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THE CONGREGATION
OF SISTERS OF MERCIFUL JESUS
founded by the Blessed Fr. Michael Sopocko in the year 1941 in Vilnius, Lithuania
(three years after s. Faustina’s death)

(The DIARY of Saint sister Faustina) VILNIUS, Lithuania "29 June, 1935
When I talked to my spiritual director (Father Sopocko) about various things that the Lord was asking of me, I thought he would tell me that I was incapable of accomplishing all those things, and that the Lord Jesus did not use miserable souls like me for the works He wanted done. But I heard words to the effect that it was just such souls that God chooses most frequently to carry out His plans. This priest is surely guided by the Spirit of God; he has penetrated the secrets of my soul, the deepest secrets which were between me and God, about which I had not yet spoken to him, because i had not understood them myself, and which the Lord had not clearly ordered me to tell him. The secret is this: God demands that there be a Congregation which will proclaim the mercy of God to the world and, by its prayers, obtain it for the world. When the priest asked me if I had not had any such inspirations, I replied that I had not had any clear orders; but at that instant a light penetrated my soul, and I understood that the Lord was speaking trough him. In vain had I defended myself by saying I had not received any clear orders, for at the end of our conversation I saw the Lord Jesus on the threshold, as He is represented in the image, and He said to me, I desire that there be such a Congregation.
(...) At the very beginning of Holy Mass on the following day, I saw Jesus in all His unspeakable beauty. He said to me that He desired that such a Congregation be founded as soon as possible, and you shall live in it together with your companions. My Spirit shall be the rule of your life. Your life is to be modeled on Mine, from the crib to My death on the Cross. Penetrate My mysteries, and you will know the abyss of My mercy towards creatures and My unfathomable goodness - and this you shall make known to the world. Through your prayers, you shall mediate between heaven and earth.
Then came the moment to receive Holy Communion, and Jesus disappeared, and I saw a great brightness. Then I heard these words: We give Our blessing, and at that moment a bright ray issued from that light and pierced my heart; an extraordinary fire was enkindled in my soul - I thought I would die of joy and happiness. I felt the separation of my spirit from my body. I felt totally immersed in God, I felt I was snatched up by the Almighty, like a particle of dust, into unknown expanses"
(Diary 436-439).

"O my Jesus, how immensely I rejoice at the assurance You have given me that the Congregation will come into being (...) and I see how great is the glory which it will give to God. It will be the reflection of God’s greatest attribute; that is, His Divine Mercy. Unceasingly, they will intercede for Divine Mercy for themselves and for the whole world (...) and it will be in God’s Church like a beehive in a magnificent garden, hidden and meek" (Diary 664).

" With great desire, I wait and long for the time when I shall take up My residence sacramental in your convent. My spirit will rest in that convent and I will bless its neighborhood in a special way" (Diary 570).

"...penetrate into the spirit of My poverty and arrange everything in such a way that the most destitute will have no reason to envy you. I find pleasure not in large buildings and magnificent structures, but in a pure and humble heart" (Diary 532).

"Today the Lord let me get to know the Convent of Divine Mercy. I saw a great spirit in this convent, but everything was poor and very scanty. O my Jesus, you are allowing me to live in spirit with these souls, but perhaps I shall never set foot there; but may Your Name be blessed, and whatever You have intended, may it be done" (Diary 892).

---

"I saw a small chapel in which six sisters were receiving Holy Communion from our confessor (Father Sopocko), who was wearing a surplice and stole. There were no decorations and no kneelers in the chapel. After Holy Communion, I saw the Lord Jesus as He is represented in the image. Jesus was walking away and I called to Him, How can You pass me by and not say anything to me, Lord? Without You, I shall do nothing; You must stay with me and bless me, and this community and my country as well. Jesus made the sign of the cross and said, Do not fear anything; I am always with you" (Diary 613).

In the last few weeks before sister Faustina’s death, Fr. Sopocko met with her twice in Cracow. During these meetings he received her last instructions, which he was to fulfill after her death.

"I went to visit her during the week. Among other things, we spoke about the subject of the congregation which she was to found. In view of the fact that she was now dying, I despaired that this, as well as the other things which she spoke about, could have been an illusion. Sister Faustina promised to talk about this matter with the Lord Jesus, during her prayer. The next day, as i was offering Holy Mass for the intention of Sister Faustina, a thought came to my mind; just as she was unable to paint the picture herself, having to give instructions the painter, so too she was not meant to found the congregation, but only provide the framework for its creation. Jesus' urgings signified the necessity of this new congregation in the terrible coming of the new times. The next time I came to the hospital, I asked her whether she had something to tell me about this matter. She said that she did not, because the Lord Jesus had already enlightened me during Holy Mass.

As I was departing to take my leave, she told me about three important matters.
I. I should not stop spreading devotion to the Divine Mercy, and especially not to stop work on establishing its feast day on the first Sunday after Easter. Never can I say that I've done enough. Even if difficulties should surmount, even if one would think that God Himself does not want this, I must not stop. For the depth of the Divine Mercy is inexhaustible and our life is not enough to extol it. Already, not too long from now the world will cease to exist. God still wants to give graces to people before the end so that no one will be able to say during the judgment, that he did not know about the goodness of God and did not hear about His Mercy.
II. I am to be indifferent with regards to the matter of the congregation, which will rise from humble begginings, and where the initiative will come from others (...) God Himself will choose a person from the world, who will receive certain signs in order to recognize that they are the one.
III. I am to have pure intentions in all these matters and works. I am not to search for anything but for the glory of God and the salvation of the neighbors (...). Even if the congregation is to be founded, others are to govern it, not I myself. I am to be prepared for the greatest difficulty, abandonment, disappointment, ingratitude and persecution (...) After a moment, I returned to her room to give her a few more pictures. I found her in ecstasy, praying not as an earthly being. I felt such great pain in my soul at having to bid farewell to this unusual person; I felt abandoned by everyone. But I understood that above all I must trust in the Divine Mercy"
(Fr. M. Sopocko's Diary).

In 1939, war broke out. During this cruel time, Fr. Sopocko did whatever he could to make the Mercy of God known to the people. In his house were organized meetings of the Catholic Intelligence Association and Marian Solidarity of Academy students. On those meetings, (Jadwiga) Harriet Osiñska, the graduate of Classical Philology of the Batory’s University of Vilnius marked out, one day she confessed to Fr. Sopocko that she intended to offer herself solely for God’s service, but she was unable to find for herself the right congregation. She asked for prayers and help, adding that she had a few friends who thought the same as her.

In July of 1940 Fr. Sopocko proposed to Ms. Osinska to take a vacation at the habitless Sisters
of the Angels in Pryciunach, so she could have a closer view of the rules of religious life.
After her vacation Ms. Osinska stated that she wants to offer herself in the service of the Most Merciful Saviour and to found a new congregation, or something similar, to glorify God in His infinite Mercy. She desires to take private vows. In memory of Sister Faustina Kowalska and being fascinated by her, she accepted the new religious name Faustina and became the first faustinka.

In November of 1941 out of the group lead by Fr. Sopocko emerged the next candidate - Izabella Naborowska (Sister Benigna). On the 26th of January 1942, the next members joined them Ludmila Roszko, Zofia Komorowska, Adela Albekow and Jadwiga Malikiewiczowna. In this way "the first six" were created. Father Sopocko gave to all of them religious names. He wrote for them basic rules and set for them a weekly conference about interior life. The Sisters planned to begin common religious life after the war.

On February 3, 1942, the first meeting of the six candidates of new founded congregation took place in Fr. Sopocko’s apartment. Similar meetings were few. Unfortunately on March 3, 1942, Germans organized a raid and arrested almost all the priests. Father Michael Sopocko was searched for by the Gestapo for helping Jews, but he escaped from Vilnius. He was able to get
to Ursulane sisters’ convent in Czarny Bor, 4 km away from Vilnius, where he spent 2 1/2 years working as a carpenter. He communicated with the six sisters through letters. Every now
and then one of the six would visit him. Most often it was Sister Faustina Osinska.

Father Sopocko asked Fr. Zebrowski to take spiritual care of them. During this time he would give the sisters conferences every week. On April 11, 1942, on the vigil of the Divine Mercy feastday,
the six candidates took their religious vows. The Sisters accepted the name: The Servants
of the Merciful God. From this time they had in their lives the characteristics of a religious novitiate even though they continued to live with their families. For Fr. Sopocko it was an expected sign
of Providence.

"I congratulate you, dear Sisters. This is a special grace of Divine Mercy that has revealed itself in your vocation. Chosen ones of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pillars of the future convent, confidantes of God’s mysteries, most desired and prayed for, for the past five years in each daily Holy Mass" (Letter to the Sisters from Czarny Bor).

In this Convent sisters of the new congregation took their first religious vows.
Vilnius-Carmel, Poplawska 29 Street.

Father Sopocko came back to Vilnius on August 19, 1944. In November, Faustina Osinska together with her friends, asked him to accept their vows. In connection with this on November 9, 1944,
he started to give to the first six a retreat. This retreat was to be an immediate preparation
for the ceremony of the vows, which were planned for November 16.

"After the retreat, at the appointed day, on early and dark morning, for the curfew was still obligatory, from different parts of the city, six girls came from the Zarzecze suburb, to the chapel of Carmelite Sisters’. There in a "catacomb" atmosphere after Holy Mass at five o’clock they took their simple private vows of loyal service to the Most Merciful Savior and His Merciful Mother. It is impossible to describe with words the joyful atmosphere that prevailed among the "newly vowed" of Christ. A simple meal was prepared at the convent gate by hospitable Sister Carmelites. How happy they were in spite of different kinds of lacking, they were so rich in spite of poverty showing itself from everywhere, they were brave and full of trust in spite of the dangers lying in wait from everywhere" (Michael Sopocko, memoirs).

After the war was finished in 1945, Lithuania, was joined to USSR. Mass migration of the population of Vilnius and its region to Poland took place. Archibichop Jalbrzykowski was forced to leave Vilnius, with all the Curia and the Seminary. During this time also three sisters went to Poland. Because of their departure, on November 16, 1945 the vows were renewed only by three sisters, which remained. Faustina and Benigna longed for religious habits, for the convent, for a meager place with simplicity where in common life they would glorify the Merciful God. Vilnius at those times did not give any hope for it. To realize their desire, they decided to go to Poland.
Before they left, on August 24, 1946, they paid their last visit to Fr. Michael Sopocko.

"Our travel leaving Vilnius was quiet. One passage of our life is finished, we are going to start a new life to fulfill the will of the One who has chosen us..."
(Diary of sr. Benigna).

On November 16, 1946, "all six" once more gathered together this time in Poznan to renew their vows. Fr. Siwek, a Jesuit, said Holy Mass. The Sisters wanted to realize the idea of Divine Mercy
in different ways. Few of them wanted to found a religious congregation, others a lay institute and still others wanted to be in the congregation but they felt responsible for their families. In this way the "first six" were divided into three shades, of which Sr. Faustina spoke.

Sisters Faustina Osinska and Benigna Naborowska

Sisters Faustina Osinska and Benigna Naborowska decided to obtain from one of the bishops permission to open a religious house in his diocese. Father Wladyslaw Wantuchowski, a Jesuit,
in whom after their coming to Poland they found their spiritual director, helped them in this.
He asked the apostolic administrator of Gorzow Wlkp., Fr. Edmund Nowicki, for the permission
of settlement for the sisters in the region of his diocese and to give them some kind of work.
Father Administrator positively answered this petition and assigned them to the parish in Mysliborz.

"Mysliborz is a beautiful place (...). A great lake, which gleams as though with a metallic surface between the risings of morning mists, set itself on the left side of it (...). What a joy it was, when we saw the still locked gate of a small church with a signboard "Caritas" and one storied house with a porch by it. We gazed at it, it was an ideal place for a religious house and we sighed quietly. It would be so good to be able to live here (...) Lots of greens, gardens, quiet, peaceful moments of rest on earth, with a religious house. We gave thanks to God that He directed us here, into this silence and peace..." (Sr. Faustina Osinska’s Diary).

 

 

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