1149 ??? General Introduction to Scripta Historica In this part of the book, we present letters and documents (named Historical Writings) of St. Stanislaus Papczyński. Unlike his other written works, whose subjects ex professo were religious or ascetic issues (although some personal elements, serving as examples, can be found in them), they relate to Fr. Papczyński’s life and activities. Only one of these documents reflect Fr. Stanislaus’ experience from before entering the religious life (No. 1). All the other writings relate to his religious life and work, first in the Institute of the Pious Schools (Nos. 2-4, 6), and then in the Institute (Congregation and finally the Order) of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, of which he was the founder (Nos. 5, 7-19). However, some documents, although written by Fr. Stanislaus as a Marian, refer to his life in the Institute of the Pious Schools (Nos. 7, 8, 13, 14). The following documents are given in chronological order, as they appear in their critical edition (entitled Scripta Historica P. Stanislai a J.M. Papczyński, Varsaviae 1999). The collection does not include three documents. A letter of St. Stanislaus Papczyński to the Procurator of the Piarist Fathers (the then Office of the Procurator1 corresponds to today’s Office of the Postulator) was also omitted from the critical edition of Fr. Papczyński’s historical writings. This letter was not included because nearly the whole of its text is a copy of John Casimir Krasiński’s petition for the prompt beatification of the Piarist Founder, Fr. Joseph Calasanz (†1648), while the text written by Fr. Papczyński (who received a special instruction to collect such requests in Poland2) is limited to a brief introduction3 and closing.4 1 See Positio, pp. 81-82. 2 See Positio, pp. 72-74. 3 In the Polish translation it reads: “Pokój Chrystusa! Wysyłam list do Jego Świątobliwości Podskarbiego Królestwa Polskiego wraz z kopią, o następującej treści” [Peace of Christ! I am sending this letter to His Eminence, the Treasurer of the Kingdom of Poland with a copy of the following content.” 4 In the Polish translation it reads: “Taka to była sposobność zwrócenia się
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