Theological Foundations new file

41 God in the Center not find peace anywhere but in God. 64 This truth had been expressed once before by St. Augustine and Father Papczynski does quote his words: “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is rest- less until it rests in You.” 65 Father Papczynski was absolutely convinced that if man wanted to cling to God completely, he should first seek Him earnestly and persis- tently. In his opinion, the life of St. Augustine is a good example of such a persistent search of God. This Father of the Church confessed that he had searched for God on the roads and streets of this world and could not find Him. Then he understood that he had been looking in the wrong places for he tried to find outside what was, in fact, inside — in him- self. 66 The Venerable Servant of God Stanislaus follows St. Augustine’s thought and teaches that we must look for God inside ourselves, in our hearts — in mortifications, and not on the outside — in pleasures. God can be found where man is abandoned, where we surrender our own will — an indispensable act in forming a firm and stable Christian attitude. 67 Surrendering everything to God requires conforming one’s own will to His will. Such complete surrender on the part of the Son of God made it possible for Him to become man as He descended into the Immaculate Virgin’s womb. Similarly, every man can prepare the path to his own heart for God by following this cry: “Prepare the way of the Lord” (Mt 3, 3). Without complete surrender, without denying oneself, no gift from heaven, no grace, no virtue can find dwelling in one’s soul. Such sur- render requires submitting all one’s senses, feelings and one’s whole heart to God. 68 It is in this very decisive manner that Father Papczynski places theocentrism at the foundation of his teaching on Christian for- mation. God is jealous of us and it is His desire that we should offer and sac- rifice everything out of our love for Him. Father Papczynski is very con- sistent in demanding that such offerings and sacrifices be made and sug- gests that one should give God everything indeed: “Therefore, whether you pray, read, write, conduct good conversations, meditate, work, eat, drink, enjoy an honest rest to strengthen your spirit; any honest, pious,