We have a long day ahead – an 8 hr. bus trip to Vilnius, Lithuania. The time flies as we chat, nap, sing a bit and watch some beautiful farmland and forests go by.
Lithuania (pop. 3 million) is one of the three small Baltic countries. St. Faustina’s order maintained a number of houses here. It was here where she had many visions of Jesus. The first image of the Divine Mercy was commissioned here.
Lithuania has a long history of being overrun by outsiders but is proudly independent today. They went on the Euro last year and are suffering the consequences – rising prices, fixed wages. Vilnius (pop. 500,000) the capital is a classy city, well maintained, modern with a huge old town and 60 churches. The patron saint of Lithuania is St. Casimir.
We checked into the Polish Guest House into a large room. After a delicious dinner we head for the old town. First stop is a convent with a Franciscan well with spring water that heals.
We then visit the Shrine of Divine Mercy, a chapel where the original image of Divine Mercy is venerated. This was the only painted image that St. Faustina saw in her short life. Open 24/7, visitors drop in at any time of the day or night to pray and light a candle. We noticed a lot of youth present.
Special intentions were offered at our Mass and candles were lit. Back in our room about 10 PM we reminisce about the long day and drop off to sleep quickly.
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