The Importance of Fr. Michael Sopocko in Jesus’ plan for Divine Mercy revelations can not be overestimated. Jesus said to St. Faustina: "He will be My visible help for you on earth. He will help you to carry out My will” (Diary 53)."His thoughts are closely united to Mine, so be at peace about what concerns My work. I will not let him make a mistake, and you should do nothing without his permission" (Diary 1408).
It was Fr. Sopocko, as her confessor and spiritual director, that persuaded St. Faustina to write everything down again so that he could clearly discern if it was God’s will as she completed each copy book she gave it to Fr.Sopocko.
These writings, recorded in six copy books, became known as the "Diary of Saint Faustina" (Divine Mercy in My Soul), which is now regarded as an extraordinarily valuable document of Catholic mysticism.
It was Fr. Sopocko who chose, organised and paid the artist to paint the original painting of the Image of Divine Mercy.
In fact, it was Fr. Sopocko who dressed and posed for the painting the way St. Faustina described the apparition and attended with St. Faustina all the meetings she had with the artist.
It was Fr. Michael Sopocko who first celebrated the Feast of Mercy and it was his efforts that established the feast day as a solemn feast day in Poland and Lithuania.
It was he who got the prayers that Jesus gave to Faustina printed for the first time and made them known to the world.
It was Fr. Sopocko who proclaimed to the world for the first time, the message of Divine Mercy. This was on the first Sunday after Easter, Mercy Sunday, at the Shrine of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy in 1934 in Vilnius.
It was Fr. Sopocko who first exposed the Divine Mercy Image publicly, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy in Vilnius.
It was he who founded the new congregation of religious sisters that Our Lord asked for. This in fact took place in his own home in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1942.
*NOTE: FR.SOPOCKO’S SURNAME IS PRONOUNCED: SO POTCH CO