Lest You Remain

approved by Pope Innocent XII on November 24, 1699, in his letter addressed to the Apostolic Nuncio in Poland. Although this rule had been accepted without Fr. Papczy<ski ’s agreement, it no way contradicted the specific characteristics of his institute and was later accept- ed by him with joy. From that time on the Marian Order became a congregation with solemn vows, free from the jurisdiction of local bishops, and that which also bound it to the confining state of hermits. The crowning date of Fr. Papczy<ski ’s almost 30-year long, nearly heroic struggle for the papal approval of the Order was June 6, 1701. On this day Fr. Founder pronounced solemn religious vows in the hands of the Apostolic Nuncio Francisco Pignatelly, pledging to preserve the rule of the Insituto nosto non contrariatem ( Scripta historica ). Then, at the Church of the Lord’s Cenacle in New Jerusalem he received the vows of his confreres. Thus he crowned the work of founding of the Marian Order. Omnia apud vos in charitate fiant It is worth asking: what did Fr. Papczy<ski see as essential to both his reli- gious vocation and the founding of the Marian Order? The response may be found in the second part of the Norma vitae and his other writings. According to Father Founder, the main principle of Christian and religious life is the love of God and people. “Ponder this,” he proclaimed in conferences published as a collection enti- tled Inspectio cordis, “Looking with the eyes of the heart — the measure of graces depends on the greatness of love. Thus it is like this: whoever attains greater love for the Highest Good receives greater graces and the rewards of love. O, my soul, what do you hear? What do you make of it? Are you still going to be so unwise and foolish that you won’t dedicate yourself entirely to God’s love in order to gain God completely? Are you still going to do your own will until you perish, and not act according to the advice of the Beloved for the good of your salvation? Will you not leave everything, so as to gain everything? Will you not rather deny yourself, so as to gain yourself and He who created you?” The road to God is to open oneself to His love, accepting and allowing it, that this love would draw us to Him, following the way of obedience, spiritual poverty, and self-renunciation. All sacrifices that men must make Fr. Stanislaus interpreted in the key to spousal love. Only for the love of God is it worth surrendering everything . O love of God which brings infi- nite benefits! Through her is reached the One whom one loves! Indeed, it is good to love the Infinite God and to be loved by Him! R eading these lines it seems, that we have in hand verses from St. Augustine’s Confessions . Father Stanislaus concluded his “hymn of love” with prayerful words: “ O Lord, grant that I would truly love you and serve you in pure love, and when finally, seeing you in the blessed land, I will sing you the most sweet song of love: «I found Him whom my heart loves; I will take Biography of Fr. Stanislaus Papczy < ski 91