Lumen 2018

In his letter to the Superior General, Fr. Papczynski expressed his conviction that, according to Pope Clement X’s declaration of Au- gust 5, 1670, all those, who had been waiting and did not want to take solemn vows, were thereby released from their simple vows and from the oath of perseverance. Having learned that the Holy Father had granted Fr. Chiara special authorization in this matter, he now turned to him [Fr. Chiara] with a request for such a release, adding that he had been adequately provided for, which was one of the re- quirements of the papal decree. 207 In the meantime, the Superior General of the Piarists delegated the Vicar-Provincial Superior and Rector of the house in Rzeszow, Fr. Michael Kraus, to release Fr. Papczynski from the Piarist Insti- tute on his behalf. Due to certain matters associated with his office, Fr. Kraus arrived in Kazimierz around December 3, 1670, and there, on December 6, 1670, received a letter from the Superior General with his special authorization. Enclosed was also a copy of the papal breve. 208 Over the period of several days, Fr. Stanislaus, who was staying at the Bishop’s Curia, made contact with the Superior General’s dele- gate a few times. At first, Fr. Stanislaus sent a letter to the Kazimierz house, in which he wrote that he wanted to speak with Fr. Michael in person to discuss his release from the congregation. According to Kraus, Fr. Papczynski also expressed a concern in his letter that he might experience further reprisals from the Piarists, similar to those that he had already experienced. This time, however, his fears were unfounded for he had already been removed from under the juris- diction of the Piarist Fathers and remained under the protection of the Ordinary of Cracow. But they do reflect the atmosphere of fear in which Fr. Papczynski still lived. In response to Fr. Stanislaus’s letter, Fr. Kraus stated that Fr. Stanislaus was welcome to come to Kazimierz for a personal conver- sation but added that the release from the congregation did not de- pend on his decision but on the decision of higher superiors. Father S TANISLAUS P APCZYNSKI 204