Lumen 2018

As a seven-year-old boy, he gave the studies another try. Without his parents’ knowledge and with the help of one of his father’s farmhands, he snuck out of the house and went to school. And, it was just then, on the very first day, that, by the intercession of the Blessed Mother, he received the grace of the awakening of his mental powers, so much so that he learned the entire alphabet within one afternoon. The Subtle Doctor (Duns Scott) experienced a similar situation as he, too, had initially struggled with his studies. 97 It is re- ally difficult to believe that this boy, seemingly without any talent for academic studies, became an exemplary student who later distin- guished himself with great talent, to finally become a brilliant speaker, a highly esteemed teacher, and an excellent writer. He was accepted at the parish school in Podegrodzie again, and, in 1641, without any further difficulties, completed a three-year course of el- ementary studies, so that, at the age of ten and with very good grades, he was able to begin studies at a middle school. 98 But, around the same time, he dropped out of school. He was overwhelmed by a strange sense of discouragement and his nature violently sought freedom. He fell into a state of confusion, which prevented him from being able to see the further course of his life. Thus, instead of going to the next grade, he stayed at home again. When his father saw his son’s lack of steadfastness, he sent him to watch his sheep again. 99 “As a shepherd in the mountains,” wrote Navikevicius, “he quickly came in contact with nature and became ever more sensitive to its beauty. The view of the distant mountains, frequent thunder- storms, steep hills, foamy river, and the responsibility for the sheep in his care, provided him with many valuable experiences so needed by young men. The frightening thunders, ice-cold rains, the winds howling through the wild forests, awakened in this lonely, young man a longing for the school which he had left. He began to feel re- gret and this, in turn, impelled him to re-assess the issues which oc- cupied his mind. There remained nothing else for him to do, but to return to school and try to fight the temptations that were seizing 63 Stanislaus Papczynski’s Childhood and Youth