From the desk of the Tar Heel disciple
This year, October 5 falls on a Sunday, and so the annual feast of Saint Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), the great missionary of The Divine Mercy, will be little observed in most places. But her life, especially as made known to us in her diary, and the devotion she promulgated are worthy of attention and renewed engagement, even for those who have been attracted to them for many years. While Divine Mercy Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter, and the feast day of the saint on October 5 are especially appropriate occasions to focus on this gift of God to His Church, the world is in great need of The Divine Mercy (i.e., Jesus, our Lord) all year long! If you haven't yet read the diary, this might be a moment to begin. It is not the sort of thing one reads in a single or even a few settings. It can be read as a daily devotion, in short segments. But it is a devotion worthy of embracing, just as the Lord has declared his desire for us to be embraced by His mercy.
The Holy See has announced that on October 19, 2015, Pope Leo XIV will declare Blessed Bartolo Longo (1841-1926) a saint of the Church. His feast day will also be observed on October 5, the anniversary of his death. (Some details of his life were briefly discussed in this blog on August 18, 2025.) Pope St. John Paul II called him an “Apostle of the Rosary” at the time of his beatification, in 1990, and drew special attention to his life and ministry in his apostolic letter of October 16, 2002, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, which opened a “Year of the Rosary” for the Universal Church (2002-2003). Bartolo was raised in a Catholic household, but abandoned the Faith of his family, going so far as to become a satanic priest during his university years, while studying to become a lawyer. Subsequent depression and anxiety led him to seek the advice of a Catholic friend, who directed him to a Dominican priest. With this help, he found his way back to Christ and became greatly devoted to the Blessed mother and the rosary. The remainder of his life was spent sharing his Faith in a variety of ways, especially in the construction of the pontifical Shrine of the Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei (Italy) and in great charitable works. He died at the age of 85, having been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize and having been named by the pope a Knight (“Grand Cross”) of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Saint Barolo Longo might prove to be a great intercessor for those who have abandoned the Catholic Faith and a great consolation to those who love them. Both saints of October 5 point to the mercy that is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord!
The diary and devotional material related to St. Faustina:
https://inhisname.com/search?options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=st+faustina
Images of and devotional material on The Divine Mercy:
https://inhisname.com/search?options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=Divine+Mercy
