St Stan Illustrated Story

48 T he natural complement of all pastoral work begun in the pulpit is the direct and personal contact that a priest establishes in the confessional with the souls of men. Even as a young priest and confessor, Fr. Stanislaus must have revealed unusual attributes of mind and heart if, as we learn, so many were attracted to his confessional. We know too that among these penitents were a number of distinguished prelates, bish- ops, and members of the Polish Senate. There are indications that one of the Senators who frequented his confessional at this time was the future king of Poland, John III Sobieski, who in 1683 was to defeat the Turks at Vienna. There is also some evi- dence that Fr. Stanislaus became the confessor of Anthony Pignatelly, the Apostolic Nuncio to Poland (1660 -1668) and later (1691) Pope In- nocent XII.