Lumen 2018

so-called cases of conscience and were intended to be used mostly by confessors. Their authors supply numerous examples, in which certain principles ( principia ) are recalled and solutions are given. At that time, a work entitled Institutio confessariorum written by a Jesuit named Brundusin and dedicated to the discussion of the practical aspect of the Sacrament of Penance was published in Poland. The works by Bartholomew of Medina, a representative of the Dominican school of thought from Spain, as well as those by Gaetano, Soto, Bellarmine, Sanchez, and Suarez also reached Poland. Thus, the contacts between Polish and Western theology were quite memorable and extensive. 18 Along with the works by the Western theologians, there appeared more and more works by the Polish theologians of the casuistic pe- riod. Among the most renown are those by Nicholas of Mosciska (†1638), Samuel of Lublin (†1635), Nicholas Leczycki (†1653), Gasper Druzbicki (†1662), Thomas Mlodzianowski (†1686), and Simon Stanislaus Makowski (†1683). Their works clearly reveal an attempt at harmonizing the casuistic theology with the theology of asceticism and mysticism. 19 Father Papczynski was familiar with the various trends in theology, with the various schools of thought active during his lifetime, which, without a doubt, contributed to the shaping of his personality and influenced his writings. At the turn of the 16 th century, there were about 10,000 religious in Poland, and 60 percent of them were priests. Such a great number of the religious made bringing the Gospel to the wide masses of so- ciety easier, even though not all of the religious had adequate pastoral training. 20 As we discuss this period of Polish history, it is possible to notice the existence of a certain conviction within Polish Church life, namely, that adherence to and preservation of old laws and customs strengthened the state and made it possible for its citizens to survive difficult moments. Along with this conviction, there appeared new, S TANISLAUS P APCZYNSKI 36