Saint Stanislaus Papczynski — The Life and Writings

fruit of his deep spiritual life and devotion to the Passion of Christ. During his stay in Warsaw, Fr. Stanislaus also served as an instructor at the Piarist College, directed the Confraternity of Our Lady of Grace, and undertook many successful efforts to- wards the beatification of the founder of the Piarists, Fr. Joseph Calasanz. Initial Difficulties in the Piarist order But the splendid Warsaw years of Fr. Stanislaus became the beginning of the end for his time with the Piarist Order. In order to understand Fr. Papczynski’s vocational journey and struggles, we need to look at the history of the Piarist Fathers in Poland. Founded by St. Joseph Calasanz in 1579, the Piarist community grew quickly both in Italy and neighboring regions on account of the popularity of their schools, which offered quality educa- tion to the lower social strata. In 1642, king Ladislaus IV, wishing to make such educational opportunities available to his people, invited the Piarist Fathers to come toWarsaw. Prince Stanislaus Lubomirski followed the example of the king and invited them to Podoliniec, where, in 1643, they opened their novitiate and college. Papczynski studied in this newly established school from 1649-1650. As the Piarists’ schools greatly expanded throughout europe, however, their rapid growth and expansion brought about a pe- riod of crisis (1646-1656). Preparing teachers for its expanding schools becamemore important than proper spiritual formation of its members, which in turn resulted in a certain laxity of reli- gious observance within the order. To rectify the situation, Pope Innocent X revoked the order’s right to accept new candidates and receive their vows, and placed all Piarists under the juris- diction of their local bishops. Perhaps that was why Papczynski did not join their community in 1650, when he completed his secondary education at their school in Podoliniec. It was only in 1653, when the Piarists were given permission to accept new candidates and profess religious vows, that the future saint de- cided to become a member. He entered the Piarist congregation A Brief Biography 11