Sister Faustina Kowalska: Her LIfe and MIssion

Qod. I u h d spend aCCmy free moments at the fe e t o f the fMaster hidden in the 'Blessed Sacrament.' (Diary, Notebook I, para. 82). On the other hand , p raye r m u s t no t lead to the neglect of o ther duties. I t was necessary to find the m u tua l link between work and p rayer and to harmonise th e co-existence of the one with the other. S ister F au s tina knew how to perceive and in te rp re t h e r daily occupation in the ligh t of the aims of her Congregation. As a proud and joyful mumber she emphasises th a t "the Congregation has a special pa r t in the Redemp­ tion, because ju s t as Jesus came to look for that which was lost, so we in our work to save difficult and fa llen girls continue H is work o f seeking and saving souls.", (Archives of S.F., Recoil. S.Louise G.). Work, then , was an essen tia l fea tu re of the Congrega­ tion and was closely connected with th e very aim of its existence. This m ean t th a t i t often in terfered with its second aim, prayer. In theory p raye r pervaded every activity of the S isters, b u t for S ister F au s tin a th is was not yet sufficiently clear in practice. The in tensity of work prevented constan t though t of God. Of course there were qu ie ter hours which even perm itted the recital of the rosary or the Office, b u t they were succeeded by others when th e whole a tten tion was concentrated on work, and recollection of God escaped a m ind too engaged with th e needs of th e moment. S is te r F au s tina asked herself: how is i t possible p rac ti­ cally to pray through work and a t work? She m igh t never have learned how, i f i t were no t for th a t hunger for prayer she experienced so sharply. Her sp iritual in s tinc t told h e r th a t i t ought to be otherwise, th a t i t is necessary not only to offer th e in ten tion of the work to God, bu t to sa tu ra te the work with prayer. 400