Lumen 2018

S TANISLAUS P APCZYNSKI 388 figure was leaving, the priest asked him [the figure] to tell him who he was, for he wanted to know whom to thank for such great kind- ness. The figure replied, “I am Mary’s messenger” and disappeared. Feeling injured and sore and doubting that he would survive until morning, the pastor called for the members of his household to help him. One of the servants came in running. The pastor told him to run to Gozlin and ask one of the Marian priests living at the house of the founder (i.e., Mr. Lasocki), to come and prepare him for death because he was in great danger. At that time, Fr. Stanislaus was also staying at Mr. Lasocki’s house. But the host and the other religious were afraid that this might be a trick on the part of the pastor. Father Papczynski, however, inspired from heaven, ordered one of his com- panions to go to the sick priest without fear. He felt that the pastor really needed help because he was very ill. The religious, whom Fr. Papczynski had sent, entered the pastor’s house and found him almost dying. So he helped him to prepare for death. The pastor made a confession and related the entire incident. He also promised to support the foundation of the monastery, if he should survive. Upon uttering these words of contrition, he regained his health. Afterwards he, indeed, helped to establish the Marian monastery. What is more, he wanted to make what had happened to him known to all the people. Therefore, he asked the Marians to allow him to deliver a sermon at the church in Gozlin, once it was finished, so that he could confess his sin in public. The sermon was delivered on the feast of the Immaculate Con- ception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In a very eloquent manner, the preacher explained to the congregation how dangerous it was to per- secute and fight the religious of the Most Holy Virgin Mary. He also related in great detail what had happened to him, while the people cried and beat their breasts. Father Wyszynski wrote that the aforementioned sermon, written by the pastor in his own hand, was kept with great reverence in the monastery archives to commemorate that event. Father Wyszynski himself read it many times. 89