Sister Faustina Kowalska: Her LIfe and MIssion

On 30th October th e re fell th e annua l eight-day re tre a t of the Congregation, usually organized in Cracow. S ister F au s tin a was sen t to i t by h e r Superior. F a th e r Sopocko was pleased a t the opportunity. He wished to h e a r th e opinion of the Cracow confessor of S is te r F au s tin a who had been shown h e r sp iritua l life and h e r mission, namely F a th e r J . Andrasz, S.J. F a th e r Sopocko wanted to compare h is own views with those of a p ries t from ano the r background. Bu t S is ter F au s tin a wen t away full of anxiety. The though t th a t she would have to explain from the beginning everything once more to a p r ie s t who knew no th ing of the la te s t revelation exacerbated h e r former crisis, which had since died down. Again h e r in te rio r tension rose. On the day on which confession to F a th e r Andrasz was to take place, she wrote: "from early morning; the turmoit in my sou l was more violent than anything I f a d ever experienced 6efore. Complete abandonment f y Qod; I f e l t t f e utter weakness that I was. "Thoughts fore in upon me: why should / leave this convent where I am loved f y t fe sisters and superiors, where life is so tranquil; [where I am] found f y perpetual vows and carry out my duties w ithout difficulty; why should I listen to the voice o f my conscience; why fo l low an inspiration coming from who knows where; wouldn't it fe fe t te r to carry on like a ll the other sisters? (Perhaps the Lord's words could fe stifled, not taken heed of; mayfe Qod zvill not demand an account o f them on the day o f judgment. "Where zvill this inner voice lead me? I f I fo l low it, what tremendous difficulties, tribulations and adversities are in store fo r me. I fea r the fu ture, and I am agonizing in the pre­ sent." (Diary, Notebook I, p a ra . 496). 239