Feast Day of St Faustina Kowalska
St Faustina is almost synonymous with devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus. The private revelations given to her by Jesus and Mary are indeed the basis for that devotion, and so her cultus is encouraged and found wherever the Divine Mercy devotion is present.
Divine Mercy Represented at the Shrine
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe has Mass guilds that encourage various devotions from the life of the Church. At the Shrine, there is a side-altar (the altar nearest to the entrance on the left-hand side as we enter) dedicated to St Faustina. The altar is a focal point for Divine Mercy devotion in the Shrine. The altarpiece, painted by artist Noah Buchanan, shows St Faustina at prayer, receiving a vision of the Merciful Jesus, and the altar houses a bone relic of the saint. Visiting this altar is an opportunity to cultivate a relationship with this member of the Church Triumphant, this grace-filled relative in Christ of ours in heaven.
Who is Saint Faustina?
Faustina was born Helena Kowalska in 1903 in Poland. Her family was a large one, she was the third of ten children, and her family was of modest means, but very strong devotion. After feeling the call to religious life while praying before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, she resolved to enter a convent of sisters in Warsaw, and soon after was received there by the mother superior. Her parents initially resisted the idea of her entrance, but they were present at her clothing with the habit in 1926. She was twenty years old, and would now be called Sister Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament.
Vision of Divine Mercy
In 1930 she began to show early signs of tuberculosis, but bore her suffering with love. The next year she received a vision of the Divine Mercy image, of two rays of light, one red and one white, coming from the Heart of Jesus. In the following years she would, under the guidance of her confessor, direct the production of an image according to the visions she had seen. The Divine Mercy Chaplet, and other spiritual messages were also the products of these spiritual experiences, recorded in her Spiritual Diary, that would later bear fruit for the Church Universal.
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet with Cardinal Burke
Her Eternal Reward
Sister Faustina died on 5 October 1938, she was thirty-three. The Church throughout the world now celebrates her on this day, and the Shrine holds a special relic veneration for her. She was buried in Krakow, and her body is now in the Chapel of the Image of the Merciful Jesus, where the same image was originally revealed to her. St Faustina’s relics rest in a marble case beneath the mensa (table portion) of the main altar of the chapel. The walls of the chapel are lined with votive offerings of thanksgiving and petition from the very many faithful who visit her there.
Relic of Saint Faustina
The relic of St Faustina at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe comes directly from the relics housed in this chapel in Poland. It is a point of connection between Krakow and LaCrosse, between the last century and the present, between this vale of tears and the beatific vision. For the Christian who is well-disposed and open to receive the grace that God wants to offer them, the relic can be an inflection point, a new beginning or conversion in the spiritual life. The Divine Mercy devotion offers much for contemplation in our spiritual life and what Christ offers His sheep.
Although it may be more difficult to visit the chapel in Krakow to leave our petition or offer our thanksgiving for favors received, we can visit the saint and venerate the image of the Merciful Jesus at this altar dedicated to them at the Shrine in LaCrosse, we can participate in this devotion and grow closer to the Merciful Heart of the Savior.
Divine Mercy Guild
Guild Members are remembered in Shrine Masses invoking the intercession of Saint Faustina. Divine Mercy Guild Masses take place every first Wednesday of each month at 12:15 p.m. Members are encouraged to attend if possible. The Shrine’s bookstore offers copies of St Faustina’s Spiritual Diary, as well as reproductions of the image at St Faustina’s altar and the Divine Mercy image revealed to her.
The Shrine is blessed to work with Sacra: Relics of the Saints
Six Mass Guilds
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe offers six Mass guilds, one for each saint displayed in the Shrine’s side altars: Saint Faustina Kowalska, Saint Maria Goretti, Saint Peregrine, Saint Gianna Molla, Blessed Miguel Pro, and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Those enrolled are remembered by the Shrine’s priests at Holy Masses monthly and are entrusted to the patronage of one of these holy men and women. You may enroll yourself or a loved one, living or deceased.
Enrollment is offered for one year or in perpetuity-as long as the Shrine will offer Masses.
Explore our collection of Mass Guilds below
Saint Maria Goretti Guild
The Shrine honors Saint Maria Goretti (1890 – 1902) as a Patroness of purity, the youth, and forgiveness.
About Saint Maria
Maria Goretti was a young girl who lived in Lazio, Italy. She was known for her loving and kind spirit and complete devotion to God. When she was eleven years old a neighboring boy made inappropriate advances and attempted to assault her. She courageously stood up to him, protecting her purity, but was stabbed by him during the attack. On her deathbed, the following day, she forgave her attacker. Saint Maria Goretti is a model of chastity and forgiveness.
Saint Maria Goretti is considered a model of mercy and courage. A young saint, she is a most powerful intercessor for young people today, especially for those struggling to guard their dignity in secular society.
At her side altar in the Shrine Church, a first-class relic of Saint Maria Goretti is permanently on display for veneration by the faithful, especially those seeking her intercession.
Members enrolled in the guild receive the benefit of being remembered in Shrine Masses invoking the intercession of Saint Maria Goretti. St. Maria Goretti Guild Masses take place every third Monday of each month at 12:15 p.m.
Learn more about Saint Maria Goretti
Learn more about the Saint Maria Goretti painting and Saint Maria Goretti at the Shrine
A card can be sent to you upon request so that you may send it to the enrollee.
Enroll Today!
Blessed Miguel Pro Guild
The Shrine honors Blessed Miguel Pro (1891–1927) as an intercessor for priests.
About Blessed Miguel
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe has established the Mass Guild of Blessed Miguel Pro as a special way to pray for Blessed Miguel Pro’s intercession for priests, religious, and victims of persecution. Father Miguel Pro was a courageous witness to the faith in the face of persecution, who followed Christ even unto martyrdom. He is an inspiration for all who seek to live their lives fully for Christ and His Church.
All those enrolled in the guild will be remembered at the Holy Mass at 12:15 p.m. CT, on the fourth Monday of each month, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. If you would like to enroll a priest, religious, or victim of persecution in the Blessed Miguel Pro Mass Guild, you may do so by completing the form below. You are invited to join us at the Shrine for the guild Mass. The Sacrament of Penance will be available beginning 30 minutes before Mass.
Blessed Miguel Pro, pray for us!
May God bless you, and may Our Lady of Guadalupe intercede for you.
Learn more about the Blessed Miguel Pro painting at the Shrine
A card can be sent to you upon request so that you may send it to the enrollee.
Enroll Today!
Saint Therese of Lisieux Guild
The Shrine honors Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897) as a Patroness for Missionaries.
About Saint Thérèse
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe established the Mass Guild of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux for missionaries and people who observe Saint Thérèse’s “Little Way”—doing ordinary things with extraordinary love as a simple approach to the spiritual life. Saint Thérèse is the patron saint of missions because she ardently wished to go on mission and fervently prayed for missionaries. The Little Flower showed that anyone could love and follow God by living out her Little Way in all states of life.
All those enrolled in the guild will be remembered at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a Holy Mass offered on the second Wednesday of each month, at 12:15 p.m. CT, with the Sacrament of Penance available 30 minutes before. If you would like to enroll a loved one in the Saint Thérèse Mass Guild, you may do so by completing the form below.
May you be kept in the prayers of Saint Thérèse and the arms of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Learn more about the Saint Thérèse painting at the Shrine.
A card can be sent to you upon request so that you may send it to the enrollee.
Enroll Today!
Saint Peregrine Cancer Guild
The Shrine honors Saint Peregrine Laziosi (1260-1345), as the patron saint of those suffering from cancer.
About Saint Peregrine
Peregrine was a member of the Order of The Servants of Mary (Servites). At the age of 60 he was diagnosed with cancer of the leg. The night before his leg was to be amputated, he experienced a trance-like sleep in which he saw Jesus curing him from the cross. Upon waking, he discovered that his leg was completely healed. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726.
A first-class relic of Saint Peregrine is on display for veneration by the faithful, especially persons suffering from cancer, at a side aisle shrine dedicated to the saint in the Shrine Church.
Members enrolled in the guild receive the benefit of being remembered in a Shrine Masses invoking the intercession of Saint Peregrine. St. Peregrine Guild Masses take place the first Monday of each month at 12:15 p.m. The enrollee may be living, deceased or the family member of a person suffering from cancer.
Learn more about the Saint Peregrine painting at the Shrine
A card can be sent to you upon request so that you may send it to the enrollee.
Enroll Today!
Saint Gianna Guild
The Shrine honors Saint Gianna Beretta Molla (1922 – 1962) as a Patroness for Expectant Mothers.
About Saint Gianna
Saint Gianna was a devoted wife and mother as well as a pediatric surgeon who lived a joy-filled life in Italy.
When she was pregnant with her fourth child she developed a cancerous uterine tumor. The doctors advised her to terminate the life of her baby or risk possible death herself. She chose the life of her baby and died a few days after giving birth. Saint Gianna is considered a pro-life saint, and many Shrine pilgrims have benefited from her intercession for conception and for the safe delivery of children. This guild is especially for expectant mothers, those who wish to be mothers, and physicians.
At her side altar in the Shrine Church, a first-class relic of Saint Gianna is permanently on display for veneration by the faithful, especially those seeking her intercession.
Guild members are remembered in Shrine Masses invoking the intercession of Saint Gianna Molla on the second Monday of each month at 12:15 p.m. Members are encouraged to attend if possible.
Learn more about the Saint Gianna painting at the Shrine
A card can be sent to you upon request so that you may send it to the enrollee.
Enroll Today
Divine Mercy Guild
The Shrine honors Saint Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938) as the Patroness of Divine Mercy.
About Saint Faustina
We look to Saint Faustina as a constant reminder of the message to trust in Jesus’ endless mercy, and to live life mercifully toward others. We also turn to Saint Faustina in prayer and ask her intercession to our merciful Savior, Our Lord Jesus Christ, on our behalf. The Divine Mercy Guild is for those seeking the loving Mercy of God, and for all who call upon Saint Faustina’s intercession.
At her side altar in the Shrine Church, a first-class relic of Saint Faustina is permanently on display for veneration by the faithful, especially those seeking her intercession.
Guild Members are remembered in Shrine Masses invoking the intercession of Saint Faustina. Divine Mercy Guild Masses take place every first Wednesday of each month at 12:15 p.m. Members are encouraged to attend if possible.
Learn more about the Divine Mercy painting and Saint Faustina at the Shrine
A card can be sent to you upon request so that you may send it to the enrollee.
