divine-mercy-in-my-soul

and a great discerner of souls. She was demanding, but at the same time full of motherly
care and benevolence toward each novice. At the General Chapter in 1934, she was chosen
to be a member of the General Council and simultaneously, superior of the Generalate in
Warsaw. Five years later she died of cancer on November 9, 1939 (A. SMDM-C and D).
15. Father Theodore Czaputa was then the confessor of the novitiate. Born in 1884,
he was ordained priest July 7, 1907. He completed his theological studies at the Jagiellonian
University in Cracow. From 1916 he taught religion in the high schools in Cracow. He was
then made rector of the Minor Seminary and Tribunal Judge.
From November 1925 he was confessor of the novices of the Congregation of Our
Lady of Mercy. He performed this function almost until death, and the novices had great
confidence in him. Because of ill health, he was released of the duties of rector and moved
to Lagiewniki to become chaplain of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. He died March 2,
1945 (A. Cracow Curia).
16. Superiors in the Congregation may command “in the name of holy obedience”
only professed sisters. A novice was not obliged to obey such a command. If the directress
used these words, she was relying on the good will and virtue of the novice, who by
subordinating herself to the command could be relieved of these painful experiences (See
Const. Congr. Art., 96-99).
17. She probably means the words of the prophet Isaiah (49:15 JB): “Does a woman
forget her baby at the breast, or fail to cherish the son of her womb? Yet even if these forget,
I will never forget you”.
18. Some details of the text suggest that it was at the Warsaw house. The superior
was Mother Raphael Buczynska. She was one of the most outstanding superiors. She
distinguished herself by a clear, healthy judgment of people and things, a very practical
sense, and at the same time a deep spiritual life. She loved the congregation and cared for
its material and spiritual growth. In her relations to the sisters she was loving,
straightforward, and discerning. She knew how to evaluate and put to use the
accomplishments of each sister. She never degraded an individual, but rather tried to raise
each one‟s spirit, come to her aid and cheer her up. M. Raphael – Catherine Buczynska was
born December 23, 1879. She entered the Congregation October 18, 1900, and died
December 23, 1956 (A. SMDM-C).
19. The description points to the Warsaw house. The chapel was in a separate
building. The entrance was from the yard. At that time the chapel was used exclusively by
the sisters and their students. Lay persons hardly ever came there.
20. The Community was running homes for morally neglected and “difficult” girls.
These were commonly referred to as “students,” “wards,” or “children.” They were sent to the
sisters by the Social Service or by parents, and some came of their own accord to do
“penance.” There were up to 230 girls at the Zytnia house. They were divided into three
groups called “classes.” The sister in charge of a group was called the “Mother of the Class.”
The entire description of the vision seems to be a prediction of the difficulties which
the Saint will face in her work as apostle of The divine Mercy. It also predicts the final
triumph of this work, and herself in it.
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