Theological Foundations new file

212 Theological Foundations Matulewicz, who was also a great connoisseur of classical humanism and very erudite, handed down similar ideas to posterity. These were also profoundly humanistic ideas, yet always remaining in the service of God’s teaching. The majority of the sources which Father Stanislaus used in his work were written in Latin. His perfect command of this language left the treasury of ancient, medieval and contemporary thought wide open for him. He wrote almost exclusively in Latin and his use of the language was absolutely correct. 29 He used it with ease and finesse. 30 It was both the language of classical rhetoric and theological knowledge. Father Papczynski’s style, in keeping with the spirit of the times, was very vivid, enriched with examples from history and mythology. When one reads his writings “warmth and enthusiasm emanate from the yellowed pages. One senses that the author is the reader’s or the listener’s sincere friend. A living and loving heart radiates love down through the cen- turies.” 31 Just like Father Papczynski, Father Matulaitis-Matulewicz, too, knew Latin very well, and it was already in the seminary that he impressed everyone with his command of this language. His teacher awarded his knowledge with an “excellent” grade and his classmates nicknamed him “Cicero.” 32 This knowledge of Latin came in handy when he was draft- ing the constitutions and the instructions of the congregation, and later, with the reports from his pastoral visitations. He wrote a lot in his native Lithuanian as well as in Polish, German and French. His use of the lan- guage and his style are so correct that there is no need to introduce any changes which can be seen, for example, in his Polish Letters [Listy Polskie]. Most of the time his letters were handwritten, in pen, legibly although in haste. For a Marian, these letters “constitute a unique liter- ary genre.” “It is impossible to read them and remain indifferent, they never become too well known or too old, they continue to make for new and interesting reading which engages our feelings.” 33 The same can be said about his Constitutions, Instructions and Spiritual Diary.