Theological Foundations new file

152 Theological Foundations mind, interior and exterior senses and his body “to theAlmighty God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” and “to the Mother of God, Immaculate Mary ever Virgin,” so that, in this manner, he might be a ser- vant to the Almighty God and to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 37 Later, he passed his special love and devotion to the Blessed Mother onto the con- gregation which he founded. 38 In the rule of the congregation, he ordered that the honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Elect Blessed Virgin Mother 39 be spread as much as possible. He emphasized this again in his letter addressed to the Marians in the first monastery which he established. 40 He often recommended that his confreres nurture steadfast veneration for “the Immaculate Virgin” and often recall what they had vowed to “God and the Most Elect Virgin.” He wanted all of them to find “the sweetest delight in the Most Elect Virgin Mother of God, the Mother of Mercy, the only Hope and Refuge of all sinners.” 41 In his testament, Father Stanislaus strictly forbade his successor to “wickedly destroy the honor of the Most Holy Virgin Mary whose Majesty we, though unworthy, venerate.” This veneration was shown by, among other things, reciting the Office of the Immaculate Conception and the entire rosary. 42 Daily practice of these exercises in honor of the Blessed Mother was already prescribed and required by the visitation document of the first Marian house, i.e., by the act of appro- bation for Father Papczynski’s institute. 43 As he prepared to leave this world, Father Papczynski fell at the feet of the Most Elect Virgin Mary, Mother of God and, together with the whole Congregation of her Immaculate Conception, entrusted himself to her for all eternity, begging her with tears in his eyes for graciousness, intercession, guidance and protection. 44 It was his desire that Jesus Christ Himself and Mary Mother of God would be the true and only Guides, Defenders and Protectors of this Congregation of the Immaculate Conception. 45 The person of Mary, to whom Father Papczynski was bound by what might be described as veneration, delight, fascination and all-encom-