Sister Faustina Kowalska: Her LIfe and MIssion

She received the Sacram en ts of Penance and Holy Communion, as was then the custom, a t the age of 9. The parish p ries t prepared h e r in the class he he ld 2 or 3 times a week for children. H er mother also greatly assisted , as she well knew th e catechism and supple­ mented th e priest’s teaching a t home with theory and practice. Fortunately , then , th e home, th e school and the parish complemented each other’s work. There were no contradictions between them - indeed, the reverse, and Helenka’s world grew larger in a uniform m anner w ithout controversy, concession or lies. Such conflict as there was concerned charac ters and no t th e i r outlook on the world. Holy Communion was a deep experience for Helenka. The mystery of the Divine Presence hidden in the Blessed Sacram en t h ad fascinated h e r since she was very young. She therefore awa ited longingly and with some tension the coming of Je su s to h e r soul. Two neighbours, Mrs Krzyzanowska and Mrs Stanislawska, give some in te res ting de ta ils abou t the day of h e r F irs t Communion. On th a t day she was re tu rn in g alone from church, deep in thought. "Why aren’t you going back w ith the other ch ildren1?" asked a neighbour, meeting h e r by the way. "I’m going with Jesus," the child replied seriously. Bu t she was unable to contain h e r overflowing happiness. She stopped a friend going along a t a little distance. "Are you happy about today?" she asked with ba ted breath . "Yes, o f course," said th e friend. "Look what a pre tty dress I ’m wearing." "I am happy because Jesus has come to me," whispered Helenka, smiling sunnily to the secret of h e r h ea r t , joined in a new way w ith God. I t is a pity th a t we know no th ing of the nex t Sacra­ men t she received, Confirmation. We only know the place, and an approximate date. I t was in the f irs t ha lf of the year 1922 a t Aleksandrow, b u t no one remem ­ bered any details, which is no t surprising , as i t took place away from home when Helena was in h e r firs t post in service. She he rse lf is silen t on th e topic. 32