Lest You Remain

P REPARATIONS FOR F R . S TANISLAUS P APCZY ˆ SKI ’ S B EATIFICATION P ROGRAM OF P REPARATIONS Introduction The beatification of our Founder ought to become for all members of our Congregation a special time for renewal of their religious life, and specifically of the charism of the order that Fr. Papczy < ski founded. When the Church beatifies a person, she makes him/her a model of the Christian life for us. And this person becomes all the more a role model for all those who entered the same “way of life” that was initiated by the new Blessed, through founding this religious community. Naturally, the renewal ought to have both personal and communal aspects. Thus, all our efforts in preparation for the beatification, as well as during the post-beatification year, ought to be directed towards the revival of our faith through the action of the Holy Spirit, as Fr. Papczy < ski experienced in his time. Further- more, our priority is to get all the Marians interested in Fr. Papczy < ski’s spirituali- ty and in the charism of his Congregation, as seen by Fr. Papczy < ski. After all, it is the charism of every one of us. We shall also try to define what Fr. Founder’s beat- ification means to us today, communally and individually. Because we are the Marians, thus we are Fr. Papczy < ski’s spiritual sons. His beatification becomes a personal matter for each of us. In a broad sense, our actions ought to contribute above all to the renewal of our personal charisms and of our entire religious com- munity. A renewed and more profound reflection on the charism that Fr. Papczy < ski lived out, and which he wanted the Congregation that he has founded to live by, would be greatly desirable for the entire Congregation. Next we need to take actions directed at making Fr. Papczy < ski and his lega- cy more well known among other people, starting with those who are participating in our charism and mission: Associations of the lay faithful (AMH, EADM, and the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception), as well as groups of the lay faithful embraced by our ministry (parishes, shrines, church groups). Properly prepared materials will allow for a wide-spread promotion and popularization of our Founder’s personality and spirituality among members of the Catholic Church, because we all realize that he was a convincing witness of faith and the power of God’s grace, which is greater than the sins of this world.