Sister Faustina Kowalska: Her LIfe and MIssion

union o f the souC zvith Qod... Jdy sanctity and perfection consist in the close union o f my zvill zvith t fe zvill o f Qod." (Diary, Notebook III, para. 1107). Nevertheless, the development in oneself of the love of God meets considerable obstacles. God is possessive, He w an t our to ta l commitment. Bu t in us there is a multitude of different a ttachm en ts g rea te r or lesser, easier or more difficult to b reak . They conceal God, they push Him into the distance. They grow in us like weeds, as strong as weeds are, and only when we try to root them out do we realize how many they a re and w ha t an a ttrac tion they rep resen t. S ister F aus tina knew th e ir rapacity, and she began h e r r e t re a t m ed ita­ tions by exam ining he rse lf for these weedy patches of earth ly a ttachm en ts in h e r soul. As a re su l t of th is exam ination, she realized th a t i f not for the special help of God, she would never have been able to root them out. "Jesus, f o u yourself have deigned to lay the foundations o f sanctity, as my cooperation has not amounted to much, f o u have taught me to set no store on the use and choice o f created things, 6ecause my heart is, o f itself, so weak, A n d this is zvhy I have asked fo u , O my ^Master, to take no heed o f the pain o f my heart, hut to cut away whatever might hold me hack, from the path o f love. I d id not understand fo u , Lord in times o f sorrow, when f o u were effecting f o u r work, in my soul; hut today I understand f o u and rejoice in my freedom o f spirit. Jesus himself has seen to it that my heart has not heen caught in the snares o f any passion. I have come to know w e ll from what dangers Lie has delivered me, and therefore my gratitude to my Qod knows no hounds." (Diary, Notebook V, para . 1331). 334