Sister Faustina Kowalska: Her LIfe and MIssion

deputy in Derdy, where S ister F au s t in a in April 1936 worked for a few weeks in th e kitchen , recalls th a t she sen t F au s t in a for two hou rs daily to re s t on the veranda, after the lunch-time recreation , so t h a t she would have enough streng th to continue her afternoon’s work. In mid-May 1936, S is ter F au s t in a wen t to Cracow permanently . There, a t the reques t of the superior, S is te r B., th e qualified nu rse who was then the In fir­ m a rian took our p a tien t to be exam ined a t th e pu l­ monary clinic a t the hospital in Pradn ik , and la te r accompanied h e r to ou t-pa tien t tre a tm e n t a t th is clinic. After she arrived, S is te r F au s t in a was given work in the garden, to help S is te r K. This was work beyond h e r s treng th , b u t she did not complain, and she even m anaged to do i t well, although she was obviously ravaged by th e disease: so well th a t she often amazed S is te r K. by h e r brave physical endurance. "Even when she had a fever, she worked without complaint," said S is te r K. S is te r A. also descri­ bes S is te r F au s tina ’s unusua l bravery. She saw how, in September 1936, "she was mak ing pickles for the winter, down in the cellar. I t was obvious tha t she had a disease o f the lungs. Her lips were chapped and as i f swollen, and the sk in was peeling off. I was fu l l o f respect for th is sick sister, hidden in the cellar on tha t sunny day." (Archives of S.F., Recollections). Bu t the most beau tifu l w itness to the behaviour of S is ter F au s tin a a t th a t tim e is given by S is ter B., who, as Infirm arian , b e s t knew the s ta te of h e r hea lth : "She would not subm it to her illness, and whenever she was not confined to bed she went about her usual duties, try ing to fu l f i l her obligations as best she could. Her cheerfulness, peacefulness and spiritual equilibrium in the face o f the d ifficulties her illness 267