Lumen 2018

Stanislaus greatly contributed to the growth of the Confraternity of Our Lady at the Piarist church in Warsaw. 237 We recall that after it burned down in 1656, the Piarist church was later rebuilt. The reconstruction work began in 1660. Perhaps, after Fr. Papczynski’s arrival in Warsaw in 1663, the Confraternity of Our Lady of Grace resumed its activity at the church that had been partially restored 238 and did so out of Fr. Papczynski’s initiative. Therefore, he may be considered a restorer if not the founder of the Confraternity. Such a hypothesis is plausible if one considers the fact that in the years 1660-1663 an epidemic was raging in Warsaw again. 239 It may be presumed that, because of the epidemic, Fr. Stanislaus organized the activity of the Confraternity anew in 1663. Father Wyszynski claims that, due to the prayers offered by the mem- bers of the Confraternity, the epidemic came to an end. 240 When Our Lady of Grace was made Patroness of Warsaw in 1664, a play entitled “Mary of Grace, the Saving Star” was pre- sented on the stage of the Piarist college. 241 We may be quite certain that in both cases Fr. Stanislaus contributed greatly to the success of these endeavors. 242 His Experience as a Rector and Prefect When Fr. Opatowski, Rector of the Piarist house in Warsaw 243 since 1664, went to Rome 244 at the beginning of February 1665 in order to participate in the General Chapter, it became necessary to appoint a temporary rector of the house because Fr. Francis Haligowski, the superior of the new Piarist house in Kazimierz near Cracow and Vice-rector designate, was unable to arrive in Warsaw on time. Therefore, Fr. James Wezyrka, Provincial Superior of the Piarists, entrusted Fr. Papczynski with the office of the Rector as he was the oldest professed 245 member of the house at that time. He held this office for about 6 weeks until Fr. Haligowski arrived from Cracow, which took place on March 16, 1665. 246 137 At the Piarist Fathers