Sanctuary of Divine Mercy
Sanctuary of Divine Mercy
4.5

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Fiat
Mechanicsburg, PA256 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2012 • Friends
The Sanctuary of Divine Mercy is a must see place when visiting Kraków, especially for Roman Catholics. It is located in the Łagiewniki district and can be reached by a number of trams from city center, #8 being one of them.

The complex is quite large and contains, in part, the small Chapel of Saint Faustyna Kowalska, with her remains resting on the altar below the painting of Divine Mercy -- as well as her relics; a big modern Basilica to accommodate large crowds and pilgrimages; a tower topped by a statue of Blessed Pope John Paul II adjacent to the Basilica, a cemetery; the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy; an hotel managed by the sisters to accommodate overnight guests, conferences, and pilgrimages; a bookstore/souvenir shop; and a restaurant. In one of the buildings, a replica of Saint Faustyna’s cell (bedroom) and her personal belongings may be seen. Until recently one could visit the room, touch some of the objects, and ring the bell that Jesus rang when He appeared to the young Sister Faustyna Kowalska. Now the room is glass-enclosed, as is the bell. For a złoty or two one can hear Saint Faustyna’s story on headphones by selecting the appropriate language. The imposing statue of Blessed John Paul II appears at the “prow of a ship” and has a dove in flight on his hand. From the top of the tower one can see a view of Kraków and the construction of a new and massive Sanctuary of Blessed John Paul II to be completed in 2015 (the completed part can be visited now). The lower part of the Basilica has a number of beautiful chapels, confession rooms.

Why the label “A Place of Miracles”? First, to be canonized one must be credited with two miracles, of which Saint Faustyna had many. Second, while we were in the small Chapel of Saint Faustyna during our first visit, I prayed to Divine Mercy to restore my wife’s health. Besides my prayer, I asked Sister Diana and the other nuns to continue praying for her during the congregation’s daily recitations of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, especially at 3:00 P.M., the time designated by Jesus to the young nun. One year prior to our first visit to Divine Mercy Sanctuary, a virus destroyed 90% of my wife’s heart, and she was left with an ejection fraction of only 10%. Every year until that prayer in the Chapel, the ejection fraction rate remained the same. Within a month after our return home, my wife went for her pre-scheduled semi-annual echocardiogram. To our surprise the ejection fraction spiked to 60%, which is a normal rate for a healthy heart. When she received the results, she called the cardiologist to check if that might have been an error. He replied that he had the same question and checked and double-checked the results: THEY WERE CORRECT. He asked her what lifestyle change had she made since he did not alter the medications. Her reply was simply, “Prayers to Divine Mercy”. He asserted that had to be the answer and reminded her that he had advised her at the hospital, when he first visited her, that prayers were #1, doctors and medicine were tied for #2. The cardiologist is not Roman Catholic; he is Russian Orthodox. From a prognosis of a maximum 5-year life expectancy, presently surpassing 9 years, and now being told that there is every reason to expect surviving to a “normal old age”, it is a miracle.

Since 2004, we visited Divine Mercy Sanctuary four times, and this month we were also fortunate to visit the completed part of the magnificent Blessed John Paul II Sanctuary.
Written October 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mary F
Uxbridge, UK10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2015 • Couples
My sole aim was to visit the Sanctuary and offer my thanksgiving for the miraculous cure I received from cancer. I was simply overjoyed being there. And whilst I was in the hallway viewing Saint Faustina's showcase which had her things on display, I suddenly felt an intense sharp pain in the top righthand of my arm; I couldn't stop the flow of tears running down my cheeks. I understand that it was in this Halllway that Saint Faustina had her first vision of the Divine Mercy. The experience was a reminder of the cure I received 5 years ago on the Feast Day of the Divine Mercy, 10th April; I felt so Blessed and Special. Thankyou Jesus, Praise you Jesus.
Written November 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Laura Marie
Hartford, CT300 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018 • Solo
Visiting the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Lagiewniki was my primary reason for coming to Poland. I was not disappointed. The sanctuary was established at the convent of St. Faustina, who became God's messenger of mercy not only to Poland, but to the entire world. It is a beautiful, peaceful place. From the moment I entered the grounds, I felt sense of consolation. There are masses offered every day in the convent chapel and in the new basilica. In the chapel, you can pray before the relics of St. Faustina and gaze upon the famous image of Divine Mercy painted by Adolf Hyła. Although this image is recognized throughout the world and appears on countless prayer cards, seeing the original canvas in person was beyond comparison. Whether you know much about Divine Mercy or not, whether you are Christian or not, if you have any curiosity about God at all, I would recommend visiting this sanctuary. It is a place of great graces.

From a practical perspective, it is very easy to access the sanctuary by public transportation. Simply ride the train to the 'Sanktuarium Bożego Miłosierdzi' stop (trams 8, 10, 22, or 72). Then, just follow the signs. You will pass a petrol station and walk up a little bit of a hill, with the wall of the convent on your right. Follow the wall until you reach the gate, and you're there! Leave yourself plenty of time to wander the grounds and to sit in quite contemplation.

The nuns of the convent operate a small cafeteria behind the basilica. The food was good, the portions were plentiful, the prices were stellar, and the atmosphere was inviting.

The Sanctuary of Divine Mercy is located next to the St. John Paul II Sanctuary. However, while I was visiting in June 2018, the St. John Paul II Sanctuary was closed, and there was a great deal of construction going on. The construction did not affect the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in any way.
Written June 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Patricia A
Chicago, IL534 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2016 • Family
Came here with our tour group, DEFINITELY worth the trip, it is a very large campus. We had a (pre-arranged) Nun that spoke to our group. Lots of info. on Divine Mercy, and the large painting in the church of it which you can visit, and they have a relic of Sister Faustina at the left of the alter. You are allowed to walk up to it and venerate. Several gift shops. I would highly recommend a trip here.
Here's a tip!!! You can go in the church to take plenty of photos, but no flash.
Please press "YES" if you found this helpful, as I wonder if anyone actually reads these...
Written August 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Phoebe_1511
45 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2014 • Friends
It's a blessing to be here, to pray here.... I don't think this is just for Catholics. Peaceful, amazing, impressive. Make sure you visit the chapel with the tomb of Sister Faustina Kowalska and the original image of the Merciful Jesus. JEZU UFAM TOBIE
Written December 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dias62
Colombo, Sri Lanka53 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2015 • Family
A place of pilgrimage for catholics, Where Saint Faustina received revelations from Jesus, especially regarding God's Mercy. Short distance from the Krakow old town ( about 7 euros Taxi ride). The newly built basilica is Big nad modern. But the main attraction is the small chapel on the side where St. Faustina used to attend mass, and where now the Original Divine Mercy Painting and the tomb and relics of St. Faustina
are enshrined.

Must visit for all catholics!
Written February 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Merechat2
Killeen, TX161 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2013 • Business
I went there a few years ago, but the feelings still resonate in me. I went with my local Catholic Women's group. We stayed in the adjoining hotel, Pastoral House of the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy. The hotel wasn't the most luxurious, but who cares! The food though, was amazing!
Back to the Sanctuary, it was very interesting to see the ultra modern basilica hugged by the older brick chapel and convent. The basilica was very impressive in it's simplicity. It's bright and airy, but still very cozy and peaceful. There is a tower you can go up and get an amazing view of the countryside. Outside the basilica, there is a little chapel that is petite in size, but big on impact. We had mass in there two times and the acoustics were wonderful. There is another small chapel where we had mass as well and were able to confess. There is a wall there that has mosaics of Polish saints and it is very impactful.
My favorite place though was the small chapel where the Divine Mercy is recited each day at 3pm. The chapel feels to me like God is sitting right next to you. One thing to keep in mind, if you visit this chapel for mass, be prepared to not sit comfortably. The pews are close together and you are meant to be in the kneeling position for the service. Inside the chapel are relics of St. Faustina as well as other significant items from the Church.
The grounds are peaceful and allow time for reflection. The window of St. Faustina's room is decorated with flowers and you can take a tour to see her room or cell. The nuns there are amazing and very friendly. If you have any questions, the English speaking ones can help you out.
I don't think this is just for Catholics. It's such an amazing place to visit and reflect. I highly encourage anyone going to Krakow, to visit.
Written November 15, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Francisco A
Weston, FL873 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2014 • Family
Jesus I trust in you.

This is a place every catholic in the World must visit. Incredible place for worship and faith, it is a holy experience.

The Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Kraków, Poland is a Roman Catholic basilica dedicated to the Divine Mercy devotion, as the resting place of Saint Faustina Kowalska, canonized on April 30, 2000.

The site of the building originally housed the monastery complex of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy (founded in 1862), which was designed and built between 1889–1891. In 1966, the remains of Sister Faustina were moved to the church. In 1968 Cardinal Karol Wojtyla (later Pope John Paul II) designated the church as a shrine, thanks to the remains of Sister Faustina.

In 1985, Pope John Paul II called Lagiewniki the "capital of the Divine Mercy devotion". Since the beatification of Saint Faustina in 1993, her remains rest on the altar, below the image of Divine Mercy.

Make sure you visit the small chapel with the tomb of Sister Faustina and the original image of the Merciful Jesus, it would be a unique experience, open your heart and enjoy!!!!

As a devoted Catholic family this is one of our personal favorite devotions, so we really enjoyed visiting this magnificent Sanctuary.
Written November 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anne Doran
Cork, Ireland344 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2012 • Friends
We were staying in ul. Westeplatte, so we were able to get the number 19 tram to stop "Sanktuarium Bożego Miłosierdzia", which means the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy. There were quite a number of people that got off the tram at this stop and we were able to find the Chapel very easily. The grounds of the Sanctuary are quite extensive and we were only able to visit for about 2 hours. The chapel was very busy and we were lucky to get a seat as Exposition of the Blessed Eucharist was on. I was able to see the image of the Divine Mercy and the tomb of St Faustina. I was also able to kiss the relic of St Faustina. We were able to get mass in the Basilica and it was lovely to hear the nuns singing. The day we visited was a lovely sunny day. There was a number of shops where you can buy souvenirs and religious items, but they weren't on full view and it didn't spoil the whole area of peace and prayer. As explained already, you are not able to take photos inside the Chapel or Basilica and I can totally understand why, to keep this area peaceful. It is not a tourist attraction, it is a place of prayer. I was able to take some photos on the outside and there are plenty of statues and images where you can take photos. The Basilica can facilitate 5,000 and it is so lovely. I would recommend to all Catholics to visit.

It was a about a 10 - 15 minute walk from The Sanctuary of Divine Mercy to the Sanctuary of John Paul II. They are still in the process of building, but the Sanctuary includes the blood relics of Blessed John Paul II in the Sanctuary and in an off room with the tomb stone of Blessed John Paul II that was in St Peter's Basilica in Rome. In this room, there were also other objects of Blessed John, his rosary bead, his crozier and chasuble. In the Sanctuary, there were a number of images of the Blessed John Paul with Marian images, as Blessed John loved Our Mother Mary. The building work is due to be finished in 2015, and would love to return again to see it completed.
Written September 1, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Patty M
West Bloomfield, MI188 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2016 • Couples
Praying/attending Mass in the convent's old Chapel in front of the image of Divine Mercy (and the relics of Sr. Faustina) is an awesome and sacred experience. The peaceful and prayerful witness of the many faithful who come here is not easily found anywhere else. Highly recommended.
Also, on the grounds is the contemporary and huge Basilica, which is designated by Pope Francis as a Holy Door site for the Jubilee Year of Mercy
Written January 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Sanctuary of Divine Mercy, Krakow

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