blessed stanislaus papczyński - a holy man for our...

BLESSED

STANISLAUS PAPCZY¡SKI

a Holy Man for Our Time

Rafa∏ Zalewski, MIC

Stockbridge, Massachusetts – U.S.A.

2007

Copyright © 2007 Marians of the Immaculate Conception

Stockbridge, Massachusetts 01262, U.S.A.All rights reserved

Translated from Polish:Wies∏aw Âpiewak

Proofreading: David Came et al.

Project Coordination and Art Selection:Andrew R. Màczyƒski, MIC

Assistance with the Project:John L. Larson, MICDonald Schaefer, MIC

Layout:Marina Batiuk

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Biography ........................................................ 5

The Birth and Early Life of the Blessed............ 5

Religious Life .................................................... 7

Initial Difficulties in the Piarist Order ............ 8

The Test: Continuing Difficulties

and persecution ................................................ 9

Looking for God’s Inspirations ........................ 10

Founding the New Congregation...................... 12

Crisis and Hope................................................ 14

New Difficulties ................................................ 16

The Blessing Finally Comes ............................ 18

His Final Amen ................................................ 20

A Holy Man for Our Time ................................ 20

Decree on Miracle .......................................... 25

Appendix........................................................ 31Thoughts from Bl. Papczy<ski on the Blessed Virgin Mary ................................ 33Novena Prayer and Litany .............................. 37

BIOGRAPHY

THE BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE OF THE BLESSED

The year is 1631. A woman very close to giv-ing birth is in a boat, crossing the rushing watersof the Dunajec River in the heart of the S'deckaValley of Poland. A storm suddenly arises andcapsizes the boat. The woman falls into the water.Miraculously, she escapes with her life. Duringthe night from May 17 to 18, she gives birth to herson. Grateful for her deliverance and mindful of apromise she made, the woman offers the child toGod and entrusts him to Our Lady.

The child is Jan (“John” in English) Papka —the youngest of eight children of Sophia andThomas. He is baptized on the very same day inSt. James the Apostle Church in the rural regionof Podegrodzie. Thus, he begins the great adven-ture of his life dedicated to the Lord to whom hewill one day dedicate himself exclusively.

The future prominent theologian and philoso-pher, as well as esteemed preacher and orator,doesn’t initially show promise as a scholar. Hefaces great difficulties in learning the alphabet,and there is nothing to indicate that he will make

any meaningful academic progress in the immedi-ate future. So his parents take him out of school,and the young Janek (a diminutive like “Johnny”in English), instead of studying, pastures sheep.Yet, after a certain time, one of his father’s friendsin the country helps Janek, and unknown to hisparents, he returns to school. Thanks to the extra-ordinary intervention of God’s Providence, he isable to master the alphabet in just one day! Thus,his happy parents approve his further education.Janek finishes grammar school with great success.

Then he begins his more involved journey inhigher education — full of dangerous adventuresand difficult experiences through Nowy S'cz,Jaros=aw, Podoliniec, Lwów, and Rawa Mazo-wiecka, where he studies mainly at Jesuit col-leges. In the meantime, he changes his last nameto “Papczy<ski” as a sign of achieving a highersocial status. After finishing his Philosophy stud-ies at the age of 23, Janek returns home toPodegrodzie only to discover that his father hasbeen dead for a few years, leaving his mother awidow. The family rejoices at his return and soonfinds him a suitable match for a wife. But heinforms his family that he desires to dedicatehimself to the service of God — a call which hasmore and more clearly shaped his life.

6A HOLY MAN FOR OUR TIME

RELIGIOUS LIFE

In July 1654, Jan (John) enters the Piarist novi-tiate in Podoliniec. It is the beginning of 47 yearsin religious life. He receives the habit and takes thename of Stanislaus of Jesus Mary. After a year, hemoves to Warsaw for his theological studies andthere — on July 22, 1656 — makes his religiousvows. He takes an oath to persevere in the reli-gious community forever as the first Pole to enterafter the reform of this institute. In the samemonth, he receives minor orders and is ordained asubdeacon. After four years of theological studiesand preparation for teaching, at the beginning ofMarch of 1661, he is ordained a deacon and then apriest by Bishop Stanislaus Sarnowski in Brzozówin the Diocese of Przemy>l.

For a period of time Fr. Stanislaus teachesRhetoric in Rzeszów according to his own famousmanual, The Queen of Arts. Then he dedicateshimself to preaching and quickly gains generalesteem. In 1663, he is transferred to Warsawwhere he ministers as a preacher and also a con-fessor. For a few years, John III Sobieski, thefuture king of Poland, listens to his sermons. Thefuture monarch will later develop closer bondswith the Congregation of Marian Fathers. Themost famous of his penitents is the Apostolic Nun-

7Biography

cio to Poland, Antonio Pignatelli, who later be-comes Pope Innocent XII. In Warsaw as well, theyoung religious cleric writes some books that arethe fruit of his deep spiritual life and devotion tothe Passion of Christ. During his stay in Warsaw,Fr. Stanislaus also serves as an instructor at thePiarist College, directs the Confraternity of OurLady of Grace, and undertakes many successfulefforts towards the beatification of the founder ofthe Piarists, Fr. Joseph Calasantius.

INITIAL DIFFICULTIES IN THE PIARIST ORDER

But the splendid Warsaw years of Fr. Stanisla-us become the beginning of the end for his adven-ture with the Piarist Order. The young religious forwhom religious discipline and extreme evangelicalpoverty were of enormous importance — entersinto a very serious and acute conflict with his su-periors as he reproaches them for a lack of thesevalues. The defender of morality and faithfulnessto the rule cannot agree to certain practices sincethey are contradictory to the religious statutes andoften even sinful. This leads to him being stigma-tized and persecuted by some of his confreres and— what is more astounding and, on the other hand,sad — mainly by the major superiors of the order.Father Stanislaus does not receive the support of


his superiors, even though many of his confreresand numerous persons outside the order vouch forhis innocence, moral rectitude, and virtue. A prov-idential moment arrives when a papal brief per-mitts Piarist members to change from simple tosolemn vows or to depart without dispensation.For his own reasons, then, he does not make thesolemn profession as a Piarist. Instead, with hisheart torn in two, he decides to leave the order heloves. He passes over to the jurisdiction of theBishop of Cracow who welcomes him joyfullyamong the clergy of his diocese and provides sup-port for him, even giving him shelter.

THE TEST:CONTINUING DIFFICULTIES AND PERSECUTION

But the superiors do not want to recognize asvalid the decisions of Fr. Papczy<ski and of Bi-shop Trzebicki for his transfer to the jurisdictionof the Cracow ordinary. Even if this decision is inagreement with the law, they try to brand their pastconfrere as a rebel who has left the order withoutproper authorization. Finally they decide to kid-nap Fr. Stanislaus. This is done by the Provincialhimself, who uses some Orthodox ruffians andalmost causes the death of Fr. Stanislaus.

9Biography

Abducted while scantily clothed, he is trans-ported in an open cart more than a hundred kilo-meters during a severe frost. Then he is imprisonedin the dark cell of a monastery. Even though he ishalf-dying and seriously injured from the trip —he is not allowed to receive the Sacrament of theAnointing of the Sick and Holy Communion. He isnot even allowed to have any visitors. After a shorttime, he is taken on another difficult expedition.This one is of several hundred kilometers and takeshim far away from the Polish border, so that theBishop of Cracow cannot claim him as his subject.

Finally, after many trials and difficulties, Fr.Stanislaus decisively and forever leaves theOrder of Our Lady of the Pious Schools onDecember 11, 1670. Yet he keeps in his heart thesixteen years he has lived in this institute.

LOOKING FOR GOD’S INSPIRATIONS

The day of his departure from the Piarists is forFr. Stanislaus simultaneously the beginning of anew adventure. He does not want to renounce reli-gious life, So, during the same ceremony for hisleaving the Piarists, he makes a solemn pronounce-ment before witnesses called an Oblatio (oblation):


“In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified.Amen. I, Stanislaus of Jesus Mary Papczy<ski (…)dedicate and consecrate to God, the AlmightyFather, to the Son and the Holy Spirit, and to theMother of God, ever Virgin Mary conceived with-out the original sin, my heart, my soul (…), mybody, without leaving anything for myself, in orderto be from now on totally a servant of the AlmightyGod and of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore, Icommit to serve Them in chastity and ardor to theend of my life in the Society of the Marian Fathersof the Immaculate Conception — that I want tofound with the grace of God.” He also vows reli-gious obedience and poverty, makes a professionof faith, and takes the “vow of blood” in which hecommits to defending the honor of MaryImmaculate “even at the price of his life.”

Father Stanislaus refuses the beneficial offersof bishops and several religious orders dedicatedto Our Lady. Further, since he does not see thepossibility of accomplishing his desire to foundhis community in the Diocese of Cracow, he goesto Lubocza, on the Pilica River where he acceptsa chaplaincy at the court of the Karski Family, anoble family of Poland. In September 1671, Fa-ther Stanislaus takes the white habit that is tosymbolize the immaculate purity of the Mother

11Biography

of God, which he wants to imitate to the end of hislife. He also receives the blessing of the ApostolicNuncio, Angelo Ranucci. During the two years ofhis stay with the Karski family, he spreads devo-tion to Mary Immaculate and continuously deep-ens his own relationship with God. FatherStanislaus experiences many graces and extraordi-nary signs, such as levitation and the gift of thehealing. Very quickly he gets the nickname of the“holy priest.”

At Lubocza, Fr. Stanislaus dedicates a lot ofhis time to writing. Among the fruits of theseefforts are The Mystical Temple of God and TheRule of Life (Norma vitae), which will become theconstitutions of the Marian Fathers, the communi-ty that he will found.

FOUNDING THE NEW CONGREGATION

Taking the advice of his spiritual director andclose friend, Fr. Francis Wilga, the Cameldolite,Fr. Papczy<ski decides not to ask the Holy See toapprove the community that he has founded — orrather, planned — until he has attracted compan-ions to follow his rule of life and has found a placewhere they can live in community. Thus, in the fall


of 1672, he arrives at Puszcza Korabiewska, a dis-tance of about seventy kilometers from Lubocza,where he finds Stanislaus Krajewski and twoother fellows who have been living for severalyears in a hermitage built by them in the forest.Father Stanislaus first hesitates but, after a certainamount of time, invites Krajewski to Lubocza.There Krajewski expresses his readiness to jointhe founding work, makes his oblatio, and takesthe white habit. Then, after having obtained theappropriate permissions, Fr. Stanislaus himselfdecides to settle in this hermitage with Krajewskiand the others. This is how Puszcza Korabiewska,called later after its “white” inhabitants, PuszczaMaria<ska, begins in October 1673. It becomesthe cradle of the first order founded on Polish soilthat is purely Polish in origin and founded by aPole — a male religious order — the Congreg-ation of Marian Fathers.

But it quickly becomes clear that the every-day life of the fellows of Stanislaus Krajewskihas very little to do with austerity and eremiticalpenance. So they are not found to be suitablecandidates for religious life. Providentially, forFr. Papczy<ski, on October 24, 1673, BishopJacek Íwi"cicki makes a canonical visitation tothe hemitage. Realizing how the inhabitants have

13Biography

wrongly imagined the eremitical life, the Bishopfirst wants them to simply leave. But Fr. Sta-nislaus persuades the Bishop to allow them tostay under the condition that they will absolutelysubmit to the very austere rules, which he leavestogether with his post-visitation report.

This act, written by the Bishop, has enormousimportance since it constitutes the approval of thenew institute whose superior — beginning withthis moment — is none other than Fr. StanislausPapczy<ski. October 24, 1673, is then a signifi-cant date for the Marian Fathers since it is consid-ered the beginning of the existence of their order.

CRISIS AND HOPE

Soon the majority of the “hermits” leave.Now only Krajewski — who from the moment ofhis investiture in the white habit has taken thenew name of John of the Immaculate Conception— remains with Fr. Stanislaus. The beginningsof the new community then are difficult not onlybecause of the lack of good candidates for thecommunity, but also because of the eremiticalstatus given to the new congregation by BishopÍwi"cicki. Father Stanislaus desires that his insti-


tute get involved in apostolic works. But that ismade difficult, if not impossible, due to a strict-ly eremitical way of life.

Meanwhile, by the toil of their hands, thefirst Marian Fathers build a retreat house and achapel, which they dedicate to the ImmaculateConception and to St. Michael the Archangel.Ten years later, in its main altar, they place thepicture of Our Lady given to Fr. Papczy<ski inLubocza.

However, Krajewski is unhappy with the newsituation and leaves the congregation. For a time,the Founder remains alone. Facing a personal cri-sis over his call to found a new order, Fr. Stani-slaus considers returning to the Piarists. He evenasks to be accepted back, but his return is notapproved. After some time, new candidates beginto come who are more suited to religious life.Therefore, the crisis passes and the new congre-gation grows, though slowly.

It’s the personal holiness of Fr. Stanislaus thatbegins to attract many people, so his witnessinspires new vocations to the congregation. Thegrowing number of brothers allows the congrega-tion to open another monastery. Responding to the

15Biography

invitation of Bishop Stefan Wierzbowski, Fr. Sta-nislaus chooses New Jerusalem (Góra Kalwaria)as the place for the new foundation. There hereceives St. Martin’s Chapel and later the Churchof the Lord’s Supper (the Cenacle). Shortly afteropening the new house (1677), at the request ofthe Bishop, Fr. Stanislaus moves to Góra. He willnow stay there until his death in 1701.

Alas, there are difficulties here also. In spiteof the general hospitality of the majority of thepopulation, Fr. Papczy<ski himself and someother brothers become the butt of many tauntsand jeers. They are even assaulted and beaten.Some go so far as to threaten to kill them. But theMarian Fathers patiently put up with everything.After a certain time, they receive the fame ofbeing holy men. And the greatest attention onthis score goes to Fr. Stanislaus.

NEW DIFFICULTIES

Shortly after his arrival at Góra, the Founderrenews his efforts to obtain papal approval for hiscongregation. The first step for accomplishingthis is the confirmation of the community on thepart of Bishop Wierzbowski, who is actually


well-disposed to the Marian Fathers. Therefore,the congregation becomes an order under dioce-san law, fully dependent on the ordinary of theplace. Bishop Wierzbowski renews his approvalbefore his death. However, a difficulty ariseswith his successor, Bishop John Witwicki. At thistime, many objections are made against theMarian Fathers, and the Bishop thinks about dis-solving the community. He initially sides withthe opponents of Fr. Papczy<ski. But the Bishopis won over by the sincerity of Fr. Papczy<ski’sintention and by one of his writings. He takes amore careful look at the accusations and finallyfinds them unfounded, rejecting them.

However, Fr. Stanislaus understands well thatthe congregation cannot feel safe as long as it doesnot obtain papal approval. Such approval is alsonecessary in order to have the privilege of takingsolemn vows, which will stop confreres from leav-ing the order without a serious reason.

In the late fall of 1690, Fr. Stanislaus leaves forRome to seek papal recognition of the order. Likeeverything else up to this point in his life, hisefforts meet with further obstacles. He reaches theEternal City only in February of the next year aftera long and difficult journey of walking there.

17Biography

A painful surprise waits for him: Pope AlexanderVIII dies a few days before his arrival, and it is evi-dent that the election of a successor will take time.

Father Papczy<ski makes all necessary effortsconcerning the planned work, but he cannot counton getting papal approval until the next Pope iselected. To his chagrin, the conclave is the longestone in the 17

thcentury, with the Cardinals unable

to reach a decision. Finally, because of hisimpaired health and a lack of hope in accomplish-ing his project, he leaves Rome while the HolySee is still vacant. The day after his departure, thenew Pope is elected. The Cardinals entrust theoffice of St. Peter to Cardinal Antonio Pignatelli.He is well known to Papczy<ski as the formerApostolic Nuncio to Poland and his penitent. Thenew Pope chooses the name of Innocent XII. ButFr. Stanislaus does not know about this andreturns to his homeland. Then he sends the appro-priate petitions to Rome one after another, yet formany years they do not bring any results.

THE BLESSING FINALLY COMES

In the fall of 1698, Papczy<ski decides toattempt again to obtain papal approval, but this


time he does not go in person. Instead, he sendsFr. Joachim Koz=owski. Father Joachim stays inRome for a long time, but he is still unsuccessfulin obtaining papal approval because he must sub-mit, again and again, further documents and let-ters of recommendation. Finally, after longmonths of effort, the Holy Father Innocent XII,with the act “Exponi nobis nuper” announcesthat the Marian Fathers are to be approved under“the Rule of the Ten Virtues of the Blessed VirginMary” and are joined to the Order of the Reform-ed Franciscans. The main goal is achieved,though not strictly according to the previoushopes, because the congregation is not con-firmed on the basis of the Norma Vitae writtenby Fr. Stanislaus.

After almost three years of absence, Fr. Joa-chim returns to the Cenacle in the spring of 1701and announces the joyful news. The Founderquickly observes that the rule offered to theMarian Fathers agrees entirely with the one that hewrote and corresponds fully to his vision of thecongregation. With enormous joy, he accepts it.Then, on June 6, 1701, he makes his solemn vowsbefore the Apostolic Nuncio. Less than a monthlater, he receives the vows of his confreres.

19Biography

HIS FINAL AMEN

Many times in his life, Fr. Stanislaus hasbeen very seriously ill and in danger of dying,but God’s Providence rescues him from everyoppression and difficulty. Nevertheless, in thesummer of 1701, the final suffering comes tohim, which will bring him to his eternal homeland. Keeping in mind the work he hasaccomplished, Fr. Stanislaus of Jesus Mary dieson September 17. Happy and serene, he is sur-rounded by the love and prayer of his spiritualsons. Now he has passed to the Lord to receivehis eternal award — his final amen to God’s willfor his life.

A HOLY MAN FOR OUR TIME

What could Fr. Papczy<ski say to our con-temporary world? Has this man who lived in the17

th century so different from ours any message

for the modern people of the 21st

century — thecentury of computers and cell phones, of a glob-al economy and space travel? How should wetalk about the Founder of the Marian Fathers? Inwhich ways can we imitate him and what can welearn from him?


If we think about it, we will notice that thisholy man has several common elements and con-nections with our own time.

The 17th

century was extremely important forPoland but difficult as well. The Poles faced nu-merous conflicts and fought several wars with dif-ferent enemies: Sweden, Turkey, Russia, Branden-burgen, Transylvania, and the Cossacks. In thesebattles, many people lost their lives and quiteoften were not prepared for death. Moreover, therewere plagues that decimated the ranks of society.

Simultaneously, the 17th

century was markedby moral decline, debauchery, and drunkenness— both among the nobility and in the lowerclasses. Father Stanislaus saw all this disordersince he was an astute observer of society, whowas very realistic about the human conditiondespite his mystic experiences. He founded theCongregation of Marian Fathers to free soulsfrom purgatory. In his pastoral work, he wouldturn toward the poorest and most neglected. Atthe same time, he would maintain contact withthe great and powerful of this world, includingthe kings of Poland. He noticed how much thechildren and youth needed education and howthey did not have a chance to obtain it because of

21Biography

their social status. Seeing the enormous threatfrom alcoholism, he forbade his confreres theuse of any [strong or burning] alcohol under thethreat of “losing God’s blessing.”

Is it really so difficult to translate all thesethings into our times?

The departure from moral values is perhapseven more noticeable today. Young people drinkalcohol in excess, and we all know the tragedy offamilies broken or heavily burdened by the drunk-enness of their members. Perhaps never before astoday, are so many people being killed in acci-dents, cataclysms, wars, and terrorist attacks.Thousands of children are dying from hungerevery day in different parts of the world. Childrenand youth need more educational opportunities,especially those whose parents are not able to pro-vide for them the future which they dream aboutand desire.

Father Stanislaus is also a model of a person ofuncommon social sensibility, lending a helpinghand to the poor of his times — especially to the“new poor,” that is, those persons touched by var-ious addictions and unable to face the difficultiesof everyday life. He was a great apostle of sobri-


ety, a promoter of God’s mercy, and a model oflove towards the Church. His concern was notonly for those here on earth in pilgrimage to thehouse of the Father, but also for those who areundergoing purification, Thus, Fr. Stanislaus is amodel of fervent prayer for the souls in purgatory.

For the Marians of the Immaculate Concept-ion, Fr. Papczy<ski, above all, will always be theFather Founder. Without his faith, trust, courage,and careful discernment of God’s will, this com-munity would not have existed in the Church, norwould any of the works that have been accom-plished by it. He is an important model of imitat-ing Jesus Christ and his Immaculate Mother, too.Father Stanislaus exemplifies the love for OurLady and Marian devotion that the MarianFathers practice and teach to the faithful —among other places at the shrines in Liche<,Stoczek Klasztorny, and Fatima.

He is a great example of apostolic zeal bybringing to all people the Good News of God’slove for every human being. In Jesus Christ, theSon of God, suffering, crucified, and risen,Father Stanislaus proclaimed the gift of new life,renewed by the Sacraments and the Word of God.He proclaimed this new life in Christ first in its

23Biography

eternal, supernatural dimensions, but also intemporal life, which is fragile and delicate. Heunderstood and appreciated human life as a greatgift of the Creator from its first moment in thewomb of the mother to its natural end at death.

Nothing that Fr. Stanislaus Papczy<ski hasdone and lived is out of date today. Nothing haslost its meaning and ceased to be important. Onthe contrary, the reality is that the values thatwere important for the Founder of the MarianFathers are some of the most essential elementsfor building a good and wise life for humanbeings in the 21st century. We are convinced thatFr. Stanislaus is truly “a Holy Man for OurTime.”


Top of the opposite page:This is the oldest extant portrait of Bl. Stanislaus

Papczy<ski. It was painted by an anonymous artistaround the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. It is housed

in the Marian monastery in Skórzec. To this day nobody is certain of the meaning of

the Latin letters in the painting placed above Father Founder’s head. Scholars have proposed

a few different sayings in Latin as possible solutions.

Bottom of the opposite page:Below: Authentic signature of Bl. Stanislaus Papczy<ski.

THE CONGREGATIONFOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

ARCHDIOCESE OF POZNAˆ̂

THE BEATIFICATION AND CANONIZATION CAUSE

OF THE VENERABLE SERVANT OF GOD

STANISLAUS OF JESUS AND MARY

(in the world: John Papczy<ski)

PRIEST AND FOUNDER OF THE CONGREGATION OF MARIAN FATHERS

OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE MOST B.V.M.

(1631 – 1701)

THE DECREE CONCERNING A MIRACLE

The Venerable Servant of God Stanislaus ofJesus and Mary (in the world: John Papczy<ski)was born on May 18, 1631 in the town of Pode-grodzie, of the Archdiocese of Krak[w, in Po-land. Having entered the Order of the Poor Cle-

rics Regular of the Pious Schools of the Motherof God, he pronounced the religious vows andwas admitted to the order of priesthood. Upontaking leave of the Order, he founded the Con-gregation of Marian Fathers of the ImmaculateConception of the Most B.V.M., for the spread-ing of devotion to the Immaculate Mother ofGod, for assisting pastors in pastoral ministry,and for commending to God in prayer soulsdetained in purgatory. He fell asleep in the Lord’speace on September 17, 1701.

The Supreme Pontiff John Paul II declaredon June 13, 1992, that the Servant of God exer-cised the virtues to a heroic degree.

2

The Postulation of the Cause recently submit-ted to examination by this Congregation for theCauses of Saints an extraordinary healing claimedto be miraculous, that regarded an infant whichMrs. N.N., residing in Poland, in the city of N. wascarrying in her womb. In the year 2000, the samewoman had a first pregnancy that ended with aspontaneous miscarriage. In the month of Febru-


ary of the following year she came into a newpregnancy which, on the 22nd of March, alsoalmost ended in a miscarriage. For this reason shewas admitted to a hospital where three ultrasoundswere performed, from which the latest, performedon March 30th, clearly evidenced the vitality of thefetus and the normal state of the fetal sac. She wasdischarged the same day; however, on the first dayof April, on account of increasing abdominalpains, she was compelled to return again to thehospital. From the ultrasound examinations it wasdetected that the fetus had no heartbeat, for whichreason the diagnosis stated was “an internal mis-carriage.” In addition, the fetal sac appeared to bemore reduced in comparison to the size observedduring the first days. Meanwhile, from March 28on, several members of the woman’s family andother persons began to invoke divine help throughthe intercession of the Servant of God Stanislausof Jesus and Mary in order to obtain a favorableoutcome. On April 4th a further ultrasound unex-pectedly revealed the fetus to have regained aheartbeat. This event was immediately judged tohave come about beyond the powers of nature. OnOctober 7th the child was born alive and viable.

27Decree on Miracle

Regarding this occurrence, which is consid-ered to be a miracle, there was instituted duringthe years 2003-2004 in the Curia of N. the Dioce-san Investigation, the juridical validity of whichthis Dicastery confirmed by means of the decreepublished on the May 7, 2004. The Congregation’sMedical Consultation, in the session of May 12,2005, declared that the unexpected resumption ofpregnancy after a spontaneous internal miscar-riage — verified by ultrasound documents,including the fact of the development toward theresulting natural conclusion of birth, without neg-ative consequences to the fetus — cannot beexplained by means of the laws of science.

3

On September 20th that same year there tookplace the Meeting of the Theologians Consultors,and on May 2, 2006 the Ordinary Session of theFathers Cardinals and Bishops, during which thePonens of the Cause was His Excellency LinoFumagalli, Bishop of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto.Then on the following October 3rd anotherOrdinary Session was held. And in both Meet-ings, whether of the Consultors or the Cardinals


and Bishops, the doubt having been raisedwhether there is certainty about a miracle havingbeen performed by divine intervention, there wasgiven an affirmative response.

Finally, an accurate report about all thesethings having been made to the Supreme PontiffBenedict XVI by the undersigned CardinalPrefect, His Holiness, accepting and officiallyconfirming the recommendations of TheCongregation For The Causes Of Saints, this daydeclared: “It is acknowledged as a miracle per-formed by God through the intercession of theVenerable Servant of God Stanislaus of Jesus andMary (in the world: John Papczy<ski), Priest andFounder of the Congregation of Marian Fathers ofthe Immaculate Conception of the Most B.V.M.,namely, ‘the unexpected resumption of pregnancyby Mrs. N.N, at the 7th-8th week of gestation, fol-lowing a spontaneous interruption caused by an“internal miscarriage” documented by ultrasound,with the subsequent development toward the nor-mal result of the birth, without negative conse-quences for the fetus which was born alive andviable on October 17, 2001.”

This decree, moreover, the Supreme Pontiffordered to be published and entered into the

29Decree on Miracle

Register of the Acts of the Congregation of theCauses of Saints.

Given at Rome, on the 16th day of the monthof December A.D. 2006.


APPENDIX

THOUGHTS FROM BLESSED STANISLAUS

PAPCZYˆ̂SKI ON THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

From Orator Crucifixus(The Crucified Preacher)

An expositionon the seven last words of Jesus from the Cross.

WORD III OF THE CRUCIFIED PREACHER

“He said to his mother, ‘Woman, there is yourson.’ In turn he said to the disciple, ‘There isyour Mother’” (John 19: [26-27]).

The most merciful Virgin Mary is the Motherof sinners. They, in the person of John, weregiven to her as sons by the Redeemer.

Remain hopeful, sinners! The crucified Jesushands over His Church to His most mercifulMother. And I have in mind the Church “inwhich — as Gregory the Great accounts — thegood are mixed with the bad, the condemnedwith the chosen.”

We should assume that, in this way, our Lordentrusted in the person of John, to the Virgin even

you, the evil ones, together with the good: He gaveHer to you as a merciful Mother. “Jesus said to hismother, ‘Woman, there is (pointing to any one ofus, both good and bad) your son. In turn he said tothe disciple: (undeniably any man, the just togeth-er with the sinner) ‘There is your Mother’”...

Oh, the strongest and most merciful Tower ofrefuge! Under your protection, a sinner does nothave to fear anything, anything! Oh, Mother, moremerciful than we can say or think! When the sin-ful sons of Adam came to hide in your lap, theyare free from fear and the danger of eternal death.They receive the assurance of a happy eternity.

In fact, our God, whose goodness and mercyknows no limits, so as not to be bound to punishor destroy us, in our shameful falls, according tothe rule of his justice; He gave us, in His care, theVirgin Mary as our advocate with Him, just asHe used to give Esther to the Jews... Esther, thisdeliverer of the Jews, is a type of the Virgin, mostmerciful Queen of heaven and earth, Advocate ofsinners...

Some time ago, [God] already spoke aboutthis to Catherine of Siena [through private reve-lation]: “Mary, a glorious Mother of my only


Son, out of My goodness, for the respect of theIncarnate Word, was given this, so that not onejust or sinful person, who with a pious respect,runs to Her, will by any means be torn to piecesor devoured by the infernal demon. Since Shewas chosen by Me, prepared and given out as thetastiest bait to catch people, especially sinners.”

BLESSED STANISLAUS PAPCZYˆ̂SKI

ON PRAYING FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY

Pray ernestly to God for the freedom of thesouls remaining in purgatory... Quite impiousand foolish is he who is not moved by their tor-ments, and does not help those who suffer whenhe can... I am greatly amazed how it is possiblethat a Christian does not begin to feel deeply theentreaty of these souls who cry aloud in thesewords: “Pity me, pity me, O you my friends!” (Jb19:21). What about the fact that we shall have inheaven as many Patrons and helpers as manysouls we have brought there, thanks to our help,from the furnace of purgatory! (Mystical Templeof God, 115-116),

35Bl. Stanislaus’s Thoughts on the Blessed Virgin Mary

NOVENA

FOR A SPECIAL GRACE THROUGH THE INTERCESSION

OF BLESSED STANISLAUS PPAAPPCCZZYYˆ̂SSKKII

At the beginning, ask for the grace you are seeking,

being ready to accept God’s will

FIRST DAYThe Mighty One has done great things for me (Lk 1:49)

Almighty God, look upon Your ServantBlessed Stanislaus who, in the Order that hefounded, undertook with such great zeal thework of spreading the honor of the ImmaculateConception of the Mother of Your Son, grant usthe grace that we may continually praise You forall things that You have done for Your Saints andallow us to lead a life in the state of friendshipwith You and unmarred purity.

PRAYER FOR A SPECIAL GRACE

O God, our Father, in Your unfathomable Pro-vidence, You gave us in the person of BlessedStanislaus a successful intercessor before Yourthrone. Kindly grant me (us) through his inter-cession the grace …., for which I am asking (we

are asking) You, and please cause that I (we) mayfaithfully fulfill Your most holy will in followinghis example. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.Our Father… Hail, Mary… Glory be to the Father…

PRAYER FOR BL. STANISLAUS’S CANONIZATION

Most holy and undivided Trinity, You choose tomake Your home in the hearts of Your faithful ser-vants, and, after their death, to reward their meritswith the glory of heaven. Bring it about, we ask,that Blessed Stanislaus, who, enraptured by themystery of the Immaculate Conception of theMother of God, progressed with such fidelity andso sacrificially towards personal sanctity, and whomade every effort to introduce and preserve theKingdom of God in the hearts of his neighbors, beadded without delay to the company of the Saints.Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SECOND DAYHis mercy is from age to age (Lk 1:50)

O God, Righteous Judge, look upon YourServant Blessed Stanislaus who generously andin many ways provided assistance to the Souls inPurgatory, grant that we may zealously followhim in this noble work of mercy, especially forour dearest ones and those who most need ourspiritual assistance.


Prayer for a special grace

Our Father… Hail, Mary… Glory be to the Father…

Prayer for Bl. Stanislaus’s Canonization

THIRD DAYHe has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant

of mind and heart (Lk 1:51)

O Jesus, our Redeemer and Master, lookupon Your Servant Blessed Stanislaus who usedevery opportunity to proclaim the Word of Godand to bring spiritual support to people deprivedof pastoral care, grant us the grace that we mayattract other people to God through word and theexample of our own striving for holiness.Prayer for a special grace



FOURTH DAYHe has thrown down the rulers from their thrones (Lk 1:52)

O Holy Spirit, look upon Your Servant BlessedStanislaus who firmly defended the Catholic faiththroughout his life and showed a readiness to pro-fess it through his own martyr’s death, grant us thegrace that we may continue to grow in faith andcourageously profess it in every circumstance.Prayer for a special grace



39Novena Prayer and Litany


FIFTH DAYThe hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has

sent away empty (Lk 1:53)

O God our Father, look upon Your ServantBlessed Stanislaus who believed in the help ofYour Providence and by Your inspiration, in spiteof many obstacles, founded and consolidated theCongregation of the Immaculate Conception ofthe Most Blessed Virgin Mary, grant us the gracethat we may distinguish ourselves with unyieldingtrust in Your omnipotence, goodness, and fidelity,particularly when You lead us on the thorny roadtowards the wonderful promises of Your love.Prayer for a special grace



SIXTH DAYBlessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy (Mt 5:7)

Oh God, Father of Mercy, look upon YourServant Blessed Stanislaus whose love for Youhas been most eloquently expressed in his dailysacrificial practice of deeds of mercy, grant usthe grace that we may always generously imitatehim in the act of active love for our neighbor.Prayer for a special grace



SEVENTH DAYWhoever listens to you, listens to me (Lk 10:16)

O Lord, You are a faithful God, look uponYour Servant Blessed Stanislaus who alwaysconducted his life and his works in a filial sub-mission to the Successor of St. Peter, grant us thegrace that we may preserve our faithfulness toGod, the Cross, and the Gospels through our per-fect obedience to the Church.Prayer for a special grace



EIGHTH DAYBlessed are the poor in spirit, for their is the kingdom of

heaven (Mt 5:3)

O Lord, You who love us, look upon YourServant Blessed Stanislaus who voluntarily tookupon himself a rigorous life of mortification inutmost poverty in order to offer himself to Youwith his whole heart and soul, grant us the gracethat we may courageously withstand the desire ofmoney and sinful pleasures, continuously striv-ing for freedom of spirit in Your truth and love.Prayer for a special grace





NINTH DAYTake courage, it is I (Mt 14:27)

O God, everything takes its beginning fromYou, and to You everything returns, look uponYour Servant Blessed Stanislaus who, by theexample of his life, gave us a model of completeentrustment to Your holy Providence, grant us thegrace that we may confidently place into Yourmerciful hands, our past and future, our entirelife, allowing You to lead us to Your house inHeaven on the Gospel path.Prayer for a special grace


Notice: it is recommended that this novena, recited for a par-

ticular intention, be complemented by Confession and Holy

Communion.


43

FROM THE WRITINGS

OF BL. STANISLAUS PAPCZYˆ̂SKI

Are you sad? Call Jesus and He will comfortyou. Are you attacked? Call Jesus and He willdefend you. Do you want to be saved? Love Jesus,follow Him, adore Him: Jesus is the Savior. Areyou poor? Run to Jesus and He will make yourich. Are you naked? Ask Jesus and He will clotheyou. Are you ill? Beg Jesus and He will heal you.Are you uneducated? Jesus is the Teacher. Are yousurrounded by vices? Jesus is the Lord of virtues.Are you sinful? Jesus came to save sinners.

May Jesus be your contemplation, your love,your joy, your strength, your life, your heaven.There is nothing in the entire world and in all ofheaven more valuable than Jesus, so there is noth-ing more worthy of love. Give yourself entirely toJesus and the entire Jesus will be yours.

(Inspectio Cordis)

More information about Bl. StanislausPapczy<ski is available at:

www.stanislawpapczynski.org


INTERCESSION OF

BLESSED STANISLAUS PAPCZYˆ̂SKI

During his lifetime, Fr. Stanislaus Papczy<-ski was regarded by many as a special intercessorbefore God. Looking at this holy life, permeatedwith prayer, penance, and the thirst to knowGod’s will, they became convinced of finding inhim an efficient intercessor before God. Theyoften asked him to pray for their intentions, espe-cially in the case of seriously ill people, and theyobtained help. According to witnesses’ testi-monies, there were even instances of resurrectionof dead children during Holy Masses celebratedby Fr. Papczy<ski.

Numerous graces obtained by people whocame to pray at Fr. Stanislaus’s tomb brought himthe title of “renowned for miracles.” The MarianFounder was thus described by the CoronationDiet of King Stanislaus Poniatowski in 1764, inits petition to the Holy See for his beatification.

And this hasn’t changed during the pastthree centuries! In times favorable for the faith inPoland and Europe or in times of persecutions;when his tomb was easily accessible to the faith-ful or when it remained locked up and deserted,streams of unusual graces kept flowing down on


45

those who recurred to his intercession. What ismore, during the last decade one could easilynotice the growing devotion to Bl. Stanislaus notonly in Poland, but also on the American conti-nent and in Africa.

Testimonies coming from different parts ofthe world suggest that particular prayerful helpwas given by Bl. Stanislaus to childless families,women with troubled pregnancy, addicts, dys-functional families, and children and youth withlearning disabilities.

We trust that as a new Blessed, Fr. Stanislaus,always so sensitive to human misery, willbecome our effective intercessor before God.

Novena Prayer and Litany

LITANY TO BLESSED

STANISLAUS OF JESUS AND MARY PAPCZYˆ̂SKI(for private devotion)

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord haveMercy.Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,God, the Holy Spirit,Holy Trinity, One God,

Holy Mary, Immaculate Mother and Queen ofthe Marian Congregation, pray for us.Blessed Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczy<ski,Lover of the Cross of Christ,Living likeness of the suffering Christ,Willing to accept martyrdom for Christ and the faith,Adorer of the Most Blessed Sacrament,Submissive to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit,Chosen son of the Immaculate Virgin Mary,Propagator of the mystery of the ImmaculateConception,Faithful imitator of the virtues of theImmaculate Mother of Christ,Founder of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception,


Apostle of the love of God and of neighbor,Man of great trust,Model of purity, poverty, and obedience,Zealous defender of evangelical poverty,Model of a life of continuous conversion and penitence,Servant of the Divine Mercy,Zealous intercessor for the suffering Souls in Purgatory,Companion to the dying on the battlefield,Solicitous friend of the poor,Apostle of temperance,Prudent director in matters of conscience,Master of prayer and the spiritual life,Tireless herald of the word of God,Teacher of the truths of faith and ways of holiness,Promoter of peace and unity,Defender of the newly conceived life,Intercessor before God,Trusted guide to the House of the Father,Rejoicing with Christ and the ImmaculateVirgin in heaven,

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the word. Spare us, O Lord.Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the word. Hear us, O Lord.Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the word. Have mercy on us.



V. Behold a faithful and wise servant,R. Whom the Lord rewarded with glory.

Let us pray:O God, you called Your servant Blessed Stanislausof Jesus and Mary to spread the honor of the Im-maculate Mother of Your Son and to assist the de-ceased undergoing purification, grant, we pray,that after his example and through his intercessionwe may strive for holiness through deeds ofmercy, and so give you glory. Through Christ OurLord. Amen.

blessed stanislaus papczyński - a holy man for our...

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