St Stan Illustrated Story

56 M eanwhile, the death of Pope Clement IX and the delay in electing his successor held up Fr. Stanislaus’s release from the Piarist Fathers. In October 1670, the newly elected Pope Clement X authorized the Superior General of the Piarist Fathers to secularize all members who had refused to take Solemn Vows. On October 24, Fr. Cosmas Chiara, in a letter to the Bishop of Cracow, released Fr. Stanislaus, at his own request, from his religious vows, and from the oath of perseverance in the Piarist Congregation.