Charity as the Basis and Source of the Spirituality of the Religious Life 69 spiritual life, because – as Papczyński remarks – “the soul of a spiritual man, who loves advancing in all kinds of virtues, is vigorous; his mind flourishes, and abundant fruits spring forth. On the other hand, not only does nothing good come to be and to remain in the mind and heart of sluggish or halfhearted persons, but many imperfections and even the filth of terrible sins stain them both.”123 Offering instructions on the need to practice all of the virtues, both theological and moral, he refers to the example of Christ’s life, which is the prototype of the religious life; but he also recalls the examples of the lives of the saints, among whom, Mary Immaculately Conceived occupies a special place. Other key documents of the early tradition of the Congregation of Marian Fathers – such as Regula decem beneplacitorum and Vita Fundatoris by Leporini – display a similar view on the matter of practicing the virtues as intricately related to the religious vocation. Discussing “these 10 virtues which, according to the testimony of the Gospel, the Virgin possessed,” Regula decem beneplacitorum encourages practicing them in such a way as to “please Christ most perfectly” and “to serve God,” since such is the goal of the religious life.124 The author of the Rule is of the opinion that the following virtues may be found in the Gospel’s descriptions of Mary’s life: chastity, prudence, humility, faithfulness, piety, obedience, poverty, patience, “mercy or charity,” and “sorrow or compassion.” While discussing these virtues, the author sometimes describes the accompanying attitudes, and he give them the character of moral skills. The attitude that stands out most clearly is the preservation of the “true enclosure of the heart,” that should be “loving Jesus alone” and “seeking delight and consolation” in none other than Jesus. Similar importance is attributed to silence – as an invariable tendency of speaking life in the context of practicing the virtues: “There are two splendors by which sacred [religious] institutes shine out greatly: virtue and learning. Virtue is shown by the observance of the religious rule, profit of the one’s neighbors recommends learning. Therefore, moved by Divine decree to the government of our Tiny-Congregation and to be of service to it, we try with all zeal to apply ourselves to this that we may see and have all our brothers in the Lord conspicuous by a perfect discipline of religious life and by the luster of sufficient knowledge,” in: Selected Writings, p. 920. 123 IC, Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, BHC, pt. 2 124 Rule, p. 40-41.
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