Sister Faustina Kowalska: Her LIfe and MIssion

had learned to read, she took over from h e r fa the r the times of read ing aloud to the family. Then h e r reper­ toire of stories grew fa r larger, for she borrowed books wherever she could: from neighbours, the parish priest, h e r teacher. They were always religious books. Unfor­ tuna te ly , we do no t know w ha t books were available to h e r in her immediate surroundings. We can only guess from th e few general rem arks about them among the reminiscences of h e r family and neighbours. Her read ing deepened he r prim ary in teres ts , giving them a practical direction: like the he rm its of whom h e r fa the r read, who quickened h e r imagination, she wished to consecrate he rse lf to God. Sometimes she expressed her dreams aloud, although the other children made sceptical remarks. They were particu larly doubtful about living on roots. Her pa ren ts , too, laughed a t he r fantasies, and did no t a ttach much importance to them. But Helenka kep t coming back to the same theme. She began, more frequently th an before, to seek solitude, p rayer became a necessity of life to her, and she began to long for the opportunity to pray with all h e r being. Her sp iritual life had begun to germ inate. The love of God had awoken within her, ferven t and passionate, though as ye t very imprecise. 28