Ad Honorem Immaculatae Conceptionis Mariae Oblatio

159 tion is not necessary or that man does not have to respond to it. Through the facts of life, in the midst of struggles, questioning and answering (or re- ceiving answers), man “allows” God reach to him in order to open himself to new challenges. The moment when Father Founder made his Oblatio marked the end of a certain stage and the beginning of a new one. It will probably not be improper to compare the calling of our Father Founder with the calling of the Prophet Amos. “The Lord took me from fol- lowing the flock, and said to me, go, prophesy to my people Israel” (Amos 7:15). This “[being taken] from following the flock” had a double meaning in the life of Father Stanislaus. The first is the calling itself. Although he was a son of a peasant yet well-to-do family, little John never yielded in the face of difficulties and overcame initial humiliations related to “intel- lectual impotence.” Entrusting himself to God and Mary’s protection and intercession, he was steadfast in following his heart and he became a reli- gious. There is no need to retell the whole story of his difficult and painful experiences. We all know it well. Many years later, reflecting on his life from a spiritual perspective Father Stanislaus wrote in his Fundatio Domus Recollectionis : Divine goodness and wisdom begins and brings to an end what it wants, in spite of countless difficulties standing in the way, and the very unfitness, according to human judgment, of the means. For nothing is impossible for the Almighty. This shone forth most clear- ly in me the most wretched, most despicable sinner, most inadequ- ate, most unfit instrument for founding the lowest and the smallest Congregation of the Fathers of the Blessed Virgin Mary Conceived without sin. In me the spirit was unequal to [the task], no virtue, little prudence, all were by far too small, for dreaming of rather than for undertaking a matter of such great difficulty. But God himself, God (to whom be everlasting and endless glory, and thanksgiving), as he inspired me for this work of his admirably, that is lovingly, merciful- ly, wisely, wonderfully, so he himself accomplished it and is accom- plishing it for ever and ever. 8 As remarked by Fr. Casimir Wyszyński, the second aspect of Fr. Stanis- laus’s “[being taken] from following the flock” was his “entering the school 8 Founding of the House of Recollection , in: Historical Writings ...”, pp. 61-62.