Lumen 2018

shrines, especially those dedicated to Mary, were very popular and valued in Poland in the 17 th century. This particular form of piety was also close to Fr. Stanislaus’s heart. We know that when he was young and was stricken with a disease, he vowed to make a pilgrim- age to Czestochowa and was healed. 10 Later, he often made pilgrim- ages to Jasna Gora [in Czestochowa] and to other holy places. 11 In the years 1671-1677 and later, he made several pilgrimages to the Marian sanctuary in Studzianna. 12 In 1699, Fr. Stanislaus went to Stary Sacz to venerate the relics of Blessed Kunegunda, which were kept at the monastery of St. Clare. He also took that opportunity to visit his family home in Podegrodzie and take an icon of the Blessed Mother from there to be placed in the church at the new Marian foundation in Gozlin. He was born near this icon and wanted this precious image to be placed above the altar of the third Marian church that he founded. 13 Model of All Virtues Father Papczynski’s biographer, Fr. Casimir Wyszynski, stated on the basis of his research, that before he reached the age of twelve, Fr. Papczynski had already made great progress in acquiring virtues, and, when he was sixteen, he distinguished himself by humility and other virtues. 14 When he was in the novitiate at the Piarist Fathers and scrutinies were held to evaluate the conduct of the novices, they were always positive in Fr. Papczynski’s case. During every scrutiny, he was found to have shown continued progress in acquiring virtues. 15 His first biographer, Leporini, stated that from the very beginning, Fr. Stanislaus dedicated himself to practicing virtues with such enthu- siasm that he surpassed even those who were a lot more experienced than himself. 16 Father Papczynski’s desire to realize the evangelical counsels was an expression of his virtuous life. He demonstrated his love of the 421 Posthumous Cult