Faustina Kowalska

Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938) was a Polish Catholic nun who reported visions of Jesus and recorded them in her diary. Her accounts inspired the Divine Mercy devotion.

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Głogowiec: A village in central Poland where Faustina Kowalska was born. Her childhood began in this village before she entered religious life.
Divine Mercy image: A depiction of Jesus with rays of light flowing from his heart, associated with the Divine Mercy devotion. Faustina said Jesus requested an image based on a vision she reported in 1931.
Pope John Paul II: The pope from 1978 to 2005, born Karol Józef Wojtyła in Poland. He promoted Divine Mercy and canonized Faustina in 2000.
Divine Mercy: A Christian devotion emphasizing God's mercy, especially as revealed through Jesus Christ. This devotion is the spiritual movement most directly associated with Faustina's testimony.
Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy: A Catholic religious congregation devoted to caring for women and girls in need. Faustina entered this congregation and lived its religious life.
Divine Mercy Chaplet: A Catholic prayer using rosary beads to invoke God's mercy through Christ's passion. Faustina reported receiving this prayer in a vision in 1935.
Eugeniusz Kazimirowski: A Polish painter who created the first Divine Mercy image in 1934. He painted the image with guidance from Faustina and her confessor.
Canonization: The formal declaration by the Catholic Church that a deceased person is a saint. Faustina's canonization gave her sainthood official recognition throughout the Catholic Church.
Łagiewniki: A district of Kraków, Poland, associated with the Shrine of Divine Mercy. Faustina spent her final years at the congregation's house in Łagiewniki.
Divine Mercy Sunday: A Catholic feast celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter. Faustina's diary connects the feast with Jesus' reported request for a day devoted to mercy.