130 ministry. Because of the problems with our Congregation’s approval,8 these are not fully-developed instructions. Nonetheless, they are very important because they reveal our Founder’s apostolic heart. In addition, they show his constant efforts to free his community from the imposed restrictions of the eremitic life and thus to bring it closer to his original vision which God had inspired. To conclude: to arrive at a profound understanding of our vocation and mission in the modern world, it is necessary to consider the background against which this mission is to be realized. We must constantly open ourselves to the signs of the times and this the goal to which recent Church documents are calling us. Just as in the days of our Founder, the modern world is also trapped in its various problems typical of today. These problems become our challenges just as the problems of Fr. Founder’s day occupied him. Father Papczyński was very sensitive to needs of Christ needs in his day. We, the Marians, must also be extremely sensitive to the appeals of Christ and the Church in our times. What are the primary needs of the world and the Church? What are the biggest problems that we face in places of evangelization? How can we, inspired by Father Founder’s teachings and works, respond to these problems? The answer to these and similar questions will ensure that our apostolic endeavors will bring the very fruits that God expected from Fr. Papczyński’s vocation, when giving him this special and unique charism. To illustrate, let us give a few examples of the challenges that we face9 and which demand our response. This response must emerge from our religious and Marian consecration. They include: Secularization, which results in people’s negating God and His existence and which leads to people’s indifference towards God; Moral relativism and permissiveness which is typical of modern-day societies; Violence, which leads to wars; Attacks, armed robberies, abductions; Injustice in relations between rich and poor countries, between rich and poor social strata, which leads to various forms of discrimination; Attacks on unborn human life (abortion, genetic manipulations); A lack of openness and kindness to people who suffer or are near death; A decrease in vocations in the Church and our Congregation; etc. 8 K. Krzyżanowski, MIC, A Fundação e o Desenvolvimento da Ordem Durante a Vida do Fundador,in: Marianos, Bukowicz & Górski (org.), (Tradução para uso interno), Curitiba 2002, p. 21. 9 L. Mendes de Almeida, SJ, Jesus Cristo Luz da Vida Consagrada, 2 ed. Loyola, São Paulo, 1996, pp.79-80. • • • • • • • •
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