Saint Faustina was born Helena Kowalska in Poland, on August 25, 1905. When she was almost twenty, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The following year she received her religious habit and was given the name Sister Maria Faustina, to which she added "of the Most Blessed Sacrament."

In the 1930s, Sister Faustina received from the Lord a message of mercy that she was told to spread throughout the world.

"In the old covenant I send prophets wielding thunderbolts to My people. Today I am sending you with My Mercy to the people of the whole world. I don’t want to punish aching mankind but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart. Paint an image according to the pattern you see with the signature “Jesus, I trust in You”.

I desire that this image be venerated first in your chapel and throughout the world. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend this as my own Glory”.

The Chaplet of Mercy is recited using ordinary rosary beads of five decades.