103 Apostolate or Contemplation: 1677-1723 of murmurs and disputes regarding the principles of apostolate or contemplation. Some believed that eremitism was a more perfect way of practicing the evangelical counsels, while others thought it was apostolic activity. Papczyński repeatedly emphasized, especially as we read in the Examination of the Heart, that what matters most is the love of God and neighbor: “He blesses with the same reward of His vision both the hermits given to contemplation and the husbandmen active in his vineyard.” Also: “From this, learn that Saints are not only those who, given to solitude, attend only to their salvation. Truly, the righteous are also those who, leading an active life, cooperate with Christ to save souls.”149 It is evident how much care Fr. Papczyński put into motivating and encouraging the Marians, some of whom, out of piety or comfort, had accepted the hermit state and were undertaking apostolic tasks with difficulty and reluctance. He reminded them that everyone in the Church is responsible for preaching the Gospel, for if there is a lack of zealous preachers, then millions of people wandering in faith, to whom the Gospel truths have not been explained, will be led astray by someone else, as it happened in the past with figures like Muhammad, Luther, or Calvin. “Consider that you should not omit any occasion of gaining your neighbor.”150 However, it appears that these instructions were written more with future Marians in mind, as during the first fifty years of the 18th century, only two to three monks were residing at the Cenacle, and sometimes only the superior general and his secretary. Fr. Papczyński, in addition to his fervent words of encouragement, also set a vivid example of zealous apostolic work throughout his entire life. That’s why the faithful rightfully called him the “Apostle of Mazovia.” His dedication to apostolic work and the range of pastoral tasks he undertook in various areas are astonishing. His first biographer, Mansueto Leporini, based on the testimonies of many witnesses, wrote: “For nearly 30 years he traveled on foot to parish churches, preaching the Word of God and hearing confessions of the faithful who were poorly informed in Christian doctrine. He instructed the simple folk, especially the poor and the fearful, remarkably comprehensibly and engagingly. In this apostolic manner, he endeavored to save souls in the 149 S. Papczyński, Inspectio cordis [Examination of the heart], in: Selected Writings, p. 412-413. 150 Ibid, p. 402.
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