“The Happiest Day of My Life’: Divine Mercy with St. John Paul II and St. Faustina

“My joy is truly great in presenting the life and witness of Sr. Faustina Kowalska to the whole Church as a gift of God for our time.” — St. John Paul II, April 30, 2000, Canonization Homily, St. Faustina Kowalska

Recalling these words spoken by St. John Paul II at the canonization of St. Faustina — the great apostle of Mercy, and the first Saint of the Third Millennium — the St. John Paul II National Shrine and the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy are pleased to present a temporary exhibit on the message of Divine Mercy. The exhibit, entitled “‘The Happiest Day of My Life’: Divine Mercy with St. John Paul II and St. Faustina,” expresses the great Pope’s evangelical joy as he honored St. Faustina, whom he named “the messenger of the Lord’s merciful love.” The exhibit celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday on April 27 of this year as well as the 25th anniversary of St. Faustina’s canonization and the institution of Divine Mercy Sunday on April 30 of the Jubilee Year 2000, when the Holy Father remarked to a close friend, “this is the happiest day of my life.” The exhibit also serves as part of the Shrine’s observance of the Jubilee Year 2025.

The temporary exhibit will include panels that display photos and biographical information on St. Faustina’s birth, family life, and entry into religious life with the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The exhibit will also outline the two fundamental core teachings of Divine Mercy: trust in God and mercy towards neighbors. It explains the five forms of the devotion to the Divine Mercy: the Divine Mercy Image, Divine Mercy Sunday, The Divine Mercy Chaplet, The Hour of Mercy, and the Spreading of the Devotion. The last of these five forms discusses the ministerial priesthood as a channel of grace as well as the role of the laity in the Congregation’s Faustinum Association. The panels briefly explore the writings of Rev. Dr. Ignacy Różycki, a Polish theologian, who was requested by St. John Paul II to examine the Diary of St. Faustina as a part of her formal canonization process. Finally, the exhibit shares some of St. John Paul II’s essential teachings on Mercy found in the encyclical Dives in Misericordia (Rich in Mercy) and applies them to St. Faustina’s message of Divine Mercy.

The Shrine’s Divine Mercy exhibit, which opened during Easter Week is available in Spanish and conclude sometime in June, after Pentecost. Including with the exhibit is a first-class relic of St. Faustina that will be available for veneration alongside the Shrine’s permanent St. John Paul II blood relic. Tours with the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in English will be available on Thursday after the daily Noon Mass and Saturdays at 2pm. Please contact (202) 635-5401 for more information. To arrange a tour for a group in Spanish, please contact Sofia Maurette, Director of Intercultural Ministry, at 203-430-7471.

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