Ephemerides_Marianorum_2017

E PHEMERIDES M ARIANORUM 6(2017) 15-16 Editorial Historical memory for identity The well-known saying of Cicero (106-43 a. Chr.) that “history is the teacher of life” ( historia magistra vitae est ) perfectly characterizes the historical memory’s importance for humanity, man, and religious community, of course. It is also Cicero who – in his treatise De oratore – speaks about history and historical culture not only in terms of a “teacher of life,” but also of the “light of truth” ( lux veritatis ), “witness of the times” ( testis temporum ), “guardian of traditions” ( nuntia vetustatis ), and “living memory” ( vita memoriae ). Therefore, we should not regard history as something far away from the present and having nothing in common with it. As he was delivering a lecture at the Collège de France (1843 r.), Adam Mickiewicz stated that in the life of every human society “the past continually connects with the future through the present time.” A religious community carries in itself its past, while it shapes its present time in the spirit of historical identity, thus building its future. For this reason, the community cannot lose it historical memory. As an historical being in the history of the world, each man is unique and personifies the infinite imagination of God the Creator. The Holy Spirit calls such people to a religious community, the image of which is also unrepeatable and unique in the history of the Church. Thanks to the historical memory, the community preserves its continuance, while experiencing changes in obedience to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The image of this community is different in different epochs, but it does not differ from the one that was planned and “imprinted” on the soul of its founder by the Holy Spirit. For this very reason, the Marian community it its essence still has the same identity, the same image, which was imprinted on the soul of St. Stanislaus Papczyński. Thanks to the historical memory, we preserve intact the image of our Congregation, and – by studying its history – we uncover the wonderful work of the Spirit who – as a Divine Artist – continues to paint, create, adorn, and develop our Congregation. He does this in accord with the plan, which