Saint Stanislaus Papczynski — The Life and Writings

6. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary suffers a downturn SAINT STANISLAUS’ ReMeDy: promoting Marian devotion. All recent pontiffs, but especially Bl. Paul VI and St. John Paul II, have stressed the importance of true Marian devotion in the effort to bring about a renewal of Christian life, according to the directives of the Second Vatican Council. Unfortunately, we have observed in these post-conciliar years a considerable decline in Marian devotion, due also to a wrong understanding of ecu- menism. In order to counteract this dismal tendency, it would be most useful to give the faithful a new impulse towards amore gen- uine and filial Marian devotion, as is found in the life, apostolate, and writings of St. Stanislaus. 7. The need for Conversion and Renewal SAINT STANISLAUS’ ReMeDy: recourse to Divine Mercy Using Scripture passages describing Christ’s sufferings, St. Stanislaus presents the Passion of Christ as a result, on the one hand, of our sins, and on the other, as an act of Christ’s love for mankind. This way, St. Stanislaus wishes to move the faithful to repentance and conversion, as well as to show gratitude to the One who suffered so much for us and who — by the example of His Passion — showed us how to mend our ways. The saint encourages us to abide by those counsels with a contrite heart, trust, and love. No sinner, however great, should despair of his salvation, because everyone in this life may have recourse to the DivineMercy; what ismore, they ought to do so. As a true apostle of mercy, St. Stanislaus addresses sinners in those words: “Are you afraid, whoever you are, crushedwith the burden of vast sins, at the edge of the abyss of Hell and its punishments, terrible, incurable, and unending? Sigh, flee, and hasten to the scourges of the Savior with true contrition.” S AINT S TANISLAUS P APCZYNSKI 42