893 apologia for his departure from the order of pious schools know in what manner they returned to the General alone,182 as if the General, living in Rome, could really know who in Poland is suitable for the office of Provincial or of Rector. For I do not consider him suitable who delights in banquets both outside and inside the house. Rather, [I consider him suitable] who is commended by the remarkable qualities of virtue and knowledge, as well as by solid work; one who zealously bears the yoke that is to be placed upon others, being the first to do what he intends to command; in a word, one who has the habit of riding on four wheels — of zeal, of gentleness, of prudence, and of learning (as St. Francis de Sales advised somewhere). 41. I respect the Superiors of the Congregation of Pious Schools, but not all of them. I respect those who deserve it, but not those who were imposed [as Superiors] and achieved the dignities of the highest offices through trampling the laws of nature and of the Church, [walking upon] the backs of their subjects.183 42. Neither can I consider as proper, nor can I bear with this: that for certain faults, there were no specified rules for chastisement.184 Rather, such punishment was left to the opinion of the Superiors, who were indulgent to those whom they favored, while they heavily punished others for the smallest faults out of personal hatred. I would give examples, but those who had their own experiences [of this] know of them. 43. Next, it seemed [to me to be] an entirely intolerable tyranny that the Superiors constantly remained the same. For even though they changed places, they did not change their position. Hence, having forgotten about obedience, they were nourished by their authority, often becoming worse, as is typical among men [with power]. 182 In the brief Cum sicut accepimus of Alexander VII given on April 28th, 1660, it was said that the appointment of Superiors in the Provinces belongs to the General and his Assistants. Cf. Positio, p. 93. 183 Perhaps in saying this Fr. Papczyński had in mind Provincial Wenceslaus Opatowski. Cf. SH, p. 64, n. 140. 184 It was not until the General Chapter in 1671 that the Canones Poenitentiales were prescribed ad experimentum. They gained legal force only at the Chapter in 1686. Cf. SH, p. 64, n. 141.
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