Saint Faustina Kowalska
- Feast
- 5 October
- Patron of
- the Divine Mercy devotion
Born Helena Kowalska in 1905 to a poor farming family in central Poland, she had less than three years of schooling. In 1925 she joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, taking the name Maria Faustina, and worked in its convents as a cook, gardener and porter. She died of tuberculosis in Kraków in 1938, aged thirty-three.
From 1931 she recorded in her diary visions of Christ asking for an image of him to be painted with the words "Jesus, I trust in you", and for a feast of mercy on the Sunday after Easter. John Paul II canonised her in 2000 and set that Sunday as Divine Mercy Sunday. She is shown in her habit, often beside the Divine Mercy image.
For someone who doubts they can be forgiven, Faustina has one message: mercy is larger than any sin. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy, prayed on ordinary rosary beads, is a simple devotion a young Catholic can keep for life.
The print of Saint Faustina Kowalska
Questions
When is the feast of Saint Faustina Kowalska?
The feast of Saint Faustina Kowalska is kept on 5 October.
What is Saint Faustina Kowalska the patron saint of?
Saint Faustina Kowalska is the patron saint of the Divine Mercy devotion.
Is Saint Faustina Kowalska a good confirmation saint?
For someone who doubts they can be forgiven, Faustina has one message: mercy is larger than any sin. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy, prayed on ordinary rosary beads, is a simple devotion a young Catholic can keep for life.
Is Saint Faustina Kowalska the patron saint of people named Faustina?
Yes. Saint Faustina Kowalska is the traditional name saint for anyone called Faustina, and the feast on 5 October is their name day.
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Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCatherine of SienaCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicDymphnaFrancis of AssisiFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaIgnatius of LoyolaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn Paul IIJohn the BaptistJosephJosephine BakhitaJuan DiegoJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelMonicaNicholasPadre PioPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThérèse of LisieuxThomas AquinasJeromeCatherine of AlexandriaMartin of Tours