173 natural disasters, and they interceded on behalf of the poor (the majority were illiterate) before the offi cials in the matter of subsidies or abating taxes.4 Father Stanislaus Papczyński led a life of poverty and was acutely aware of the material and spiritual needs of the people whom he served. By word of mouth and example of life, he was teaching his confreres and the faithful to practice the love of neighbor. In his book Mystical Temple of God he wrote: “The Mystical Temple of God is (...) repaired by pious deeds. (...) There are 14 works of mercy, with which you will achieve everything with God. Those related to the body are (...): I visit, give drink, give food, ransom, cover, welcome, bury.”5 He stated quite clearly: “The heart that does not know the love of neighbor, does not know the love of God either.”6 And he admonished rigorously: “Woe to you, who perhaps feed many dogs and yet allow men to die of hunger! (...) will Christ not cast you out from the gate of heaven?”7 Years before the renovation of our Congregation, Fr. Matulewicz wrote to Blessed Honorat Koźmiński, OFMCap on April 28, 1905: “We, the Religious, need to reform, to take up social work, and particularly to strive for perfection if we don’t want the same thing happen to us like it happened in France.”8 [Referring to the French Revolution]. At the fi rst meeting of the Association of the Diocesan Priests (04.27.1905), of which he was the inspirer, he spoke about poverty. “Father Matulewicz suggested that those assembled regarded all of the goods that they possessed as the property of God and the poor and to consequently give a part of their income for the needs of the community and the poor of the neighborhood where they were serving.”9 Mister Eugeniusz Jarra recalls that “during his social studies course in 1907, Fr. Matulewicz stated that the Church ought to be involved immediately in the work of salvation, but added that the Church knew well that a certain supply of goods is needed even for practicing the virtues and religion.” For this reason, he believed that involvement in social issues was one of direct duties of a priest.10 Father Matulewicz was a practical man who knew well that people living in extreme poverty and abject living conditions were the most susceptible to temptations, downfalls and addictions. For this reason, he was concerned with 4 J. Kosmowski MIC Marianie w latach 1787-1864, Part: Działalność charytatywna (przytułki), pp. 218-223. 5 Stanislaus of Jesus Mary Papczyński, Mystical Temple of God, Part XXI, The Restoration of the Mystical Temple, Stockbridge, MA, 2006. 6 Inspectio cordis, “Błogosławiony O. Stanisław Papczyński,” Marian Shrine in Lichen, 2007, No. 48, p. 69. 7 Stanislaus of Jesus Mary Papczyński, Mystical Temple of God, p. 104, Stockbridge, MA, 2006. 8 T. Górski MIC, Błogosławiony Jerzy Matulewicz, Marian Publishing House, W-w, 2005, p. 57. 9 Ibid., p. 56. 10 T. Górski MIC and ks. Z. Proczek MIC, Rozmiłowany w Kościele, W-wa , 1987, p. 29.
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