Sister Faustina Kowalska: Her LIfe and MIssion

For some months, S ister Crescentia, as "angel gua r­ dian", kep t a close eye on all the triv ia l daily m a tte rs concerning S ister Fau s tina , and observed h e r with mounting in teres t, as S ister F au s tin a a t tra c ted he r greatly by the richness and in ten s ity of h e r religious life. The friendship had begun with S is te r Crescentia as the leader, b u t th is re la tionsh ip did not even las t through th e help she had been given; she in tu rn helped S ister Crescentia by sp iritua l counsel and prayer. After the novitiate was over, they were unab le to be so close. They did m eet in th e same houses of the Congregation, i t is true , b u t no t a t work, b u t th is had little effect on th e ir closeness, which remained as friendly and cordial as before. S is ter Crescentia re ta ined a vivid picture of S ister Faustina: "I was to introduce her to the rhythm o f the reli­ gious life... She understood everything quickly. I t was never necessary to tell her any th ing twice, as is usual w ith other novices... One could tell tha t she was different from a ll the other sisters. What distinguished her was her fidelity, punc tua lity and accuracy in everything she did, and not ju s t to please her super­ iors. Whether anyone was observing her or not, she was always fa i th fu l to her duties." (Archives of S.F., Recollections). S ister Crescentia also outlined the typical features of S is ter F au s tina ’s religiosity: "She heard Mass w ith concentration, seeing nothing around her... She had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament... When she was in fron t o f the tabernacle, she prayed fervently, gazing rad ian tly at the altar. In free moments a t work, she frequently ran to the chapel, to genuflect to Jesus... Jesu s in the Eucharist 416