Sister Faustina Kowalska: Her LIfe and MIssion

however, scanty, partia l and monotonously repetitive. We have full biographical details only after she had entered religion. From th is time on, we have a rich and exhaustive description of S is te r F au s tin a ’s inner life, given by herse lf in h e r diary, and also in th e copious memories of her superiors and numerous companions in the Community, as well as those of th e convent employees and wards. There is also the recollection of her confessor, in th is case particu larly significant. Of course, one m ight observe th a t these gaps in our information should no t p e rtu rb us, since we a re not principally concerned with h e r b u t with h e r mission received from Jesus . N a tu ra lly , the la t te r is our chief concern. Nevertheless, h e r mission was so closely connected with h e r personality th a t it would be impos­ sible to omit details of her. She was not merely a passive instrum en t. Je su s assu red h e r of an active role in passing on th a t message He wished us to know. Additionally, the pa th s He led h e r along on the way to g rea te r perfection and closer union with H imself are instructive - they show how He formed h e r so th a t she m igh t properly and effectively rem ind the world of th a t g rea te s t t ru th of the Gospels, Mercy; and of the con­ stan tly pulsing fountain and source of th a t Mercy: Je su s hidden in the Most Holy Sacrament. This prepa­ ra tion by Jesus , by mystical m a tu r ing un til she could be His bride, and la te r His apostle, can be followed in h e r case in the most m inu te detail. I t was thu s impor­ t a n t to be able to begin our account in h e r childhood, when th e f irs t memories of h e r family and those who knew h e r a t th is time a re some help to us. The m a teria l we have on S is te r F au s tina shows her from two aspects: the in te rio r and th e exterior. We learn of the in terio r side, h e r experiences and spiritual development, and h e r a tt i tu d e to those about her, which she reveals in h e r own words with astonishing and disarm ing frankness, directly and w ithou t inhibi­ tions, concealing ne ither h e r failings, nor the he s i ta ­ tions or the difficulty she often had in understand ing 10