Devotion to
The Divine Mercy
In Sauk Centre, Minnesota
Reflections
on The Divine Mercy
During the Novena of Mercy 2003
Sixth Reflection
Mary's role in the
Devotion of Divine Mercy
Mary Mother of Mercy
Helena Kowalska was born the third child of ten, and from early on was considered a great blessing to the family in her willingness and in her ability to take charge and to be trusted. This Polish family wasn't that different from most families of the time. The family was very patriarchal, meaning the father was the head of the family. However, mother was very much the heart of the family.
There can be no doubt that Mary the Mother of God was well known to the family, as even when the children were babies the father would sing The Little Office of the Immaculate Conception. Even though mother would complain that he was waking the babies, he never the less continued the practice and this early in the morning before he went off to work. Often this Office was sung doing housework and when out in the fields. We can say then, that Helena had a relationship with Mary from her earliest days.
During the month of May the family would build a little shine in a pear tree standing along side their home. Decorated with holy pictures and flowers the whole family: and some of the neighbors would gather for communal prayers. Likewise, for the mouth of October the Rosary was prayed at home if they couldn't get to church. Most of the day was taken up in hard work around the farm, especially being that the father worked away from home, as well, to help make ends meet, but this also gave them the opportunity to pray as they worked. Not much seems to be recorded concerning Helena relationship to Mary at this time, directly that is. However, we can well believe that Mary and Helena had a very Healthy and Close, ongoing communication.
You would think that because Helena's Diary, titled, "Divine Mercy in My Soul", we would not hear of Mary. But this is not the case. When we see Mary as the Mother of Mercy, the one Who gives Mercy a Human body, then we also cannot separate Mercy, that is Christ, from His Mother, the Mother of Mercy. Where you have Christ, you have His Mother. Where you have the Mother you have Christ. The one overriding role of Mary in Her relationship to Her Son it is wrapped up in her statement at the Wedding Cana, "Do as He tells you." It seems to me that Helena at a very early age came to know that. And because of this knowledge she was prepared to become the Secretary of Jesus.
In the early paragraphs of her diary, Mary prepares her for what will become her mission, the salvation of Souls by the Power of the Merciful Heart of Jesus. After a time of great doubt and concern she [Helena] has a encounter with her Guardian Angel who orders her to follow him. She records in her diary the following, "In a moment I was in a misty place full of fire in which there was a great crowd of suffering souls. They were praying fervently, but to no avail, for themselves; only can we come to their aid. The flames which were burning them did not touch me at all. My Guardian Angel did not leave me for an instant. I asked these souls what their greatest suffering was. They answered me in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God. I saw Our Lady visiting the souls in Purgatory. The souls call her "The Star of the Sea." She brings them refreshment. I wanted to talk with them some more, but my Guardian Angel beckoned me to leave. We went out of that prison of suffering. I heard an interior voice which said, My mercy does not want this, but justice demands it. Since that time, I am in closer communion with the suffering souls. It seems that it was visions such as this one that gave her the strength to persevere in her own suffering for Souls.
