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A MEMORABLE TRIP – Part 4 (continued from October)
Next
on my schedule was a visit to the Convents in Derdy, where Sister Faustina
spent some time while she suffered from tuberculosis. Both Convents were very
much like the Canadian Divine Mercy Centre – surrounded by wilderness, small
lakes and marsh lands. At the first Convent, I was greeted by an elderly
Sister who was joyously tending the flower beds; she seemed quite shy and
immediately called the Mother of the house. Mother Superior explained that the
doors, doorknobs, the narrow steep stairs leading to the Chapel and the Chapel
itself had remained untouched since Sister Faustina's time. Because of its
location, this Convent was used as a retreat house and a house of recovery for
Sisters who were ill.
I'd like to share my journal entry about this experience: “You sure know, my Lord, how to love a soul. You have given me a taste of St. Faustina's pain. For one split second, I felt it to the fullest and then, as it was ebbing away, You let me breathe again. All, O Lord, is Yours. You create life and You take it away. Do with me as You will.” Next, was a walking tour of the old city of Warsaw. After being at the Convent, it was like a cold shower. The reality of daily life hit me. Although there were signs of Christianity everywhere, questionable advertising was also very visible. On every corner, one could see beggars – men, women and even children, crying out for money to survive. What a contrast! Gold and riches can be seen all around but also the poverty, pain and despair is found in the eyes of so many of the people. I was delighted to see the Divine Mercy Image in so many of the Churches, but I begged for the Lord's mercy upon all these poor souls in need. 
On May 10th, I was invited by Sister Benedicta to travel to Czestochowa to spend for nocturnal adoration at Jaznagora. Not knowing what would be involved, I graciously accepted the invitation. I traveled with 60 Sisters by coach, singing and praying, praising God in laughter and joy. When we arrived at our destination, I was drawn to spend some time on my own visiting the Shrine of Shrines, the Icon of Polish Shrines. When I walked into the main body of the Shrine to the Queen of Poland, I was overwhelmed by a line of my all-time favourite German hymn. “Fest soll mein Taufbund immer stehen” which in English means, “Strong stands my Baptismal promise forever.” Tears were streaming down my face as I clasped the iron bars while the people inside received Holy Communion. As I prepared to receive spiritual Holy Communion, I felt someone touch my hand. The Priest on the other side reached through the gates to put the Blessed Host on my tongue; I fell to my knees and praised God for His goodness to me. Through the night, I brought all the needs of our callers on the Divine Mercy prayer line before the Lord through His most Blessed Mother. 
At 5 in the morning, I had breakfast with hundreds of the Sisters who had participated in the all-night prayer vigil and then traveled back to Warsaw. The next day, I visited Plock, the place where St. Faustina first saw the Lord of Mercy. There is a beautiful statue erected at the site of His first apparition, commemorating this holy event. Sister Klawara, the House Superior, showed me around the place, which is now a museum. As I was taken through the kitchen, the bakery, the recreation room and the bedroom, I was very much aware of St. Faustina's presence and experienced such a tremendous interior pain that my breath was taken away for a moment. In the meantime, Sister Klawara had been called away, leaving me alone in the bedroom. Suddenly, the sun pierced through the window right into my heart and the pain was instantaneously gone. From behind me, I heard the words, “Sprechen Sie Deutsch?” (Do you speak German?) A radiant young Sister stood before me, filled with the Lord's love, warmth and compassion. The Sister told me that she had seen me yesterday at the Shrine when I fell to my knees after Holy Communion, but had lost sight of me afterwards. After obtaining permission to be my guide, Sister Nazaria showed me around the rest of the Convent where they looked after troubled teenage girls, mostly girls from the streets of the cities. There are no riches here – just love, love and more love. Sister Nazaria took a few apples and drove me to Biala, where the Sisters have a home for unwed mothers and a farm for producing their food needs. As we had apples for lunch, she took the opportunity to ask me hundreds of questions about the Canadian Centre, about my own calling to work for the Lord of Mercy and even about my family in Germany. We walked through the flower and fruit gardens, the barns where butter is produced, several greenhouses not far from where St. Faustina gathered flowers for her beloved Bridegroom. There was great poverty here; all the Sisters had calloused and weathered hands, yet their peace was very evident. This was another example of mercy in action! Sister Nazaria then took me to the “Weichsel”, a Polish river where there had been a horrible slaughter of lives because of the oil refineries. As the Sister and I knelt in prayer, my eyes filled with tears; I recalled the stories my father had told me about this place. I asked the Lord for forgiveness for the sins of my forefathers who had been there before me in war time and prayed for peace between the nations. Then I heard Sister Nazaria say, “You are here to bring peace. I know it. I can feel it.” In my journal, I wrote: “Only You, Lord, can make the wrong right. My Lord, as I cry these tears, I am reminded that we are all one in You, working and praying for Your glory and mercy upon this wanting earth. Never, my sweet Lord Jesus, will I forget these moments! I beg You to lead and guide this Sister's soul to become truly Your holy bride. May Your Name be praised and blessed forevermore. Dearest Lord, please bless Stasia generously for financing this trip for me. Amen.”
Jesus, I trust in You! Jesus, Ich vertraue auf Dich!
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The air was crisp and clear, good for suffering and
seeking souls alike. The Sisters also ran a day-care centre to improve their
financial situation. How wonderful it was to see those beautiful little souls
blossoming in the presence of these holy women. What an outstanding start for
these youngsters amidst the Sisters' love, care, joy and prayer. What a great
honour I felt to sit on the edge of St. Faustina's bed, feeling her presence
beside me.