Lest You Remain

I NTRODUCTION “In the first place, there is the need for fidelity to the founding charism and sub- sequent spiritual heritage of each Institute. It is precisely in this fidelity to the inspi- ration of the founders and foundresses, an inspiration which is itself a gift of the Holy Spirit, that the essential elements of the consecrated life can be more readily discerned and more fervently put into practice” (John Paul II, Vita Consecrata , 36). While making visits to our religious houses, I became convinced of the neces- sity for the Marians to get to know more profoundly the person and writings of our Founder, the Servant of God Fr. Stanislaus Papczy < ski. That would consequently involve the expanding of our knowledge of the Founder’s original charism and lega- cy left to us, his spiritual sons. Many of the confreres who have come to know more closely the life and writings of Father Founder shared with me their fascination of his manner of faith and spiritual riches, which they discovered in his works. In view of the above, and—as we all hope for—Fr. Stanislaus Papczy < ski’s approaching beati- fication, urged the General Government to make additional efforts in promoting a deeper knowledge of the person and legacy of our Founder, which he left to his reli- gious community. Thus, hoping for a prompt beatification of our Founder, as well as responding to the need for a comprehensive learning and falling in love with our Marian reli- gious spirituality, I give you, Dear Confreres, this book in English, Spanish, Polish, and Portuguese. Parts of it will be also available in Lithuanian and Italian. This book is the fruit of the works of the Committee preparing the Congregation of the Marian Fathers for the beatification of our Founder. I established this Committee on October 7, 2005. The publication of this book is meant to assist, but not exclu- sively, individual prayers, meditations, and spiritual reading. It also contains mate- rials for monthly communal days of recollection and the vigils for the entire year. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you, Dear Confreres. May you bene- fit from its assistance! I particularly ask every Marian community to hold regular the days of recollection in the manner proposed by the Committee. Starting in January of 2007, each day of the month, designated communities worldwide will hold a day of recollection in spiritual unity with each other. If the designated day is not acceptable for the community for some reason, please hold it on another day, following, howev- er, the meditations prescribed for the particular month. I also strongly recommend that you daily read “Father Stanislaus Papczy < ski’s selected thoughts on religious life” before lunch or supper as your regular reading, as per each house’s custom.