Sister Faustina Kowalska: Her LIfe and MIssion

brought her, were astounding. She never complained, though she was often obviously exhausted. She d id not allow those around her to know what she suffered, and even the superiors d id not realize her state." (Archives of S.F., Recollections). Indeed, even Mother Irene Krzyzanowska, then superior of the Cracow convent, who was always so kind and helpful as regards th e mission of S ister Faustina , was deceived by h e r p a t ien t and equable behaviour. S ister B. was amazed to h e a r once, how the superior said to the Mother General, "Maybe Sister Faustina will a t last begin to work on herself." What could she have had in mind? She was inwardly puzzled. S is te r F au s tina fe lt the lack of comprehension in he r superior. This did not cause h e r any b itterness , though it was surprising and no t easy to unders tand . She writes in the Diary: "Our ‘Mother Superior has great (ove o f neighbour and especially great Cove fo r the sick, sisters, as everybody knows. Sind yet, as regards me, it is extraordinary that the Lord Jesus has permitted that she not understand me and that she test me much in this respect... Once, when I was very tired and in much pain, I told (Mother Superior about it and received the answer that I should g e t used to suffering." (Diary, Notebook II, para. 700). I t is difficult, among the sho r t rem arks scattered in the recollections of S ister F au s tin a ’s companions, to be sure of the time when the tuberculosis had completely invaded her intestines. This disease usua lly develops slowly and imperceptibly. As those around h e r were long aware th a t S ister F au s tina had for some time had digestive problems, the increasing severity of the disease escaped th e ir notice. There were g rea te r or 268