Saint Stanislaus Papczynski — The Life and Writings

only to discover that his father had been dead for several years, leaving hismother awidow. The family rejoiced at his return and soon found him a suitable woman to marry. But he informed his family of the desire that had shaped his life: to dedicate himself to the service of God. Religious life In July 1654, John entered the Piarist Fathers’ novitiate in Podoliniec. It was the beginning of 47 years of religious life. He received the habit and took the name “Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary.” After a year, hemoved toWarsaw for his theological stud- ies and there, on July 22, 1656, made his religious vows. He took an oath to persevere in the religious community forever. In the same month, he received minor orders and was ordained a sub- deacon. After four years of theological studies and preparation for teaching, he was ordained a deacon, and then a priest on March 12, 1661, by Bishop Stanislaus Sarnowski in Brzozów in the Diocese of Przemyśl. For a period of time, Fr. Stanislaus taught rhetoric in Rzeszów, according to his own famous manual, Prodromus Reginae Artium ( Precursor of the Queen of the Arts ), published in 1663 and reprinted in numerous editions. His erudition enabled Papczynski to utilize extensive quotes and examples fromclassical Greek and Roman literature, the Sacred Scriptures, and Christian classics to teach the young, not only the best of rhetorical techniques, but, above all, social and political values, Christian virtue, and divinely revealed wisdom. He dedicated himself to preaching, and quickly gained the re- spect and admiration of many. In 1663, he was transferred to Warsawwhere heministered as a preacher and also a confessor. For a few years, John III Sobieski, the future king of Poland, lis- tened to his sermons. The future monarch would later develop close ties with the Congregation of Marian Fathers. The most famous of Fr. Stanislaus’ penitents was the apostolic nuncio to Poland, Antonio Pignatelli, who later became Pope Innocent XII. In Warsaw, the young religious authored books that were the S AINT S TANISLAUS P APCzyNSkI 10