The Immaculist Character of Spirituality 181 In principle, the Marian Founder shares the opinion of contemporary Polish writers on spirituality, which claims that Mary is the model of the Christian life in all of its aspects not only as to a life for God, but also as to loving one’s neighbor.56 He expressed his views in a meditation on the Gospel account of Mary’s trip to the hill country to render service to Elizabeth: “Behold, the most holy Virgin, the Mother of God, gives you two ways of striving for perfection which are mutually complementary: The first is to despise the low-lying valleys and to ascend to the hill country; that is, to always choose a higher degree of perfection and try to reach it. The second is to work with haste for the salvation of yourself and your neighbor, and to not allow, in a lazy delay, the loss of most precious time, which is to be used only for meritorious deeds.”57 Papczyński further elaborates on the example Mary’s concern for the needs of others –especially their salvation – while he reflects on the biblical account of theWedding at Cana (Jn 2:1-12). In his opinion, Mary’s behavior shows “how solicitous the holy Mother is toward the need of another; regarding it as her own, she says: “They have no wine.’” Turning from the example to the application, he says: “Therefore, fear not to present before the heavenly King the necessities of your own soul and the souls of others, following the example of the most holy Mother.”58 The reason for undertaking the path of imitating Mary in her care for the good of others is, on the one hand, love of neighbor; and on the other, as Papczyński tells us further in the same meditation, God’s taking delight in the good and virtuous life of man. Thus, he urges the religious to make efforts to follow Mary’s example, which would result not only in their own salvation, but in the salvation of others. He admonishes: “It is fitting 56 Cf. J. Misiurek, Historia i teologia polskiej..., pp. 67-69; same, Zarys historii..., pp. 163-181; same, Specyfika polskiej duchowości katolickiej, in: “Nova et vetera” polskiej duchowości, red. M. Chmielewski, Lublin 2004, pp. 58-62; M. Chmielewski, “Przez Jezusa do Maryi” w duchowości polskiej, w: Przez Jezusa do Maryi. Materiały z sympozjum mariologicznego zorganizowanego przez Polskie Towarzystwo Mariologiczne. Licheń 26-27 października 2001 r., Ed. S. C. Napiórkowski, K. Pek, Częstochowa-Licheń 2002, pp. 132-135. 57 IC, Feast of the Visitation, BHC, pt. 2. 58 IC, Second Sunday after Epiphany, BHC, pt. 3.
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