St. Faustina Diary and Depression

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Has anybody read this diary and it made them depressed? Maybe it’s catholic guilt I don’t know. But I started listening to the audio book (only on track 20 of first cd) and I’ve noticed I’m depressed since starting this.

For the most part it is very good and beautiful but to hear how such a holy woman suffered and at the same time thinking about divine mercy of god is hard to comprehend. And then to hear how she saw souls in purgatory and hell that were holy souls but they were suffering so much and her prayers did nothing for them. And the reason they were in hell were bc of things that seemed to be small transgressions. It’s extremely depressing to try and comprehend this. To the point that I have decided to stop listening for awhile.

Maybe these weren’t really real souls suffering and god made these visions to add to faustinas sufferings. I don’t know. Has anybody else had this happen to them?
 
CatholicSooner said:
Has anybody read this diary and it made them depressed? Maybe it’s catholic guilt I don’t know. But I started listening to the audio book (only on track 20 of first cd) and I’ve noticed I’m depressed since starting this.

For the most part it is very good and beautiful but to hear how such a holy woman suffered and at the same time thinking about divine mercy of god is hard to comprehend. And then to hear how she saw souls in purgatory and hell that were holy souls but they were suffering so much and her prayers did nothing for them. And the reason they were in hell were bc of things that seemed to be small transgressions. It’s extremely depressing to try and comprehend this. To the point that I have decided to stop listening for awhile.

Maybe these weren’t really real souls suffering and god made these visions to add to faustinas sufferings. I don’t know. Has anybody else had this happen to them?
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I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable depths of My mercy. (1059)
 
I was raised like that - my mother was into every fanatical thing - not saying the diaries of a saint are fanatical - but the whole we are all damned, going to hell if we do this or that and what we have to do to avoid it. It can be depressing.

I think of the Bible passage about how it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to go to heaven.

who then can be saved?

nothing is impossible with God.
 
CatholicSooner said:
Has anybody read this diary and it made them depressed? Maybe it’s catholic guilt I don’t know. But I started listening to the audio book (only on track 20 of first cd) and I’ve noticed I’m depressed since starting this.

For the most part it is very good and beautiful but to hear how such a holy woman suffered and at the same time thinking about divine mercy of god is hard to comprehend. And then to hear how she saw souls in purgatory and hell that were holy souls but they were suffering so much and her prayers did nothing for them. And the reason they were in hell were bc of things that seemed to be small transgressions. It’s extremely depressing to try and comprehend this. To the point that I have decided to stop listening for awhile.

Maybe these weren’t really real souls suffering and god made these visions to add to faustinas sufferings. I don’t know. Has anybody else had this happen to them?
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I read her diary and don’t recall her saying she was praying for those in hell. I do recall her praying for those who are on their way to hell unless they change their life.

She seemed to be so much in love with God that nothing mattered except what God wanted. And tho her suffering was difficult, that love made it worthwhile and acceptable.

It is common among the great saints that they have iron wills, a one track mind, and a great love of Jesus. Nothing will stop them in their quest for God and souls. Suffering is rather wonderful to them because they see it as a gift from God to bring themselves and others into the kingdom.

And of course small things can lead one to hell since these ultimately lead to the big fall.

May God our Father give you grace and peace.
 
I’ve read her whole diary and also have major clinical depression. The book was soothiing to me.

She never said there are holy souls in Hell. God sent her there only mystically and temporarily to teach her some things, and such a thing is extremely rare. Extremely.

Purgatory, is quite real, Nothing, even slightly impure can enter into heaven. We are going be in purgatory until we have been purified. and it’s doctrine that the prayers of those in purgatory do not help themselves. That is why we pray for them.

Suffering is part of our lives until we reach Heaven. We must accept this.

But you don’t have to read the diary if you do not wish. I think you should at some point keep on reading, though. It’s a most excellent book, fully approved by the Church.

Jesus Bless You. Pray the prayer, Jesus, I trust in you, and pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy. 🙂
 
That Diary fills me with hope. It changed my life. It helps me to better know, love, and understand God. Why do you find it depressing? It reveals a God who wants, more than anything, for us to receive his love and mercy as well as help assistance in doing his will.
 
CatholicSooner said:
Has anybody read this diary and it made them depressed? Maybe it’s catholic guilt I don’t know. But I started listening to the audio book (only on track 20 of first cd) and I’ve noticed I’m depressed since starting this.

For the most part it is very good and beautiful but to hear how such a holy woman suffered and at the same time thinking about divine mercy of god is hard to comprehend. And then to hear how she saw souls in purgatory and hell that were holy souls but they were suffering so much and her prayers did nothing for them. And the reason they were in hell were bc of things that seemed to be small transgressions. It’s extremely depressing to try and comprehend this. To the point that I have decided to stop listening for awhile.

Maybe these weren’t really real souls suffering and god made these visions to add to faustinas sufferings. I don’t know. Has anybody else had this happen to them?
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I think you are interpreting the passages in this book incorrectly. You must be a beginner in the faith so that this type of book would not be able to be properly understood by you. Had you some experience in the faith and the right perspective towards spiritual sufferings you would not be questioning the book. The book explains the proper setting of God’s Mercy. The Mercy of God while it is always available must be triggered into the world through our actions of words, deeds and prayers. It is also triggered through the undeserved sufferings of the people. God’s Mercy wants to envelop the whole world but God has constrained His Mercy to be only unleashed through our own efforts and not primarily through His own. God does give to us primarily through His own Work and Sacrifice at the Mass and the Divine Liturgy which is when we receive another Deposit of His Love and Mercy but it does not end there. That is where it begins. We must take what God has given for us in the Mass and the Divine Liturgy to be transformed into acts of mercy through our words, deeds and prayers combining it with our own undeserved sufferings during the week between our Holy Communions so that this Mercy and Love of God will be activated in and through us into the direction of the world.

If we only go to the Mass and the Divine Liturgy all the time and do nothing outside the Mass and the Divine Liturgy we are not doing anything great. In fact we are doing nothing to expand the Mercy of God. God is doing His Work at the Mass and Divine Liturgy but where is ours? No, it is when we work and sacrifice outside the comforts of the Mass and the Divine Liturgy that God becomes Glorified and His Son is lifted up. God uplifts us at the Mass and the Divine Liturgy but we uplift His Son when we decide to do some work and sacrifice outside the Mass and Divine Liturgy. That is what the Diary of St. Maria Faustina explains to perfection the real cause of why the Church fails in her mission and when it succeeds. The Diary explains what we do outside the Mass and the Divine Liturgy is just as important as is the Mass and the Divine Liturgy for combining both the Work and Sacrifice of Jesus with ours the Lord is able to reach better into the world and especially to those souls who are in most need of His Graces.

God is not getting much Glory from His Church so where do you think it must come from if He is to save souls. It has to come from those who suffer undeservingly so that He can unleash His saving Graces into the world. God needs sacrifice to save souls and His best commodity was always underserved sufferings to help Him unleash these graces in response to these sufferings. If the Church knew how to be the Church outside the Mass and the Divine Liturgy than the Lord would not have to depend on so many undeserved sufferings. God’s hands are tied because He has to permit so much sufferings so that He could save but He would like the rest of His Church to do their work and sacrifice OUTSIDE THE MASS AND DIVINE LITURGY so they will also participate in unleashing His saving Graces. The problem these days as it was during the life of St. Maria Faustina was this lack of work and sacrifice by the majority of the Church. The Dairy explains beautifully how we can participate into this great mystery of unleashing the Mercy of God into the world and into our own lives.
 
CatholicSooner said:
Has anybody read this diary and it made them depressed? … Has anybody else had this happen to them?
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I bought the diary and held on to it for a few years before I got around to reading it. When I realized how holy & pure St Faustina was it created in me a certain wonder, awe & a conviction of my soul. That is to say, The Holy Spirit convicted me (in the flesh) and I felt very sinful.

It’s been a while but I remember at the beginning of her religious vocation Our Lord showed her the pain & suffering she would endure during her life which made her pass out. The key point here is God sustained, strengthened & guided her through her entire saintly life. Its a testimony to how God turns our natural aversion to suffering into a love for suffering which he accepts as an offering for the salvation of souls.

St Faustina was called on many times to pray & offer sacrifice for the salvation of souls during their final hours on this earth and it was declared in her diary that those are the most important hours for many souls.

I recommend only one chapter per day. Don’t rush it.

I read Mystical City of God which is similar in that I was totally convicted (in the flesh) by the Holy Spirit in the first volume which tries in great depth to explain the Holiness & Purity of St Mary. It made me feel like just Her contemplation of someone like me must be painful to Her. Its the wonder of God. 🙂
 
Hi CatholicSooner,

Reading the diary really changed my life, too. It was awe-inspiring, to me.

I read it in small sections, and would read it during Holy Hours in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.

I would also recommend that you also read it in small sections at one time, and then reflect upon what you have read. This is how I would read it–carefully–and then I would think about it afterwards. It is what I would consider, very “deep reading.”

I don’t think that this diary is something that should be read in large sections at one time. This is just my opinion, of course.
 
chimo said:
I think you are interpreting the passages in this book incorrectly. You must be a beginner in the faith so that this type of book would not be able to be properly understood by you. Had you some experience in the faith and the right perspective towards spiritual sufferings you would not be questioning the book. The book explains the proper setting of God’s Mercy. The Mercy of God while it is always available must be triggered into the world through our actions of words, deeds and prayers. It is also triggered through the undeserved sufferings of the people. God’s Mercy wants to envelop the whole world but God has constrained His Mercy to be only unleashed through our own efforts and not primarily through His own. God does give to us primarily through His own Work and Sacrifice at the Mass and the Divine Liturgy which is when we receive another Deposit of His Love and Mercy but it does not end there. That is where it begins. We must take what God has given for us in the Mass and the Divine Liturgy to be transformed into acts of mercy through our words, deeds and prayers combining it with our own undeserved sufferings during the week between our Holy Communions so that this Mercy and Love of God will be activated in and through us into the direction of the world.

If we only go to the Mass and the Divine Liturgy all the time and do nothing outside the Mass and the Divine Liturgy we are not doing anything great. In fact we are doing nothing to expand the Mercy of God. God is doing His Work at the Mass and Divine Liturgy but where is ours? No, it is when we work and sacrifice outside the comforts of the Mass and the Divine Liturgy that God becomes Glorified and His Son is lifted up. God uplifts us at the Mass and the Divine Liturgy but we uplift His Son when we decide to do some work and sacrifice outside the Mass and Divine Liturgy. That is what the Diary of St. Maria Faustina explains to perfection the real cause of why the Church fails in her mission and when it succeeds. The Diary explains what we do outside the Mass and the Divine Liturgy is just as important as is the Mass and the Divine Liturgy for combining both the Work and Sacrifice of Jesus with ours the Lord is able to reach better into the world and especially to those souls who are in most need of His Graces.

God is not getting much Glory from His Church so where do you think it must come from if He is to save souls. It has to come from those who suffer undeservingly so that He can unleash His saving Graces into the world. God needs sacrifice to save souls and His best commodity was always underserved sufferings to help Him unleash these graces in response to these sufferings. If the Church knew how to be the Church outside the Mass and the Divine Liturgy than the Lord would not have to depend on so many undeserved sufferings. God’s hands are tied because He has to permit so much sufferings so that He could save but He would like the rest of His Church to do their work and sacrifice OUTSIDE THE MASS AND DIVINE LITURGY so they will also participate in unleashing His saving Graces. The problem these days as it was during the life of St. Maria Faustina was this lack of work and sacrifice by the majority of the Church. The Dairy explains beautifully how we can participate into this great mystery of unleashing the Mercy of God into the world and into our own lives.
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Sorry but i stopped reading when you said I must be a beginner in faith. Pretty insulting.
 
You people think you know God but you don’t. God is a complete mystery to every person on this planet. I read books and thought I knew something about God but I don’t. You can read millions of books and still not know. I suspect this is how He wants it, but I don’t know really. I know nothing.

The best thing we can all do is get out there and enjoy life and stop worrying about religion and whether we are upsetting God or not. One thing I can guarantee is that obsessing over such things will cause depression. And if you get too deep into it you will end up with schizophrenia. We only get one life, why be miserable?

Best wishes,
Padster
 
Padster said:
. And if you get too deep into it you will end up with schizophrenia. We only get one life, why be miserable?

Best wishes,
Padster
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So by implication St Faustina got too deep into it and was actually a miserable schizophrenic? :confused:
 
So by implication St Faustina got too deep into it and was actually a miserable schizophrenic?
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From what I have learned, I believe schizophrenia and spiritual experience/awakening cross over. I believe that some people who are labelled ‘schizophrenic’ are actually having some sort of spiritual experience. I can’t pretend to understand St Faustina’s situation, but I imagine she had some miserable days, yes. Spiritual experience often involves lots of personal discernment: God does not make things clear cut often. It is this discernment as to the source and origin of a person’s experience that can cause a lot of pain and depression. Not only has the person first to decide whether the source is their own brain or external, they have to then move on to discern whether the source is God or the Devil. Of course, God usually provides sporadic reassurance which can verge on ecstatic. The heart swells and the person feels incredibly happy but it doesn’t last, and the person’s mood slumps back. It is this swinging between moods that is often classed as schizophrenic behaviour, and the slumps can be pretty awful in the early stages. The isolation doesn’t help, either.

Best wishes,
Padster
 
Padster said:
You people think you know God but you don’t. God is a complete mystery to every person on this planet. I read books and thought I knew something about God but I don’t. You can read millions of books and still not know. I suspect this is how He wants it, but I don’t know really. I know nothing.

The best thing we can all do is get out there and enjoy life and stop worrying about religion and whether we are upsetting God or not. One thing I can guarantee is that obsessing over such things will cause depression. And if you get too deep into it you will end up with schizophrenia. We only get one life, why be miserable?

Best wishes,
Padster
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Good points! That’s why we need to bring the core spiritual teachings that have been kept alive but hidden in the cloisters and monasteries and out of “mainstream” Catholicism, the kataphatic tradition of the Church.

One text which describes exactly what you are saying, I think, is the 14th century Catholic mysticism masterpiece, “The Cloud of the Unknowing.” It will set your faith on fire – or it will be just gibberish. The author himself says if it’s the latter to you then don’t read it because it isn’t for you. He doesn’t want people to read it unless it speaks to them, for otherwise they just get critical and it doesn’t help anybody.

The translation I was advised, and it’s easier to read than others I’ve seen, is by William Johnston. The Cloud of Unknowing: and The Book of Privy Counseling

MS
 
Padster said:
From what I have learned, I believe schizophrenia and spiritual experience/awakening cross over. I believe that some people who are labelled ‘schizophrenic’ are actually having some sort of spiritual experience. I can’t pretend to understand St Faustina’s situation, but I imagine she had some miserable days, yes. Spiritual experience often involves lots of personal discernment: God does not make things clear cut often. It is this discernment as to the source and origin of a person’s experience that can cause a lot of pain and depression. Not only has the person first to decide whether the source is their own brain or external, they have to then move on to discern whether the source is God or the Devil. Of course, God usually provides sporadic reassurance which can verge on ecstatic. The heart swells and the person feels incredibly happy but it doesn’t last, and the person’s mood slumps back. It is this swinging between moods that is often classed as schizophrenic behaviour, and the slumps can be pretty awful in the early stages. The isolation doesn’t help, either.

Best wishes,
Padster
Click to expand...
👍
 
Padster said:
You people think you know God but you don’t. God is a complete mystery to every person on this planet. I read books and thought I knew something about God but I don’t. You can read millions of books and still not know. I suspect this is how He wants it, but I don’t know really. I know nothing.

The best thing we can all do is get out there and enjoy life and stop worrying about religion and whether we are upsetting God or not. One thing I can guarantee is that obsessing over such things will cause depression. And if you get too deep into it you will end up with schizophrenia. We only get one life, why be miserable?

Best wishes,
Padster
Click to expand...
Hi Padster,

It seems to me that you are making way too many assumptions about how God may relate to other people. 🙂 Throughout history, He chose to interact with the saints.

If you look at sacred Scripture, it is about God’s interaction with man.
 
Padster said:
I can’t pretend to understand St Faustina’s situation, but I imagine she had some miserable days
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In eternity we will all see that St Faustina was one of the greatest saints having been chosen by God to spread word and devotion to God’s greatness attribute, DIVINE MERCY
 
St. Faustina is indeed great. I love her, but not everyone is going to understand her. That’s ok by me. Saints are often misunderstood.

Christ allowed her to share deeply in His Passion, and that’s hard for us to fathom…I still have a hard time carrying my crosses day by day, but I’m going to keep trying to do better and trust more.
 
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