Saint Stanislaus Papczynski — The Life and Writings

authorized the superior general of the Piarists to formally release from simple vows those members who had already submitted their requests. Father Chiara, in turn, in his letter to the bishop of kraków, dated October 24, 1670, released Stanislaus Papczynski from his religious vows and the oath of persever- ance. The act of secularization took place on December 11, 1670, and was performed by the vice-provincial of the Piarists, Fr. Michael kraus. looking for God’s Inspirations It is not possible to determine the exact moment in time, but sometime before December 11, 1670, the day when Fr. Papczynski was dispensed from his religious vows and from the oath of perseverance in the Piarist Order, God inspired the future saint to make a profession of vows in the community that he was to establish: the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. He did not want to renounce the religious life, so he made his oblatio , a solemn act of oblation or self-offering, before witnesses, declaring: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified. Amen. I, Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczyn- ski […] dedicate and consecrate to God, the Almighty Father, to the Son and the Holy Spirit, and to the Mother of God, ever Virgin Mary conceived without original sin, my heart, my soul […], my body, without leaving anything for myself, in order to be from now on totally a servant of Almighty God and of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore, I commit to serve Them in chastity and ardor to the end of my life in the Society of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception— that I want to found with the grace of God.” He also vowed religious obedi- ence and poverty, made a profession of faith, and took the “vow of blood” in which he committed himself to defend the honor of Mary Immaculate, even at the price of his life. Father Stanislaus refused offers of benefices from some bishops and invitations from several religious orders dedicated to Our Lady. Since he saw no possibility of founding the Marian community in the Diocese of krakow, he went to Lubocza, on A Brief Biography 15