Susan Helen Wallace FSP - Saint Faustina Kowalska

Messenger of Mercy

Written by

Susan Helen Wallace, FSP

Illustrated by

Joan Waites

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wallace, Susan Helen, 1940

Saint Faustina Kowalska : messenger of mercy / written by Susan

Helen Wallace ; illustrated by Joan Waites.

p. cm. (Encounter the saints series)

ISBN 0-8198-7101-X (pbk.)

1. Faustina, Saint, 19051938Juvenile literature. 2. Christian saintsPolandBiographyJuvenile literature. I. Waites, Joan C. II. Title.

BX4700.F175W35 2007
282.092dc22
[B]

2007001089

Saint Faustinas prayers are quoted from: Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul 1987 Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Stockbridge, MA 01263. www.marian.org. Used with permission.

The author gratefully acknowledges the kind assistance of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in verifying details of Saint Faustinas life and spirituality.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

P and PAULINE are registered trademarks of the Daughters of St. Paul.

Copyright 2007, Daughters of St. Paul

Published by Pauline Books & Media, 50 Saint Pauls Avenue, Boston, MA 02130-3491. www.pauline.org.

Printed in U.S.A.

Pauline Books & Media is the publishing house of the Daughters of St. Paul, an international congregation of women religious serving the Church with the communications media.

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Shepherds of Fatima

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Journey to the Summit

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Missionary of Charity

Journeys with Mary

Apparitions of Our Lady

Saint Anthony of Padua

Fire and Light

Saint Bakhita of Sudan

Forever Free

Saint Bernadette Soubirous

Light in the Grotto

Saint Edith Stein

Blessed by the Cross

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Daughter of America

Saint Faustina Kowalska

Messenger of Mercy

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

Cecchinas Dream

Saint Francis of Assisi

Gentle Revolutionary

Saint Ignatius of Loyola

For the Greater Glory of God

Saint Isaac Jogues

With Burning Heart

Saint Joan of Arc

Gods Soldier

Saint Juan Diego

And Our Lady of Guadalupe

Saint Katharine Drexel

The Total Gift

Saint Martin de Porres

Humble Healer

Saint Maximilian Kolbe

Marys Knight

Saint Paul

The Thirteenth Apostle

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Rich in Love

Saint Thrse of Lisieux

The Way of Love

For other childrens titles on the Saints, visit our Web site: www.pauline.org

Helena, wait for Papa, Stanislaus Kowalski called. Wait, I dont want you to fall! The young farmer hurried along the crooked path lined with weeds and clusters of rocks. Stay with me, he said, gently taking hold of four-year-old Helenas hand.

Helenas two older sisters, Josephine and Genevieve, were near the front door of the family cottage. Now that their chores were finished, they could play. Their mother, Marianna Kowalska, kept an eye on the girls as she went about her housework. (In Poland, many family names end in -ski. Polish grammar provides both a masculine and a feminine ending for these names. This is why the men of Helenas family would spell their names with the ending -ski; the women, instead, would use the feminine ending of -ska.)

Helena was different from her sisters, though. Although she was still too young to be of much help, she insisted on staying with Papa as he led the cows back to the barn every evening for milking. This little trip was a highlight of the childs day!

For the first nine years of their marriage, Stanislaus and Marianna had waited and prayed to have a family. Finally, their prayers had been answered. The couple would eventually have eight children, six girls and two boys. They were Josephine, Genevieve, Helena, Natalia, Stanislaus, Mecislaus, Marianna Lucyna, and Wanda. Two other children died as infants.

Their third child, Helena, had been born on August 25, 1905, in Glogowiec (pronounced Glog-o-wick), Poland. One day, she would become famous in her own countryand around the worldas Saint Faustina. But that would be many years from now.

Baby Helena was baptized at Saint Casimir Church soon after birth. From a very young age, the little girl loved to hear about Jesus, Mary, and the saints. Every evening she listened, entranced, as her father read wonderful true stories from his mission magazines.

Will you read us stories of the saints tonight, Papa? she asked each night.

Of course, Helenka, Papa always responded with enthusiasm. (Helenka means little Helen.) The children didnt know that every joint in his body was aching for some rest. Stanislaus often sighed and thought how wonderful it would be to rest for a little while. But I cant disappoint the children, he told himself. Helena stood by the cabinet and watched Papa search for just the right magazine. She couldnt wait to learn how to read.

Helena quickly learned the short prayers her parents taught her, and she loved saying them over and over. Sometimes she simply murmured to herself, Jesus, Mary, heaven. How beautiful those simple words were!

Once, when she was six, Helena woke up in the middle of the night. Sitting straight up in bed, she prayed in her clear voice: My Jesus, I love you. Mother Mary, I love you. Take me to heaven with you some day. Helenas mother appeared in the doorway and gently encouraged her to lie down again. Its time for all children to be sound asleep, Helena. You can say more prayers in the morning, as many prayers as you like. But the little girl wasnt convinced.

Oh, no, Mama, she answered, shaking her head, what if my guardian angel is waking me to pray? I couldnt disappoint my angel! Mama was amazed. Papa wrinkled his forehead, the way he did when he was a bit perplexed.

Stanislaus and Marianna were devoted parents and tried their best to practice their Catholic faith every day. They helped the children to understand that Sunday and feast day Masses were special events.

During the week, Stanislaus had to concentrate on coaxing the poor soil of his farm into growing wheat, rye, and crops for his cattle to graze on. He had a largeand growingfamily to feed. Stanislaus was proud of their little cottage, made of stone and brick with wooden shingles on the roof. The cottage had three small rooms and a hallway. It was home.

Mama spent her busy days cooking, cleaning, and caring for her large family. Papa worked the farm in the early mornings and during late evenings. During the day, he labored at carpentry to earn enough money to feed and clothe them all. The couples Catholic faith was as natural a part of their lives as raising a family and running the farm.