31 Beginnings: 1670-1677 Worthy of pause and reflection is another event in John Papczyński’s life, which serves as a testament to his heroic defense of faith and profound conviction that Divine Providence watches over him and his calling while also pointing the way to the future. One day, while already a cleric, he was walking the streets of Warsaw with a confrère when he was unexpectedly attacked by a Swedish soldier stationed there along with the occupying troops of King Charles Gustav.15 The Swedish soldier, a Protestant, filled with hatred for the young cleric defending the dogmas of the Catholic faith, drew his saber to take his life. John “fervently wishing to shed his blood in the defense of the Faith, knelt and bowed his head to receive the blow.”16 For young Papczyński, this was such a profound experience and important testimony that, despite many later dramatic events, it did not fade from his memory. After forty-five years, he described it in his will: “I depart from this earthly life in the Roman Catholic faith, for which I was ready to shed my blood during the Swedish War. When I was going from the [Old] City with my companion near [the church of] the Dominican Fathers, a heretical soldier attacked me with an unsheathed sword. Meanwhile, my companion (although he was German) fled, [as] I, having knelt down, presented my neck to be cut [through] but by Divine Providence, it so happened that I was not wounded at all, even though I was quite strongly struck three times. However, for about an hour and a half, I experienced enormous pain.”17 The willingness to martyrdom in defense of faith and the honor of the Most Blessed Mother was an extraordinary act of heroism and an expression of his most profound beliefs and values that he cherished more than life itself. Casimir Krzyżanowski, a researcher of his life, summarized this event as follows: “This zeal, readiness, and submission, with which the novice Stanislaus accepted the chance to give his own life in defense of true Faith are worthy of admiration.”18 At that time, he was ready to 15 It was the year 1656. Warsaw was occupied by Swedish troops, who engaged in looting and committed numerous crimes. Cf. Władysław Czapliński, “Zarys dziejów Polski do roku 1864”, Kraków, 1985, pp. 285-289. For information about the behaviors and abuses of Swedish soldiers in Warsaw, see: Jan Wegner, “Warszawa w latach Potopu Szwedzkiego 1655-1657,” Wrocław, 1957, pp. 48-60. 16 Teixeira, n. 40; Leporini, n. 23. 17 S. Papczyński, Second Testament, in: Selected Writings, p. 934. 18 Positio, Papczyński, p. 31.
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