Lumen 2018

for himself, for his confreres, and for every Christian. He spoke about her so beautifully as only a poet, a theologian, and a saint can. Intercessor for the Souls in Purgatory The great venerator of the Blessed Mother Immaculately Con- ceived was also an ardent intercessor for the souls suffering in Pur- gatory. This feature of Fr. Papczynski’s charism is very characteristic of his spiritual attitude, even though it was absent from Oblatio . In the kind of devotion to Mary that was typical of those times and ex- pressed itself especially in the idea of “Mary’s maternal bondage,” the aforementioned feature was usually associated with the Immac- ulate Conception. The visions that Fr. Stanislaus experienced at the home of the Karski family in Lubocza, in Studzianna, and in many other places, contributed to its introduction into the charism of the Congregation. The idea of assisting the souls suffering in Purgatory had to be nourished and supported in Fr. Papczynski’s times. Those were times filled with constant wars between Poland and its neighboring countries as well as internal unrest, all of which reaped a rich harvest of death. Due to natural disasters, hunger, and epidemics, people died prema- turely and often went to God’s judgment unprepared. Christian love prompted Fr. Stanislaus to think about them and hasten to their aid. During his prayers, he often descended in spirit into Purgatory and remained there with the souls. Father Stanislaus particularly wanted to help the souls of soldiers who died in battle and, therefore, he would often pray at their graves. He also made coming to the aid of the departed, especially those killed in a war or due to pestilence (which usually accompanied wars in those times), a second particular goal of the Congregation. He encouraged all of his confreres to pray and to undertake works of mercy for the intention of the souls suffering in Purgatory. 47 He would often tell them: “Brethren, please pray for the departed, for 427 Posthumous Cult