agree to forty days, but to
seven. “I cannot take you away from your duties completely, Sister, because of
the other sisters who might notice something. I give you my permission to devote
153
yourself to prayer and to note down some of these things, but it will be very difficult
for me to protect you are regards the fasting. Really, I can think of no solution to
this,” and she said, “Go now, Sister, and perhaps some light will come to me.” On
Sunday morning, I understood that when Mother Superior assigned me as portress
during mealtime, she was doing so with the thought of giving me the opportunity to
fast. In the morning, I did not go to breakfast, but, a little while later, I went (8) to
Mother Superior and asked her whether I had been assigned as portress in view of
making it possible for me to fast unnoticed. Mother replied, “When I assigned
you,106 Sister, it was with this in mind.” I then saw that this was the same thought
that I had had interiorly.
531 November 24, 1935. Sunday, first day. I went at once before the Blessed
Sacrament and offered myself with Jesus, present in the Most Holy Sacrament, to
the Everlasting Father. Then I heard these words in my soul: Your purpose and that of your companions is to unite yourselves with Me as closely as possible; through love You will reconcile earth with heaven, you will soften the just anger of God, and you will plead for mercy for the world. I place in your care two pearls very precious to My Heart: these are the souls of priests and religious. You will pray particularly for them; their power will come from your diminishment. You will join prayers, fasts, mortifications, labors (9) and all sufferings to My prayer, fasting, mortifications, labors and sufferings and then they will have power before My Father.
532 After Holy Communion, I saw the Lord Jesus, who said these words to me:Today, penetrate into the spirit of My poverty and arrange everything in sucha way that the most destitute will have no reason to envoy you. I findpleasure, not in large buildings and magnificent structures, but in a pure andhumble heart.
533 When I was by myself, I began to reflect on the spirit of poverty. I clearly saw that
Jesus, although He is Lord of all things, possessed nothing. From a borrowed
manger He went through life doing good to all, but Himself having no place to lay
His head. And on the Cross, I see the summit of his poverty, for He does not even
have a garment on Himself. O Jesus, through a solemn vow poverty I desire to
become like You; poverty will be my mother. (10) As exteriorly we should possess
nothing and have nothing to dispose of as our own; so interiorly we should desire
nothing. And in the Most Blessed Sacrament, how great is Your poverty! Has
there ever been a soul as abandoned as You were on the Cross, Jesus?
534 Chastity. There is no need to explain that this vow forbids all those things
prohibited by the sixth and ninth commandments: deeds, thoughts, words,
feelings….. I understand that a solemn vow differs from a simple vow; I understand
this in all its implications. While reflecting upon this, I heard these words in my
soul: You are My spouse forever; your chastity should be greater than that of the angels, for I call no angel to such intimacy as I do you. The smallest act of My spouse is of infinite value. A pure soul has inconceivable power before God.
535 (11 ) Obedience. I have come to do My Father‟s will. I obeyed My parents, I obeyed My tormentors and now I obey the priests. I understand, O Jesus, the
154
spirit of obedience and in what it consists. It includes not only external
performance, but also the reason, the will and judgment. Obeying our superiors,
we obey God. It makes no difference whether it is an angel or a man who, acting
in God‟s stead, gives me orders; I must always obey. I am not going to write much
about the vows; they are clear and specific. I will rather put down a few general
thoughts about this congregation.
+ General Summary.
536 There will never be any splendid houses, but only a small church with a small
community consisting of a few souls, not more than ten, plus two externs to look
after the external affairs (12) of the community and the church. These two sisters
will not wear the habit, but secular dress; they will take simple vows, and they will
depend strictly on the superior who will be cloistered. They will share in all the
spiritual benefits of the congregation. There must never be more than two and,
preferably, only one. Each house will be independent of the others, although they
will be closely united by the rule, the vows and the spirit. In exceptional cases,
however, a sister from one community may be transferred to another and also, if
there is question of founding a new house, some sisters may be transferred, if
need be, from another house. Each house will depend on the local ordinary.
537 Each sister will have a separate cell, but life will be communal as regards prayer,
meals and recreation. Each nun, after her profession, (13) will no longer see the
world, even through a grill, as this will be covered with a dark cloth, and even the
conversations will be strictly limited. She will be as if dead, not understood by the
world and not understanding the world. She is to stand between heaven and
earth, begging God constantly for mercy on the world and that priests be
empowered so that their words be not empty and that they, in their extraordinary
dignity and so exposed to risks, might keep themselves completely stainless.
Though these souls will not be numerous, they will be heroic souls. There will be
no room for cowardly or effeminate souls.
538 There will be no distinction between the sisters, no mothers, 107 no reverends, no
venerables, but all will be equal, even though there might be great differences in
their parentage. We know who Jesus was, and yet how He humbled Himself and
wish whom He associated Their habit will be like that worn by Jesus during His
Passion, and they will not simply wear the robe [He wore]; (14) they must also seal
themselves with the marks He bore: suffering and scorn. Each one will strive for
the greatest self-denial and have a love of humility, and she who will distinguish
herself most in this latter virtue will be the one who is capable of leading the others.
539 As God has made us sharers in His mercy and even more than that, dispensers of
that mercy, we should therefore have great love for each soul, beginning with the
elect and ending with the soul that does not yet know God. By prayer and
mortification, we will make our way to the most uncivilized countries, paving the
way for the missionaries. We will bear in mind that a soldier on the front line
cannot hold out long without support from the rear forces that do not actually take
part in the fighting but provide for all his needs; and that such is the role of prayer,
and that therefore each one of us is to be distinguished by an apostolic spirit.
155
540 (15) In the evening when I was writing, I heard a voice in my cell which said, “Do
not leave this Congregation; have mercy upon yourself, such great sufferings are
in store for you.” When I looked in the direction of the voice, I saw nothing, and I
continued to write. Suddenly, I heard a noise and the words: “When you leave, we
will destroy you. Do not torture us.” I glanced around and saw many ugly
monsters. So I mentally made the Sign of the Cross and they disappeared
immediately. How terribly ugly Satan is! The poor damned souls that have to keep
him company! Just the sight of him is more disgusting than all the torments of hell.
541 A short time later, I heard this voice in my soul: Do not fear anything; nothing will happen to you against My will. After these words of the Lord, a strange
power entered my soul. I rejoiced greatly that God is so good.
542 (16) Postulancy.108 Age of admission: any person between the ages of fifteen and
thirty. Firstly, the spirit with which the candidate is imbued and her character are to
be taken into consideration, whether she has a strong will and the courage to
follow in Jesus‟ footsteps with joy and gladness, as God loves a cheerful giver.
She must despise the world and herself. The lack of a dowry will never be an
obstacle to admission. All formalities concerning the candidate must be clear; no
complicated cases should be admitted.
Melancholy persons, those disposed to sadness, those suffering from contagious
diseases, those of an unstable character and those who are inclined to be
suspicious of others are not adaptable to the religious life and must not be
admitted. Members should be selected with greatest care, as one ill-fitting
member is enough to throw the whole convent into confusion.
543 The duration of the postulancy. The postulancy will last one year. (17) During this
time, the candidate should examine whether she is attracted to this type of life and
whether it is suitable to her. The directress should also diligently consider whether
or not the person in question is suitable for this type of life. After a year, if the
postulant shows evidence of a stable will and an earnest desire to serve God, she
should be admitted to the novitiate.
544 The novitiate 109 is to last one year, without any interruption. At this time the novice
should be taught about the virtues relating to the vows and about the importance of
the vows. The directress should do her utmost to provide a solid formation. Let
her train the novices in the practice of humility, because only a humble heart keeps
the vows easily and experiences the great joys that God pours out upon the faithful
soul.
The novices should not be burdened with duties that entail responsibilities, so that
they may be free to devote themselves to their own perfection. They are obliged to
observe the rules and statutes strictly, as are the postulants.
545 (18) After a year of novitiate, if the novice proves faithful, she may be admitted to
make her profession for one year. This is to be repeated for three years. She may
then be given duties of responsibility. However, she will still belong to the
novitiate, and once a week she must attend conferences together with the novices,
156
and she will spend the last six months entirely in the novitiate in order to prepare
well for her solemn profession. 110
546 Meals. We will have no meat. Our meals shall be such that not even the poor will
have any reason to envy us. Still, feast days may differ slightly from regular days.
The sisters will eat three times a day. Fasts, especially the two great ones, will be
observed strictly, according to the original spirit. The food should be the same for
all the nuns without (19) exception so that communal life may be kept pure. This
refers not only to food but to clothing and the furnishing of cells as well. However,
if a sister should fall ill, she should receive every consideration.
547 Prayers. One hour of meditation, Holy Mass and Holy Communion, prayers, two
examinations of conscience, office, 111 rosary, spiritual reading, one hour of prayer
during the night. As to the horarium, it is better to draw it up after we have begun
to live this type of life.
548 Suddenly I head these words in my soul: My daughter, I assure you of a permanent income on which you will live. Your duty will be to trust completely in My goodness, and My duty will be to give you all you need. I am making Myself dependent upon your trust: if your trust is great, then My generosity will be without limit.
549 (20) Work. As poor persons, the nuns themselves will do all the work in the
convent. Each one should be glad when she is given some work which is
humbling or which goes against her nature, as that will greatly help her interior
formation. The superior will often change the sisters‟ duties, and in this way help
them to detach themselves completely from the little details to which women have
a great attachment. Truly, I often find it amusing to see with my own eyes souls
who have forsaken really great things only to attach themselves to fiddle faddle;
that is, trifles. Each sister, including even the superior, shall work in the kitchen for
a month. Every one should take a turn at every chore which is to be done in the
convent.
550 And always and in everything, their intention should be pure, for every sort of
mixed motive is displeasing to God. They should accuse themselves of all external
transgressions, (21 ) and ask the Superior for a penance. They should do this in a
spirit of humility.
They should love one another with a sublime love, with a pure love, seeing God‟s
likeness in every sister. Love should be the special characteristic of this little
community, so they must not close up their hearts, but embrace the whole world,
rendering mercy to every soul through prayer, according to their calling. If we live
in this spirit of mercy, we ourselves will obtain mercy.
551 How great should each one‟s love for the Church be! As a good child prays for the
mother it loves, so also should every Christian soul pray for the Church, its Mother.
What then should be said of us religious
