Theological Foundations new file

211 A Theological Evaluation a very wise poet but even more so from the affirmations offered by an even better master, i.e. experience;” or: “I know from my own experi- ence ...;” “In my opinion ... ,etc.” 25 Father Matulaitis-Matulewicz, too, was very erudite. He received a thorough education and took care of the education of others encourag- ing them to continue their studies after they had completed the standard education. As a renovator of a religious congregation, he had intimate knowledge of the current laws of the Church and the documents regard- ing religious life. As a priest he was interested in everything that might be useful in fulfilling his pastoral ministry. As a speaker at conferences, he studied various works on the spiritual life, so that he would always be up to date on the issues that he discussed. He tried to instill the same spirit in others. He wrote: “To seek as many men as possible for our- selves, and having found them, to educate, instruct and prepare them for the work most necessary to the Church — this should be our most vital concern. Just because we have made our novitiate and have already completed the necessary studies is no reason why any of us should neglect further learning. It would be a good thing if we selected super- visors of studies who would visit our houses and the lay brothers to give them suitable direction and counsel as to how and what to study — to supervise our lay brothers so, that these may not become neglectful but would rather continually progress in their studies.” 26 Father Papczynski clothed his speech in eloquent language, uttered according to the rules of discourse accepted in his times. He developed profound ideas which he drew from the finest treasury of human thought and experienced personally in the depth of his heart. 27 These are fre- quently highly humanistic ideas because Father Stanislaus was an extra- ordinary connoisseur of culture, of classical humanism, and it was in humanism that he looked for an appraisal of the value of history. It was, in his opinion, a value so great that he considered history to be “an inter- preter of the books of the Holy Scriptures, which makes it easier for the human mind, unable to comprehend all heavenly mysteries, to under- stand God’s deeds through the deeds of great men.” 28 Father Matulaitis-