Ad Honorem Immaculatae Conceptionis Mariae Oblatio

98 and a human response that embraces the whole person. Perhaps, seeking the Christological dimension in Father Stanislaus’s vocation by comparing the founding of the community of the Church with the founding of a re- ligious community might be too much, but for him this experience un- doubtedly had a dimension deeply rooted in the Passion. There is no need to now evoke the story of the establishment of the first communities and the Founder’s lifelong worries and endeavors in obtaining the approval for the Order, since these are well-known matters. However, it is worth delib- erating whether we should include in Father Stanislaus’s founding passio his ordeals of the Piarist period. For this is the way God guided our Father and, in a sense, also shaped the Marian Order. Although the adversities that Fr. Stanislaus faced there (such as slander, a lack of charity, [the mem- bers’] contempt for the religious rule and a slackened religious observance, various cliques, the injustice of the superiors, etc.), were very painful, they were also providential. Perhaps, we should look there for reasons due to which such a great emphasis was placed in the Norma vitae on love, un- compromising fidelity to the religious rules and observance, and the role of the superiors. Is it not possible to see that an echo of Fr. Stanislaus’s past experiences in the crisis-stricken Piarist Order found a reflection in his instructions? e.g.: If anyone among you has been found stubbornly disobedient, or a fi- rebrand, or a wicked agitator of others, let him be restrained by the common action of all those who favor interior peace and good gover- nment (first, however, having given the possibility for a just defense and apology and due process of law having been kept). If necessary, even the force of civil authorities may be employed. Truly it is right that a servant of God be a peaceful man (NV III, 1). And also: If someone is falsely accused at that time [by another], he will not respond; afterwards, meeting with the Superior he will testify to his innocence (unless he would prefer to innocently suffer with Christ). A liar will be punished, without being pardoned, with the penalty that would have been given to the one he accused (NV IX, 3). Certainly, Father Founder’s “Piarist” experience was not the only and the most important factor that shaped the growing Marian Order, but per-