Sister Faustina Kowalska: Her LIfe and MIssion

feeling of g ra titude , enveloping h e r as she fell a t the Lord’s feet in thanksgiving. But when i t came to making h e r confession, it became more complicated. The fear she had for so long hidden in the depths of h e r soul kep t her silent. She was no t able to t ru s t h e rse lf to th is chaplain a t the ir f irs t meeting. For the nex t few confessions she was unable to overcome h e r inner resistance, although Jesus a t once pu t an end to he r doubts by assu ring h e r once more th a t th is was the promised confessor. S ister F au s tina ’s inn e r sta te is b e s t m irrored in h e r own words: 7 heard these words in my souC: 1rIhis is M y fa i th fu l servant; he zvill help you to f u l f i l l M y w i l l here on earth.' yet, I d id not open myself to him as the Lord zvished. A n d f o r some time I struggled against grace. During each confession, Qod's grace penetrated me in a very special way, ye t I d id not reveal my sou l before him. and I had the intention o f not going to confession to that priest. A fte r this decision, a terrible anTQety entered my soul, Qod reproached me severely." (Diary, Notebook I, para. 263). "..."I made him known to you even before your superiors had sent you here. A s you zvill act tozvards your confessor, so I zvill act tozvards you. I f you conceal something from him even though it be the least o f M y graces, I too zvill hide M y se lffrom you, and you zvill remain alone'... (Diary, Notebook I, para. 269)." 7 myself am your director; I zvas, I am,, a n d I zvill be. A n d since you askedf o r -visible help, I chose and gave you a director even before you had asked, fo r M y zvork. required this. ‘Know tha t the fa u l ts you commit against him zvound M y Jleart. <Be especially on your 152