Lumen 2018

accusations and, under the influence of all the attacks, was prepared to disband the Marian community. 261 In view of such an unfavorable attitude on the part of Bishop Witwicki, Fr. Stanislaus began to doubt again whether he was still on the right path, whether what he was doing was in accordance with God’s will; the will that he tried to read in the attitude of Church authorities towards his religious community. Once again, he began to consider the possibility of returning to the Piarist Fathers. On March 23, 1688, he sent a letter to their Superior General, Fr. Alexis Armini, asking for his advice in the matter and promising to accept his decision. In this letter, he only wrote about his own doubts, but he did not mention the threat facing the Congrega- tion. 262 Although we do not know the Superior General’s answer, he probably encouraged Fr. Stanislaus to continue his work, which he resumed with increased enthusiasm. He knew that those who did not finish the work that they had started were not much better than those who did not start at all. Therefore, he decided to continue what he had begun. First, it was necessary to overcome Bishop Witwicki’s prejudice and to win his favor. This was not easy because the new shepherd of the Diocese of Poznan was a strict superior and a firm disciplinarian. Since both Marian monasteries were located in the territory under his administration, they were completely dependent on his will. The new Ordinary could withdraw his predecessor’s approbation, and the Congregation, which did not yet have approbation from the Holy See, could be disbanded. This is exactly what Fr. Papczynski’s enemies were counting on. Father Papczynski responded to the attacks of his adversaries in a truly Christian manner. He did not defend himself, did not try to explain, but, instead, dedicated to Bishop Witwicki one of his most beautiful works, published in Warsaw in 1690: meditations on Our Lord’s Passion, entitled Christus patiens (The Suffering Christ). The book contained seven sermons for Lent: Balneum Horti, Spontanea 327 Foundation of a New Religious Order