The Immaculist Character of Spirituality 175 severity.43 K. Pek is quite correct in remarking that these writings “deviate from Fr. Papczyński’s guiding theological idea,”44 as they are primarily of a homiletic – rhetorical character, and they aim at stimulating the listener’s religious experience, inclining him to convert and return to God. This kind of content won’t be found in the basic writings related to his work of founding the Order, for their Marian references focus largely on presenting the Mother of God as a model for imitation, while outlining the ways of fulfilling one of the Marian Congregation’s main goals which is spreading devotion to the Immaculate Conception. 2. Imitatio virtutum Beatae Virginis Mariae The idea of imitating the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is present in Saint Stanislaus Papczyński’s writings on the religious life greatly increased with the acceptance of the Regula decem beneplacitorum BVM, also known as Regula decem virtutum BVM. The difference in naming results from the manner of thinking and emphasizing Mary’s virtues (pleasures)45 given in 43 This passage from Orator Crucifixus is especially characteristic here: “The erudite Richard [of Saint-Laurent] […] reasons in the following manner: ‘Often, those condemned by the justice of the Son, are set free by the mercy of the Mother: So it would seem as if the justice of the Son, and the mercy of the Mother are in disagreement. It is as if Justice would say: «I will slay and wound.» The Mercy of the Mother would then respond: «And I will bring back to life and heal.» The mercy of the Mother still adds: «And there is no one to pluck from my hand.»’ Concluding this dialogue, the inquisitive Father incites and encourages the sinner to flee to Mary for refuge as for a most certain haven from the wrath of God. Richard exclaims, ‘Therefore, may you flee to the protection of her hand, and there is nothing to be feared,’ absolutely nothing at all: not the violence of the accuser, nor the magnitude of the infernal tortures, nor the eternal prison of the condemned. O most powerful and most tender City of refuge! Under whose protection there is nothing for the sinner to fear, nothing, nothing at all! O Mother, you are much more merciful than can be said or thought! The guilty sons of Adam are received into your bosom, immune from all fear and danger of eternal death, and they obtain the assurance of a blessed Eternity. Indeed, the goodness and kindness of the Lord our God have no limits. Therefore, so that He never has to chastise or destroy us, who shamefully have fallen, according to the rigor of His severe justice, in His solicitude, He gave us the Virgin Mary as our intercessor before Him, just as for the Hebrews, He had prepared Esther to be an intercessor before the king of the Medes and Persians,” OC, in: Selected Writings, pp. 708-709. 44 K. Pek, O czci i naśladowaniu Niepokalanej..., p. 71. 45 Changes in naming also appear during the final shaping of this Rule from 15021517, long before it was accepted by the Marians. The first version of this Rule ratified
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