Sister Faustina Kowalska: Her LIfe and MIssion

strength o f my sou l to defend it. I constantly remind Qod o f the promises o f Mis mercy. ‘When I see Mis anger, I throw myseCf trustingCy into the abyss o f Mis mercy, and I pCunge aCC (Poland in it, and then Me cannot use Mis justice. M y Country, how much you cost me! Pfiere is no day in which I do not pray fo r you." (Diary, Notebook III, para. 1188). Once more, she writes: “M y heCoved native (and, (Poland, i f you onCy knew how many sacrifices and prayers I offer to Cjodfo r you! (But he wa tch fu l and give glory to Qod, who lifts you up and singles you out in a special way. ‘But know how to he grateful.' (Diary, Notebook III, para. 1038). In 1938, a yea r before the outbreak of the Second World War. S ister F aus tina was more and more frequently asking he r s isters in religion and the ir wards to pray for Poland, saying th a t a long and dreadful war was coming. Undiscouraged by the ir general disbelief, she repea ted stubbornly, with un ­ shaken conviction and sometimes d ram atica horrified by he r vision ,"There will be a war... a terrible, terrible war." F a th e r Sopocko recalls: "She p itied the fate o f Poland, which she very much loved and for which she frequently prayed. Following the advice o f St. John o f the Cross, I almost always treated what S ister Faustina foretold in a neutral fashion, and asked for no details. In th is case also, I d id not ask what the fate o f Poland was to be that distressed her. She herself d id not say, but only sighed and pu t a hand her face to shu t out the threatening picture." (Archives of S.S.F., Recollections). 382