Ad Honorem Immaculatae Conceptionis Mariae Oblatio

158 more sublime than God? Since then there is nothing in man either more deserving, or more noble, than his heart, God is to be placed here as on His altar, so that He may rejoice most fully in His whole possession. 5 Father Papczyński often described his spiritual states, inspirations, suffering and various experiences in connection to his inner self. 6 He de- scribed the manner of understanding the facts and events that have taken place and he interprets the resulting emotions as a reaction to these facts or interpersonal relationships. The initiative of God, a preparation for making a decision This is the meaning of the call to the consecrated life: it is an initiative coming wholly from the Father (cf. Jn 15:16), who asks those whom he has chosen to respond with complete and exclusive devotion. The experience of this gracious love of God is so deep and so powerful that the person called senses the need to respond by unconditional- ly dedicating his or her life to God, consecrating to him all things present and future, and placing them in his hands. This is why, with Saint Thomas, we come to understand the identity of the consecra- ted person, beginning with his or her complete self-offering, as being comparable to a genuine holocaust. 7 As mentioned earlier by Fr. Tomasz Sekulski, MIC, starting from the biblical texts right up to the texts of the Second Vatican Council and the contemporary texts, the priority of God’s initiative is emphasized. Human activity in its every form is always a response to His action. “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you” (Jn 15:16). We find the awareness of the primacy of God who is looking for man to introduce him into his mys- terious plan in the broad religious experience and especially in the expe- rience of conversion. In the beginning is God’s pleasure, who never leaves His creation alone. This absolute beginning does not mean that human ac- 5 St. Papczyński, Mystical Temple of God, Stockbridge, MA, 2005, p. 27. 6 The expression “inner self ” should be understood as its central part, i.e., “the heart.” 7 Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata of the Holy Father John Paul II, March 25, 1996, No 17.