Divine
Mercy
In
my Soul
The
diary of Sister Maria Faustina H. Kowalska is the record of her life experience
– the journey of her soul. She was graces by a special communion with God, and
the diary expresses her conviction that this communion ought to be the center
of our lives. Since the 1940’s the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, St.
Stanislaus Kostka Province, have shared this conviction and have undertaken the
promulgation of God’s mercy throughout the world, particularly as it has been
proclaimed by Sister Faustina.
In
1979, convinced of the importance of the diary, the Marians were instrumental
in bringing it – in its rough typewritten form – out of Poland. We made the
necessary corrections to the manuscript and published a critical Polish edition
that has been promulgated throughout the world to Polish speaking people.
At
the same time, we commissioned a couple in Poland, Adam and Danuta Pasicki, to
translate the diary into English. Once they had completed this first, literal
translation, we asked Archbishop George Pearce, S.M., to re-translate portions
of it in accordance with proper English terminology for the various theological
concepts and spiritual experiences referred to throughout the diary. Archbishop
Pearce was supported in this second translation by Fahters George Kosicki,
C.S.B., Gerald Farrel, M.M., Leo McCauley, S.J, and an Oblate, Francis Baga,
O.M.I.
When this text was completed, it was given to
Father Seraphim Michalenko, M.I.C, who was Director of the Divine Mercy
Department from 1979-1986. Together with Sister Sophia Michalenko, C.M.G.T., he
carefully reviewed the translation, often referring back to the original Polish
to ensure exactness of expression. Father Joseph Sielski, M.I.C and Father
Kazimierz, M.I.C., were then asked to review the text, re-reading it for
authentic agreement with the Polish.
Finally,
in the first part of 1987, the text was returned to the Divine Mercy
Department, now headed by Father George Kosicki, C.S.B. through his efforts,
the tireless work of Sister Sophia Michalenko, C.M.G.T, and the assistance of
Vincent Flynn, the diary was subjected to a complete editing, re-typing, and
proofing process for clarity of expression and readability according to current
English grammar and usage. The index, listing the main themes of the diary, was
compiled by Father Eugene Ozimek and developed by Fr. George Kosicki and Sister
Sophia. The design, composition, and mechanicals were then completed by Charles
Parise and Pat Menatti, and the diary was printed by the Marian Press at the
Marian helpers center. To all involved with this work, we wish to express our
deepest gratitude and the assurance of our prayers.
Since
the Polish diary is the official text, we have made every effort to be truly
faithful to it, and to retain the various shades of meaning implied in the
theological and spiritual terms used by Sister Faustina – a definite challenge,
indeed! In translating the diary, we dealt with the same kind of challenge that
faces the translators of Sacred Scripture. Some terms allow for a variety of
expressions even though the meanings are the same, and the final translation
thus becomes a personal choice of style and expression on the part of the
translator.
For
the most part, the texts that have already been published in the popular
devotional booklets are the same as those used in the diary, though in some
instances, there again may be slight differences of style and expression.
In
the final editing process, inconsistencies of verb tense, capitalization, and
punctuation were standardized as much as possible without losing Sister
Faustina’s unique style and powerful simplicity of expression. Our Lord’s words
to Sister Faustina were set in Bold Type (We, Sue and Marianne, Put Our Lord’s
words in Red, Our Lady’s in Blue, and Angels in Purple) for emphasis, while Our
Lady’s words were set in Italics. The page numbers of Sister Faustina’s
original notebooks were also set in bold type, and paragraphs thought to be
overly long or diversified in content were split into shorter paragraph units
for readability.
The
footnotes too, have been reexamined, and additional clarifying notes have been
added where necessary. Notes that were no longer pertinent, in light of changes
incorporated into the English translation, were deleted; and, wherever
possible, explanatory notes were placed in [square brackets] in the text itself
to avoid unnecessary breaks in the reading.
Our
deepest hope is that this diary may truly be a vehicle of grace for all who
read it, for in reading it we can see that the mercy of God lives forever.
Above
all, we hope that all people will be struck by the truth that mankind will not
have peace until it turns with trust to God’s mercy.
May
each one of you experience the power of the Blood and Water that poured out
from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy, and may each of you find
confidence and trust in this ever present mercy of God!
Gratefully
in the Lord,
Very
Rev. Richard J. Drabik, M.I.C.
Provincial
Superior
Eden
Hill, Stockbridge, Massachusetts
March
19, 1987.
In
presenting this edition of the Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska I am fully
aware that I am introducing a document of Catholic mysticism of exceptional
worth, not only for the Church in Poland, but also for the Universal Church.
This publication is the critical edition, and thus reliable. It is the work of
the Postulator of Sister Faustina, under the direction of the authority of the
Archdiocese of Cracow.
The
Diary, whose object is devotion to the Divine Mercy, has acquired tremendous
interest lately for two reasons: Firstly: the Sacred Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, in its revision more then two years ago [1978], withdrew
the consures and reservations advanced earlier by the Holy See in relation to
the writings of Sister Faustina. The withdrawal of the “Notification” caused
the devotion to the Divine Mercy, as presented in the Diary, to grow in renewed
vitality on all continents, as is evidenced by the numerous testimonies
received by the Postulator and the Congregation of which Sister Faustina was a
member. Secondly: The recent encyclical of Pope John Paul II, Dives in
Misericordia, happily fixed the attention of the Church, and even of the
secular world, on this most wonderful attribute of God and extraordinary aspect
of the economy of salvation, which is the Divine Mercy.
A
comprehensive study in order to indicate the affinity of ideas found in the
Diary of Sister Faustina and this encyclical (not to mention their probable
interdependence) would be most welcome. These salient points certainly are
numerous, for they draw their inspiration from the same source; namely, from
the revelation of God and the teaching of Christ.
Furthermore,
they come from the same spiritual environment, from Cracow, the city which, as
far as I know, possesses the oldest Church dedicated to the honor of the Divine
Mercy. It is likewise necessary to stress that it was Karol Cardinal Wojtyla,
the Archbishop of Cracow at that time, who made efforts to begin the Process of
Beatification of Sister Faustina Kowalska and did inaugurate that process.
In
this light, the Diary of Sister Faustina took on exceptional meaning for the
Catholic spirituality; and that is why it was fitting to prepare a credible
edition, in order to prevent distortion of the text by persons who perhaps are
acting in good faith, but who are not adequately prepared for such work. Thus,
publications containing differences and even contradictions, such as took place
with the spiritual diary of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, The Story of a
Soul, can be avoided.
The
reader, after just a superficial skimming of the Diary, may be struck by the
simplicity of the language and even by the spelling and stylistic errors, but
he should not forget that the author of the Diary had but a limited elementary
education. The theology alone which is found in the Dairy awakens in the reader
a conviction of its uniqueness; and if one considers the contrast between
Sister Faustina’s education and the loftiness of her theology, the contrast
alone indicates the special influence of Divine Grace.
I
would like to mention here my meeting with a well known contemporary mystic,
Sister Speranza, who in Collevalenza, not far from Todi [Italy], founded the
sanctuary of “The Most Merciful Love,” the site of numerous pilgrimages.
I
asked Sister Speranza whether she had heard of the writings of Sister Faustina
and what she thought of them. She answered me with simplicity: “The writings
contain a wonderful teaching. But reading them one must remember that God
speaks to philosophers in the language of philosophers and to simple souls in
the language of the simple ones, and only to these last does He reveal truths
hidden from the wise and prudent of this world.”
To
conclude this preface, permit me to mention yet one more personal recollection
from the year 1952, when for the first time I took part in a solemn beatification
ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica. After the festivity I was asked by some
persons who also participated, “Who exactly was this blessed one?”
The
question embarrassed me very much, because at the moment I could not recall who
those blessed were, although I knew full well that the real purpose of a
beatification is to present to the People of God a model to consider and
imitate in their lives.
Among
the candidates for beatification and canonization, Poland has presently two
persons familiar to the whole world, which knows who they are, what they
accomplished in their lifetime and what sort of message their lives proclaim.
They are Blessed [now Saint] Maximilian Kolbe, the martyr of love, and Sister
Faustina Kowalska, [now Saint] the Apostle of the Divine Mercy.
Rome,
December 20, 1980
Andrew
M. Deskur
Titular
Archbishop of Tene.