Jul
12
2006
0
By Anonymous (not verified)
While I do not know of a case where the Diary of St. Faustina was the main impetus to a woman's vocation to religious life, I know of women who have become religious who were inspired by the Diary, among other writings.
St. Faustina's writing about religious life is lofty yet earthy. She deals with day-to-day work, yet ponders the deepest spiritual realities. She has to deal with the faults of other sisters, yet is aware of her own. Above all, she knows the One whom she has betrothed, as is clear from this passage:
It was four days after my perpetual vows. I was trying to make a Holy Hour. It was the first Thursday of the month. As soon as I entered the chapel, God's presence enveloped me. I was distinctly aware that the Lord was near me. After a moment, I saw the Lord, all covered with wounds; and He said to me, Look at whom you have espoused. I understood the meaning of these words and answered the Lord, "Jesus, I love You more when I see You wounded and crushed with suffering like this than if I saw You in majesty." Jesus asked, Why? I replied, "Great majesty terrifies me, little nothing that I am, and Your wounds draw me to Your Heart and tell me of Your great love for me." After this conversation there was silence. I fixed my gaze upon His sacred wounds and felt happy to suffer with Him. I suffered, and yet I did not suffer, because I felt happy to know the depth of His love, and the hour passed like a minute (Diary, 252).
St. Faustina knew what her life was about, and she lived a life of heroic virtue. Her life is an example of what religious life is really about, or what it should be about. It has gained vocations to her own community in Poland, which is doing quite well, and has inspired other women to take up this life of espousal to Christ in a variety of religious communities.
St. Faustina's writing about religious life is lofty yet earthy. She deals with day-to-day work, yet ponders the deepest spiritual realities. She has to deal with the faults of other sisters, yet is aware of her own. Above all, she knows the One whom she has betrothed, as is clear from this passage:
It was four days after my perpetual vows. I was trying to make a Holy Hour. It was the first Thursday of the month. As soon as I entered the chapel, God's presence enveloped me. I was distinctly aware that the Lord was near me. After a moment, I saw the Lord, all covered with wounds; and He said to me, Look at whom you have espoused. I understood the meaning of these words and answered the Lord, "Jesus, I love You more when I see You wounded and crushed with suffering like this than if I saw You in majesty." Jesus asked, Why? I replied, "Great majesty terrifies me, little nothing that I am, and Your wounds draw me to Your Heart and tell me of Your great love for me." After this conversation there was silence. I fixed my gaze upon His sacred wounds and felt happy to suffer with Him. I suffered, and yet I did not suffer, because I felt happy to know the depth of His love, and the hour passed like a minute (Diary, 252).
St. Faustina knew what her life was about, and she lived a life of heroic virtue. Her life is an example of what religious life is really about, or what it should be about. It has gained vocations to her own community in Poland, which is doing quite well, and has inspired other women to take up this life of espousal to Christ in a variety of religious communities.
