Book Review: “Our Friend Faustina: life lessons in Divine Mercy”

Divine Mercy Sunday is April 19

This month, we will be celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday on April 19. Saint Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), a Polish nun, experienced visions and other revelations from Jesus Christ starting in 1931 and concluding with her death in 1938. Saint Faustina was asked to keep a diary of her experiences that has become very popular to those interested in the Divine Mercy spirituality.

Jesus revealed to Saint Faustina in 1931 an image of himself with two rays coming from his pierced heart, one red and one pale. He also wanted the words, “Jesus, I trust in You” at the bottom of the image. Jesus wanted this image to be painted and spread throughout the world.

It took some time to convince her confessor to allow this to be done. Now, the image can be seen all over the world. Jesus also revealed to Saint Faustina that he wanted the second Sunday after Easter to be declared Divine Mercy Sunday whereby people can gain a plenary indulgence by going to confession and receiving communion or a partial indulgence. Jesus also revealed to Saint Faustina the Divine Mercy novena and the Divine Mercy chaplet. Saint John Paul II declared in 2000 that the second Sunday of Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday as Jesus had wanted. The year 2000 also is the year that Saint Faustina was canonized.

This book is a collection of 11 women who wrote about their experiences in coming to know Saint Faustina or of her influence in their lives. The two editors provide their own chapters. The authors tell their stories, some of which had been published previously, and finish with a prayer.

The stories are very spiritually uplifting and provide some information about Saint Faustina and Divine Mercy. The general reader will enjoy these inspiring stories. There are study questions toward the end of the book for each chapter.

There is a short bibliography and there are biographies of the authors. The various authors quote from Saint Faustina's diary. The Divine Mercy novena and the chaplet are provided in the book. This book is highly recommended to those interested in Saint Faustina and Divine Mercy and how both have had a positive influence on people's lives.

Br. Benet Exton, O.S.B., from Saint Gregory’s Abbey, is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.