Lumen 2018

S TANISLAUS P APCZYNSKI 68 which he could not recover for almost four months. Thanks to the care of the mother of the family with which he was staying, the fever subsided, but his entire body was left covered with scabies so repul- sive looking that his landlords asked him to leave. 121 From that moment on, barely alive, he roamed the streets and al- leys of the city, begging for food and shelter. For a short period of time, someone allowed him to stay in their home, but, when the sca- bies were not healing, he was refused shelter again. Meanwhile, a se- vere winter was approaching, and he remained day and night without a roof over his head, ever more sick and abandoned. He could only count on God’s help, therefore, he cried out for it with trust. And it was then that God sent him an unknown companion, who led him out of the city, so that he could spend the night sleeping in the hay in someone’s barn ... . He had to do it after dark, in secret from the owner, who might have objected to it. Together, he and his compan- ion went from door to door, singing songs and begging for food. 122 Christmas Eve of 1648 came. Johnny Papczynski’s illness intensi- fied, so much so that he could not even go to Mass. Throughout the entire Christmas octave, he lay on a poor bed made of hay, eating only a scanty meal provided by his protector, who was as good to him as only a loving mother or father could be. When the Christmas octave was over, Johnny felt a little stronger. In the morning, he went out to town. In the evening, he returned to his place of seclusion. He did this every day. One day, however, when he fell ill again and did not have the strength to return to his hiding place, he snuck into the house of a man by the name Snopek who was an artisan and made little wooden boxes. Johnny hid in his house and spent the night there. When the household members found him early next morning, they took pity on him and allowed him to stay. In the meantime, Johnny’s illness intensified even more. His body became covered with wounds, and there was a danger of infecting others. In spite of this, his merciful hosts, guided by a true love of neighbor, treated him with compassion and did not show any aversion. 123