SAINT FAUSTINA'S WAY OF THE CROSS

It is with great joy that I introduce to you St. Faustina's Way of the Cross Prayerbook. For several years, my staff used a similar booklet to pray this unique Stations of the Cross daily with the pilgrims who visited the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Due to the overwhelming number of requests for this prayerbook, I sought copyright permission from St. Faustina's community of religious sisters, the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Krakow, Poland. They have graciously authorized us to print and distribute this book.

I truly believe you will find St. Faustina's Way of the Cross exceptional, because it will lead you to reflect on the Lord's Passion through the eyes and heart of St. Faustina - our Lord's secretary of Mercy. With each station, along with a verse of Sacred Scripture, the priest speaks the words of Jesus, and the people those of St. Faustina.
(These words are taken directly from the Diary of St. Faustina). It is amazing to contemplate how this Mercy Saint, who suffered so much, was called to share in the Lord's Passion. By praying St. Faustina's Way of the Cross we, too, are inspired to enter into this beautiful mystery.

Saint Faustina herself found tremendous solace in meditating on the Lord's Passion - especially at the three o'clock hour. In her Diary, Jesus repeatedly asked St. Faustina to immerse herself in His Passion.
"My daughter, try to make the Stations of the Cross in this hour, provided that your duties permit it" (Diary, 1572).

My personal prayer is that this booklet will assist you in contemplating our Lord's Passion and His unfathomable mercy. I pray that by St. Faustina's intercession you may surrender yourself more deeply to our merciful Lord, who accepted the Cross for you.

By Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC
Rector of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy
Ash Wednesday, 1999