Lumen 2018

373 The End of Father Stanislaus’s Life habit was made of the least expensive material. It was white and al- ways clean. During Lent, he only ate rye bread and drank cerevisia . 35 He avoided all alcoholic beverages like sin and forbade his subordi- nates to imbibe them. 36 This great penitent was also a true apostle. He would often walk to various parish churches where he taught the truths of the faith and heard confessions. He treated the poor and fearful people with love and kindness, for he knew that, in this manner, he would bring them closer to God more easily. He recommended the same apos- tolic method to his confreres, so that they would fulfill their service of love with the same dedication as he did, as they went to preach the word of God in their own churches or as missionaries. 37 He loved the poor so much, he was always moved by their misery. He tried to alleviate their needs in every possible way. He visited hos- pitals, gave alms, helped orphans and widows; he never sent a needy person away empty-handed. He provided a dowry for poor girls who entered religious life. 38 Father Stanislaus’s first biographers wrote that the Franciscan Fri- ars, too, experienced his love for them. When they were in need, he gave them food and wood for fuel. He was commonly known as the father of the poor. But, when he gave alms, he would say that he gave it to God at interest ( in usuram Deo meo hoc do ). And Divine Providence never failed him, for quite often, when he least expected it, God sent him alms, so he could take care of his needs and the needs of his confreres. 39 Father Papczynski also assisted Bishop Wierzbowski with his good advice 40 as the bishop organized the city of Nowa Jerozolima. Venerator of the Saints Concerned about the salvation of the faithful, Fr. Stanislaus took great care to extend his beneficial influence to his confreres. He him- self proceeded towards ever greater perfection and tried to set an ex-