Lumen 2018

he got to the bank of the Dunajec, the ferryman was not there. The boy got into the boat, and, having uttered a short, ardent prayer: ”Praised be the Most Blessed Sacrament ...,” set out alone across the river and was soon on the other side. Johnny recalled the words of this short prayer from a little pamphlet, which he had once received from his father. It was possible to obtain papal indulgences for one’s sins after having prayed this prayer in a moment of danger. And, the boy, trying to cross the turbulent river alone in a boat, was, indeed, in great danger. Yet, thanks to the protection of his Guardian Angel, the whole episode had a happy ending. 107 Johnny did not stay long at home. His father, whom Johnny probably never told about his unpleasant experiences at school, per- suaded him to return to Nowy Sacz. The father must have thought that some new boyish caprice lay behind his son’s flight from school and, therefore, decided to send him back. Soon after, however, an- other event took place, which interrupted Johnny’s further studies. One day Johnny got involved in a student brawl as he was coming to the defense of his brother, Peter. Fearing punishment, he ran home again. He considered this flight providential, for it put a defi- nite end to any contacts between him and the perverted teacher. His brother, Peter, moved to the local Franciscans, who employed him as cantor in their church. 108 Johnny, who remained in Podegrodzie, continued studies at the parish school for a while and helped his par- ents at home. Soon, he completed the second grade of grammar. He was gradually growing out of his childhood; day by day, he matured spiritually and progressed in the practice of the virtues. 109 At that time, another event took place in which he experienced God’s protection. One night, in the middle of winter, he and his mother were returning fromNowy Sacz on a horse-drawn cart. They were going to cross the Dunajec which was frozen over at the time. But the ice broke under them, and the horses and the cart fell into the water. The boy jumped off the cart and managed to get to the other side to seek help. With tears in his eyes, he begged God to save his mother from the danger. And, indeed, there appeared some peo- 65 Stanislaus Papczynski’s Childhood and Youth