b. The Divine Mercy_Divine Mercy-Sister Faustina 09/08/2011 11:40 Page 6
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DIVINE MERCY & SISTER FAUSTINA
In 1914, at the age of nine, Helena received Holy Communion for the first time. It was a source of great joy for her, which she wanted to share with everybody. On her way home from church afterwards, she did not accompany other girls but proceeded alone. Asked by a neighbour why she was walking all by herself, she answered: “The Lord Jesus is accompanying me.” From that day, Helena changed a great deal. “She always wanted to go to church, her mother recalled, she avoided company, and wanted to be left alone.” Their church was about two kilometres away, but because of housework, Helena was not often allowed to go there. Sunday mass was very important to her, she never wanted to miss it. But sometimes she was not able to attend, since there was only one mass in her parish church, and somebody had to stay at home to keep an eye on the household and the younger children. Besides, not all the children possessed so-called ‘Sunday clothes’ so they had to share. Another obstacle was the need to keep watch on the grazing cattle. This order was very strict. One day when it was Helena’s turn to do it, she got up quietly, very early while it was still dark, left home through a window, and took the cattle out to pasture. Later in the morning, her father was shocked to find the cow-shed wide open and the cattle missing. But before he had time to do anything, Helena came back with the cows, singing happily, because now, having done her