Theological Foundations new file

215 A Theological Evaluation and Father Matulaitis-Matulewicz’s teaching is the fact that, using the texts from the Holy Scriptures, they develop the correct image of the Holy Spirit and bring Him closer to man. In their theory of the interior life, they emphasize the role that the Holy Spirit plays within man — which was not always understood in their times. An expression of this is Father Papczynski’s commentary to the evangelical pericope about Christ appearing after His resurrection, when he said to His disciples: “Receive the Holy Spirit!” (Jn 20, 22). He bestowed this Spirit upon them and it was His greatest gift to them. Along with it they received joy, peace, wisdom, gentleness, patience, humility, counsel, forbearance and many other gifts. 38 Father Matulaitis-Matulewicz emphasizes the great- ness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in his commentary on Christ’s words uttered in His conversation with the Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God” (Jn 4, 10). The Holy Spirit is this very gift, He is the infinite good and the source of all good. He is the author of all graces and gifts. 39 Another great contribution credited to the two authors is that they bring a vision of Christ’s Church closer to their readers. In this vision, the Church is not only an institution but, first of all, a spiritual reality. Father Papczynski expresses this idea by depicting the Church as the Lord’s vineyard. All those who were invited and called will find work there; they will find fulfilment there and become more perfect spiritu- ally. Father Papczynski sees various occupations available there, like preaching the Word of God as well as many other kinds of teaching, administering the sacraments and ancillary works. 40 Whenever Father Matulaitis-Matulewicz speaks about the Church, a hymn of love rais- es from his heart and his Diary is full of such hymns. Father Stanislaus’s and Father George’s teaching about the Mother of God has a practical value for Christian life. They both begin their reflec- tions about her with the truth about her Divine Motherhood, which is the source of all her privileges. They both agree with the position of the post-Trent theologians in whose opinion Mary’s motherhood is the foun- dation of all Marian theology. 41 The Marian spirit of our two authors manifests itself not only in their recommendation to practice devotion to