Lumen 2018

S TANISLAUS P APCZYNSKI 262 In this situation, Fr. Stanislaus decided to set up a hermitage on his own piece of land, but before he did so, he wanted to make a monthly retreat. He knew that one must learn to be silent in order to have something to say. He knew that it was necessary to establish this special contact with God, which a retreat facilitates. Therefore, he asked Krajewski to give him a piece of land on his property where he intended to build a house and begin to recruit suitable candi- dates. Krajewski was to fulfill the duties of the procurator of the Congregation. After a few days of reflection, Krajewski accepted Fr. Stanislaus’s proposal and, on October 7, 1673, drew up an act of donation and registered it with the town authorities. Father Pa- pczynski was very pleased with such a turn of events, for he could now begin to organize a communal life at a “retreat house” 61 with other more zealous candidates. In his act of donation, Krajewski declared his willingness to join the Marian community gathered around Fr. Stanislaus as their supe- rior. At the same time, he renewed his first oblatio (of July 4, 1673), promising to serve God at this place till the end of his life in voluntary poverty, chastity, obedience, penance, and “every possible form of religious life.” He also promised to fulfill the duties of the procurator of the house faithfully and diligently. In order to make this act even more solemn, he wanted the local Ordinary to approve it. 62 This document is important because it sheds some light on the relationship between Fr. Papczynski and his first companion. Kra- jewski appears here as a generous and noble man, completely ready to follow the strict path proposed by Fr. Stanislaus. We know, how- ever, that Fr. Papczynski had some reservations about this declaration because Krajewski’s conduct up to that point raised serious doubts regarding his steadfastness. Father Stanislaus must have suffered a lot when Krajewski began to act contrary to his promises later. 63 Canonical Visitation God Himself came to Fr. Papczynski’s aid as he tried to put his plans into effect. Ultimately, he did not have to change the location