Two Saints Connected Through a Novena
Do you know about the connection between St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Faustina?
At one point when St. Faustina (1905 - 1938 ) was a novice, she was going through some interior struggles. She began to make novenas to various saints, but instead of getting better the situation grew worse and was affecting her exterior life. In a bit of despair, she thought to pray to St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873 - 1897) with whom she had had a deep devotion before entering the convent but had not been as fervent in her devotion since that time.
During the novena, on the fifth day to be precise, she dreamed of St. Thérèse. The saint was being coy with St. Faustina and did not let on that she was a saint but gave her comfort over the matter which was bothering St. Faustina. She encouraged her to have greater trust in God.
St. Thérèse mentioned that she, too, had suffered much. St. Faustina replied that she had not thought that she really suffered that much.
The reply that St. Thérèse gave assured her that she had suffered. And, St. Thérèse continue by telling St. Faustina that the matter that was troubling her would be cleared up in three days time. However, St. Faustina doubted what St. Thérèse said.
At this point in time, St. Thérèse revealed that she was a saint.
This news filled St. Faustina with great joy, and she said, "You are a saint?"
St. Thérèse reassured her that she was a saint.
St. Faustina took advantage of the opportunity and asked her if she would go to Heaven.
St. Thérèse replied, "Yes."
"And will I be a saint?"
"Yes."
"Will I be raised to the altar like you?"
"Yes, you will be a saint just as I am, but you must trust in the Lord Jesus."
Then St. Fautina asked if her parents would go to Heaven, and St. Thérèse assured her they would.
When she asked about her brothers and sister, the answer was not clear and thus, St. Faustina knew that she must pray more for them.
The dream ended and St. Faustina continued her novena.
In three days time, the matter was resolved as St. Thérèse had said.
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Learn More About St. Faustina
Under obedience from her spirtual director, Bl. Michael Sopoko, St. Faustina wrote a diary about her spiritual life including her conversations with the Lord Jesus Who appeared to her numerous times. Organized as numbered paragraphs, the Diary can be read as part of your daily prayer time.
I have lost count of the number of times that I have read through the Diary. Each time, I benefit greatly from what St. Faustina wrote, and I grow in my apprecation of the beautiful spiritual wisdom that St. Faustina shared especially regarding the message of mercy which was entrusted to her. If you want to appreciate the depth of God's mercy and grow in gratitude for what God does for us, read her Diary.
Please purchase the Diary from the Divine Mercy store and support the priests of Divine Mercy.
