Saint Maria Faustina is the daughter of Stanislaus and Marianna Kowalska, born Helena Kowalska on the 25th day of August in the village of Glogowiec, Lodz Province, Poland. She was the third of ten children. At the age of seven, Helena received a definite call of God to religious life, though she didn't understand what religious life was. She completed two years in elementary school. The Russians had closed the schools in their Polish territory, so the Kowalski children had to be taught at home.  Helena began employment at the age of 14. She worked as a maid and a babysitter. Her parents knew from an early age that Helena was different from the rest of her siblings she was very helpful, even-tempered and obedient. Her parents were very poor and did not want to let Helena go to the convent. At the age of 17, she was determined to serve God as a nun; she went to several convents to get accepted. She finally was conditionally accepted for admission to the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw.