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October 5th is the Feast of St. Faustina Kowalska. She is the “Apostle of Divine Mercy” and for several years prior to her death in 1938 had received interior locutions from Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Lord commanded her to write her experiences. The resulting book, “Divine Mercy in My Soul” is a modern day classic of Catholic spirituality and mysticism. As with all such Church-approved things, there is nothing in her Diary that adds anything “new” to divine revelation. Like similar matters, it serves to exhort us to do things we already should be doing but have strayed from. It is a spiritual autobiography detailing her life from her youth through to just before her death, a wonderful description of a life lived according to the Will of God.

The Diary also serves as the primary means by which the devotion to “Divine Mercy” spreads. The devotion consists mainly of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy prayers and Novena, the Diary, Divine Mercy Sunday (which is the Second Sunday of Easter), Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Jesus desired that this devotion be established and made known to prepare humankind for His Second Coming, as well as to encourage humanity to repent and return to God.

The Diary beautifully describes the love and mercy of God. I feel it is a text that every sober Catholic should have. It often serves to lift my spirits in ways other books do not (save for the Gospels.) When I read it I feel like it is a long, soothing letter of comfort, consoling me when times are difficult.

St. Faustina is a classic case how how the Lord selects the poor and marginalized of society, the uneducated and lowly, to carry out His work.

1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God has chosen the foolish of the world, so that he may confound the wise. And God has chosen the weak of the world, so that he may confound the strong.

And God has chosen the ignoble and contemptible of the world, those who are nothing, so that he may reduce to nothing those who are something.”
via: The Sacred Bible: Catholic Public Domain Version

Here is a quick biography of her: St. Faustina bio.

You can buy the Diary at this link, as well as other related items. I get NO commission on any sale, this is just a service of mine. If think you’ll benefit, then here’s where you can get it! This is a link to an “official” gift shop.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Some time earlier this year Pope Francis declared a Jubilee “Year of Mercy”. To quote an article
from the Houston Catholic Worker: “In the ancient tradition of a Year of Jubilee, slaves and prisoners were to be freed, debts would be forgiven, land and possessions would be returned to their owners, and the mercies of God would be particularly manifest. (Lev. 25:8-13). (BOLD emphasis is mine.)

As Catholics, I feel it is our duty to fully explore the opportunities to participate in this “Year of Mercy.” Whether it is attending Mass and going to Confession more frequently to taking up the Divine Mercy Chaplet and perhaps studying St. Faustina’s Diary, to performing the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy more often, perhaps taking up Eucharistic Adoration in a nearby parish; I feel that in doing so we just might wield a very powerful weapon in the spiritual warfare that is going on. And as us sober Catholics know all too well, there is a spiritual battle going on everywhere and quite often we and other alcoholics and addicts are targets and victims.

With all the talk of shemitahs, Blood Moons, and the centenary of Fatima is just less than two years off, an increase of “mercy,” flowing from Heaven through the offices of the Church and our personal participation in the Year, just may be the thing we need right now. (Don’t ask me what a “Shemitah” is, please look it up. Same for “Blood Moons.” Be careful, many of the sources are non-Catholic. But, I have been writing about Fatima!)

Who saw this “Year of Mercy” thing coming, anyway? The world is rapidly deteriorating, Christians are being targeted by terrorists, crazed gunmen and “civilized” governments, and hope seems to be withering away. And out of the blue the Holy Father calls for a Jubilee Year of Mercy.

I say we make the most of it. The torrents of Divine Mercy gushing forth from the Lord can only be good for us and our recovery, and more importantly for our countries and the world.

For other ideas on how to participate, there is the Calendar of Events during the year: Year of Mercy Calendar. One can take a look at each event and figure out how to incorporate it into our spiritual life. Otherwise, reread this post and read up on the Year of Mercy. I highly recommend getting the Diary of St. Faustina “Divine Mercy in My Soul, and read it, as well as study it! (You can buy it at this link, I get NO commission. This is a link to an “official” gift shop.)

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)