Reflection image is from St. Faustina’s home. Born in the Heart of Poland St. Faustina was born in the small village of Glogowiec, Poland, near Lodz, on August 25, 1905. Two days later, Stanislaus Kowalski and his wife, Marianna, took their third child to nearby Swinice, where she was baptized “Helena” in the parish church of St. Casimir. One of 10 children of a poor farmer and carpenter, she knew what it was to live simply in a small cottage, doing chores around the house and working on the farm. She and her sisters took turns attending Mass on Sundays, sharing the one good dress they owned.
Religion was central to the Kowalski family. Stanislaus sang out his daily prayers early in the morning before work. While his daughter was young, he taught her short prayers and how to read the lives of saints and missionaries, Helen, as she was called by her family, was a gifted storyteller. She fascinated other children by repeating the stories to them. Her mother’s tender compassion and dedication to her husband and family also influenced the young girl.
Unusually drawn to spiritual pursuits, Helen was seven when she first heard a voice in her soul challenging her to a more perfect way of life (see Diary, 7). At the age of nine, she received her First Holy Communion.
Since Polish schools had been closed during the Russian occupation, Helen did not begin her primary education until age 12. Her schooling was cut off after two winters when officials decided to make room for younger students.
In the spring of 1921, in order to assist her parents, she went to work as a housemaid and baby-sitter in the town of Alexandrow. Her joyful spirit and natural gift of storytelling, combined with an innate skill in nurturing children, made her a favorite. Helen, however, was still drawn to a more spiritual life. After a year, she returned home and informed her parents that she wanted to join a convent. Neither paid attention to her pleas.
In the fall of 1922, Helen left home again, this time to work in Lodz. Her prayer life deepened, and she disciplined herself by fasting. The families she worked for were delighted with her goodness, helpfulness, and joyous laughter.