73 in our pastoral work the particular “pedagogy of sanctity”28 about which John Paul II taught, ensures that our life will begin to be perceived from the perspective of eternity. Presence is then lived out as the path to the house of the Father who is Love. In our pastoral work, which is inspired by the mystery of the Immaculate Conception, we should also pay particular attention to objecting to contemporary pelagianism. This means that we ought to oppose the conviction that God’s grace is not necessary, that man by himself can perform no less than he could with the help of grace.29 External zeal without cooperation with God’s grace becomes fruitless activism. The most important message in preaching becomes the message of grace and God’s assurance given to St. Paul: “My grace is enough for you” (2 Cor 12:9). This is grace which defi nes the manner of being human, as growing to the fullness of harmony of the love with God. We respond to grace, that is to the Love of God, with our love. Submitting to the rule of the primacy of grace breeds and strengthens absolute trust in God’s Providence, that is, the conviction that God directs the history of man and the world. Moreover, it breeds trust in God’s support in every circumstance of life. God is always the fi rst. He fi rst offers grace and then He invites us to take up the work. The primacy of grace which we realize in the mystery of the Immaculate Conception reveals the most important condition for the successful apostolate to us. “Mary was created immaculate—as John Paul II teaches—to better serve us through her intercession.”30 Just as the “fullness of grace” of Mary was directed toward her mission in the history of salvation, so man’s remaining in God’s grace, is linked with his life mission. Thus, any form of apostolic work depends not so much on action and applied tools as on the quality of the spiritual life of the pastors. The closer the cooperation with God’s grace, the more fruitful and more devout the apostolate. So, the primacy of the spiritual life is a condition for authentic pastoral work. Blessed George Matulewicz was aware of this when he wrote: “When our spirit has cooled, nothing is left to fi re our zeal and then even our good works lose their vitality. That is why our spiritual life should always come fi rst.”31 28 Ibid. 29 R. Cantalamessa, Maryja zwierciadłem Kościoła, p. 33. 30 Jan Paweł II, W wigilię Niepokalanego Poczęcia [On the Eve of the Immaculate Conception], Dec. 7, 1983, in: Jan Paweł II o Matce Bożej (John Paul II about the Mother of God), vol. 2, p. 38. 31 George Matulaitis-Matulewicz, Journal, Oct. 24, 1910, 11.
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