Spirituality of the Religious Life According to St. Stanislaus Papczyński 30 decem beneplacitorum also centered the perspective of the evangelical life on love/charity – following the example of Mary – as a reference point for consecrated persons. The concept of charity must be understood in a proper manner and, therefore, it requires explaining and defining. It has a meaning that regulates a proper understanding of individual growth in the spiritual life. The process is described as a path, on which a person goes through subsequent stages from purgation to illumination, to union and friendship with God who is Love (1 Jn 4:8). Ultimately, charity takes on a social character that regulates the life of a religious community. We shall also note that the aforesaid, clearly present dimensions of charity, understood as the basis and source of the spirituality of the religious life, are not shown in a fully systematic manner either in the writings of our Founder or in any other documents of the early tradition of the Marian Fathers. 1. The Concept of Supernatural Love The concept of evangelical love – charitas – as a certain plan for the religious way of life – was clearly presented by Papczyński in the second chapter of Norma vitae. He centers the spirituality of the religious life in its external, organizational, and legal aspects exactly around this very charity. This perception of the spiritual life becomes more evident if we consider the entire structure of the religious by-laws of the first Marian Fathers as proposed by our Founder. Discussing various aspects of the religious life, Fr. Papczyński reiterated that the love of God should be the has a bearing on him personally, as well. At the time of the dispute with the Piarists that led to Papczyński’s departure from that Order and the subsequent founding of a new religious community, Saint Stanilaus gave – as one of the reasons for leaving – his love of the religious life (charitas), understood as a love for the community to which he belonged. This was corroborated by the decree of the heroic virtues, which states that “completely taken by true love [...] he asked in 1669 for permission to leave the Order of the Piarist Fathers, which was given on the base of the apostolic breve of Dec. 11, 1670.” Cf. Bl. S. Papczyński, Apologia wystąpienia z Zakonu Szkół Pobożnych, PZ, p. 1448-1450; Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Decree [...] The canonization cause of the Servant of God, Stanislaus of Jesus Mary Papczyński, Founder of the Congregation of Marians under the title of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1631-1701), in: Lest You Remain without Work in the Vineyard of the Lord. Proceedings of the Committee of the Congregation of Marian Fathers in Charge of Preparations for the Beatification of the Venerable Servant of God, Fr. Stanislaus Papczyński, Ed. A. Pakuła, Warszawa-Stockbridge 2006, p. 95.
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