Catholic Review: Diary of St Faustina

Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul by St Maria Faustina Kowalska, April 6 2004 (originally published in 1981). 699 pages. Published by Marian Press. Source: borrowed.

This is the book that sparked The Divine Mercy devotion -- one of the fastest growing movements in the Catholic Church today. Diary is a dramatic telling of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska's amazing encounter with The Divine Mercy -- our Lord Jesus Christ. On Mercy Sunday 2006, Pope Benedict XVI said, "The mystery of the merciful love of God was the center of the pontificate of my venerable predecessor [Pope John Paul II] ... evidencing that the devotion to Divine Mercy is not a secondary but an integral dimension of a Christian's faith and prayer." Diary chronicles God's message given through St. Faustina to the world to turn to His mercy. In it, we are reminded to trust in the Divine Mercy of Jesus and seek His forgiveness. And as Christ is merciful, so, too, are we instructed to be merciful to others. The message of Divine Mercy has become an integral part of Catholic faith, including the celebration of the Feast of Divine Mercy on the Sunday after Easter as Jesus had requested of St. Faustina. Diary is truly a book that inspires people to turn with trust to Jesus and guides the reader through an intimate journey of prayer and devotion that ultimately leads to God's mercy.

Each Lent I pick a book written by one of the big saints to broaden my knowledge not only of the Catholic faith but also, and more importantly, to deepen my personal faith. Last year, I had every intention of reading Diary of St Faustina yet I never got around to it because I had started another one after considering that maybe I was not quiet ready for it.

I admit that the Diary of St Faustina was somewhat intimidating to start since its, you know, 699 pages long. While I'm no stranger to long books, there's something about reading this one that left me both excited-to hear what she had to say on Divine Mercy that was revealed to her- and nervous because I was adding this on top of all my other readings and trying to finish it before Easter Sunday. All this aside, I'm ready to move onto discussing the actual book.

Divine Mercy, let's just think upon that for a moment. While I've been aware of the mercy of Jesus, it has taken reading this book to really understand, yet only just, the vast oceans of mercy that He has for you and me. This book just filled me with hope because Jesus' mercy is so vast that we cannot even fathom how limitless it is.

I'm not sure I can find the words to properly, and coherently, get down my thoughts on St. Faustina's book based on the journals she kept. Between all the things she suffered, both in health and from misunderstandings on the part of those at her convent, and everything that He revealed to her concerning His mercy and the devotion that was to be started. The Diary of Faustina is an incredible read on so many levels. Some of which I am finding it nearly impossible to convey here in this review because this is a book that you kind of need to read for yourself.

Final Verdict: Diary of St. Faustina- A beautiful look at the mercy that Jesus wants to show not only you, but the entire world.

Diary of Saint Faustina earns

This book was borrowed from my mom; all thoughts are my own.