George Matulaitis Journal

113 our Congregation to Rome and to undertake both tasks. To me this seemed impossible, at least for the time being. In the end, he asked me to reconsider and to give him my final answer next Tuesday. He invit- ed me to dinner with him on Tuesday, indicating that, besides me, the other guests would be Father Grum and His Excellency Archbishop Teodorowicz. November 27 I went to the Sacred Congregation for Religious to see whether the necessary documents were prepared. It turned out that the Sacred Congregation was not working because that day a private consistory 1 was in session, during which the pope named new cardinals and bishops. Monsignor Sapieha was named Bishop of Kraków. The morning was free and so I spent the time in prayer at St. Peter’s Basilica, and in the presence of God pondered Monsignor Sapieha’s pro- posal. In prayer God gave me grace and light. I came to the conclusion that this was no time even to consider such a proposal because it would mean laying aside my present task and occupation. At least two years are absolutely necessary to place our Congregation on a firm foundation. I find it especially distasteful to be involved in diplomacy; it is much better to fol- low Christ along the way of quiet and unostentatious labor. Of course, being in a higher position means greater influence. But who is to say what sort of influence and whether it would be for the good? In the supernatural sphere God alone can judge where a person can do more for His greater glory. Often it is evident that persons in high positions have not done very much for God, while those more humbly placed have accomplished a great deal. I have even observed a person doing much good in an inferi- or position, who, when elevated to a higher post, did not fit in at all. Consequently, it is much better, abandoning oneself to God and to His holy will, to continue the work that has been started. In my free time I spoke with Father Grum about the needs of the Church and of our Congregation. I also went to see Father Saldra. Accompanied by Grum, I visited Potulicki, 2 Director of the Polish Hospicium. 3 I called on Monsignor Skirmunt, 4 whom I had met at 1 Consistorium: an assembly of cardinals, summoned at the discretion of the pope. Its function is promulgation rather than deliberation. At a private consistory, the pope names new cardinals, announces the appointment or transfer of bishops. 2 Adam Potulicki: Rector of the Polish Papal Institute (1910-1912). 3 Polish Papal Institute, founded in 1910 for priests studying in Rome. 4 Kazimierz Skirmunt (1861-1931): Polish priest from the Diocese of Kraków; he was responsible for informing the Vatican about the Catholic Church in Poland. After WWI, he worked at the Polish embassy at the Vatican.