Saint Francis of Assisi
Born in Assisi, Italy, to a wealthy silk merchant in 1181, Saint Francis’ family was educated and respected by the people of his hometown. For twenty-five years, he occupied himself with worldly ambitions. In 1206, inspired by scripture in the Gospel of Matthew, Francis abandoned his affluent life for a life of poverty. Upon hearing Christ ask him to repair His Church while praying at the deserted church of San Damiano, he proceeded to rebuild the Church with his own hands. He came to understand that he was to rebuild the Church as an institution, which was rife with scandal and avarice. In 1210, Pope Innocent III permitted Francis and his companions to go out and preach the Gospel. In a world of coldness and disenchantment, Francis’ example of poverty and devotion to Christ attracted followers numbering over 5000 by 1219. Saint Francis founded the Franciscan order of the Friars Minor, the Poor Clares and the Third Order of Franciscans. In 1226, on missionary journey to the Holy Land, while suffering from stigmata and blindness caused by disease of the eyes, St. Francis died of exhaustion. His Feast Day is October 4th.
Saint Faustina Kowalska
October 5th is the Feast of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. She was born in 1905 in Glogowiec, Poland, to a devout peasant family, and possessed a great faith in Jesus from the age of 7. In 1925 St. Faustina had a vision of the Suffering Christ, after which she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, in Krakow. Jesus chose St. Faustina to help Him to spread the message of His trust and mercy. He appeared to her in 1937 as the King of Divine Mercy, and she worked with an artist to have the image painted. Her confessor had Faustina record her experiences with Jesus, creating the renowned publication: Divine Mercy in My Soul, The Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska. St. Faustina was blessed with many graces including visions of heaven, hell and purgatory, and was able to bi-locate and read souls. She had an extraordinary union with Jesus.
St. Faustina died in Krakow at the age of 33 in 1938, consumed by tuberculosis. She accepted the innumerable sufferings that came with her illness as a voluntary sacrifice for sinners.
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St. Francis of Assisi Wood ReliefOur newly released collection, relief wood carving, is a 3 dimensional image that is hand carved into a flat piece of wood by craftsmen in Val Gardena, Italy. This carving of St. Francis reminds us of the virtues of simple living and of spirituality in nature. It is 4.5” high and is hand painted in colour. |
Diary of Saint Maria Faustina KowalskaWell over one million copies of this diary have been sold worldwide. It chronicles St. Faustina’s loving encounters with Christ, revealing His immense love and mercy for us. This mystic’s childlike trust, simplicity and intimacy with Jesus will stir your heart and soul. |
