Divine Mercy Sanctuary

The chapel the decree named

The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy describes the chapel of the image of Merciful Jesus and of St Faustina’s tomb as the heart of the Łagiewniki sanctuary, because both are there. The chapel stands where the convent house meets the House of Mercy, the building in which the sisters ran, and still run, their apostolic work. A small church of St Joseph on the spot was consecrated in 1891 by Cardinal Albin Dunajewski. The main altar, by Ferdynand Majerski of Przemyśl, holds a figure of Our Lady of Mercy, patron of the congregation, with St Stanislaus Kostka on the left and St Mary Magdalene on the right. In the sanctuary, on the left, an altar carries the image of Merciful Jesus by Adolf Hyła, 1944. That painting covered an earlier picture of the Sacred Heart by Jan Bąkowski, 1896, which had stood on the same altar. On the right is an altar of St Joseph with the Child, from the end of the 19th century, by Fr. Krudowski. Wall paintings were designed in 1934 by Zdzisław Gedliczka. During the general repair and conservation of 1981–1990, Wiktor Ostrzołek made the stained glass of the side windows and the porch. Only the round-window glass of St Cecilia, on the choir, is older. Cases around the walls hold votive offerings.

In 1968 Cardinal Karol Wojtyła entered the chapel on the list of sanctuaries of the Kraków archdiocese because pilgrims were already coming to the image and to the tomb of Sister Faustina Kowalska. In 1992 Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, citing the growing cult of Divine Mercy, issued the decree that established the chapel as the Divine Mercy Sanctuary. The congregation’s transmission page says John Paul II called this the place God chose for people to meet his presence and his grace, and that pilgrims come from around the world. For people who cannot travel, the sisters run a round-the-clock online transmission from the chapel.

Two churches, one clock for the Hour of Mercy

The chapel and the Basilica of Divine Mercy keep different timetables. On weekdays the chapel has Mass at 6:30, lauds at 7:15, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and adoration from 12:00 until 17:00, the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet at 15:00, transmitted by TVP3, and Mass at 17:00. On Fridays that 17:00 Mass is transmitted by TVP3 except on the third Friday. Further chapel prayers run later: a 19:00 devotion, the rosary at 20:30, and the Marian appeal at 21:00. The order of services also lists vespers at 18:40 on the chapel page. On Sundays and holy days the chapel Masses include 7:00, transmitted by TVP1, 8:30, and 12:00 in English, after which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed until 19:00, with the Hour of Mercy again at 15:00 and Mass at 19:00. The basilica’s weekday Masses are 9:00, 10:30, 12:00, 15:20 and 18:00, and on Sundays an extra Mass at 13:30. The Hour of Mercy at 15:00 is kept in both buildings. Perpetual adoration is in the chapel set aside for it. The congregation says the published order can change when something in the sanctuary requires it.

The address of the congregation card is Siostry Faustyny 3, 30-608 Kraków. Group pilgrimage requests go through a form. Sending the form is not acceptance. The sisters reply by email, and if that reply does not come the contact numbers are 12 351 88 00, extensions 127 or 100. On arrival a group reports at the convent gate or at the information point below the chapel of the Passion, opposite the basilica. A priest travelling with a group can request a Mass in the basilica through +48 12 252 33 12, and in the chapel, except on Monday, through +48 12 351 88 00.