Lumen 2018

S TANISLAUS P APCZYNSKI 304 doors of the Marian monasteries and ask for alms. He would publicly admit to the Marians whom he had persecuted that God punished him so severely because he had abandoned the Congregation and persecuted its Founder. 190 Most of Fr. Papczynski’s persecutors were people of lower social standing, residents of Nowa Jerozolima. 191 He was very patient to- wards them and, according to Wyszynski, his usual response to their sneers and insults was (after the example of St. Hedwig, Queen of Poland): “May God forgive you” ( Parcat tibi Deus ). 192 His painful experiences enriched him spiritually, for years of suffering count twice as much, just as military service during a war does. E FFORTS TO O BTAIN A PPROBATION FROM THE H OLY S EE Decision of the Diocesan Authorities A year after the monastery at Nowa Jerozolima was established, Fr. Papczynski began to make efforts to obtain the approbation of Church authorities for his Congregation. Bishop Wierzbowski him- self, in his act of foundation, urged the Marians to obtain approba- tion for their institute from the Holy See as soon as possible. The shepherd of the diocese wanted to make certain that what he himself was doing for this institute came, indeed, from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and that he was not exceeding his authority through his patronage of the Marians. 193 Bishop Wierzbowski thought highly of Fr. Papczynski and visited him from time to time at the Cenacle to ask his advice on various matters. He was vividly interested in Fr. Papczynski and the growth of the Marian Congregation. One day he found Fr. Papczynski so ill that he appeared to be at the point of death. He went up to his bed and, touching him on the shoulder, said, “Fr. Stanislaus, you will not die. You will live” ( Pater Stanislae non morieris, sed vives ). At these words of the saintly shepherd, Fr. Stanislaus rose from his bed com pletely restored to health. He was able to accompany his noble guest