By Paul Suski –
What makes a great priest? Shortly, on May 18, as the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception celebrates the birthday and liturgical memorial of its founder, Saint Stanislaus Papczynski, is a good time to reflect on this.
John Papczynski was born in May 1631, became a Polish Roman Catholic priest, and is considered a patron saint of unborn children and of children with learning difficulties.
“Gradually, the Lord transformed the little shepherd-boy, who found it so hard to study and was physically so frail, into a preacher who drew crowds through his wisdom filled with erudition and profound mysticism; into a confessor whose spiritual counsel was sought after even by the great men of Church and State; into a well-prepared teacher and an author of various works published in numerous editions; into the founder of the first Polish Religious Institute for men, the Congregation of the Marian Clerks of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” – (Homily addressed by Cardinal Bertone, Beatification Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lichen, 2007.)
We all create our own images of greatness as these pertain to virtue, perseverance and holiness. But there’s a common denominator which speaks of exceptionality in a different way, that is, for the love of God and the salvation of souls, with total submission to His will, enduring tribulations, illness, and pain.
Before this happens, a man usually passes through a lengthy period of purification and sanctification. “For in fire gold is tested, and the chosen, in the crucible of humiliation” (Sir 2:5) Otherwise, a soul which has not been cleansed of pride enough, credits everything to himself instead of the grace received by the merits of Jesus Christ.
The man who knew suffering
Most people are probably unaware of this aspect. He is a Saint who suffered trials and adversities in every stage of life; several times, had been miraculously saved from almost certain death. St. Stanislaus a deeply humble, charitable and holy monk, is occasionally compared to the modern day St. Padre Pio.
Sophia Papczynski was returning home to Podegrodzie in mid-May 1631 and had to cross a dangerous mountain river by ferry. While they were only halfway across a sudden gust of wind caused the boat to rock, and Sophia found herself in choppy waters. Not only was her life in danger, but she was also concerned about the child she was carrying. Sophia sent up a quick prayer, giving her unborn child to Jesus and Mary without reservation. God answered the prayer and just in the nick of time she was rescued from the water by people on the ferry. According to tradition, the rescue of Fr. Papczynski’s mother from the waters of the Dunajec River was attributed to the supernatural intervention of Divine Providence.
John’s parents withdrew him from school and assigned him the task of tending to the sheep due to his enormous difficulty in learning the alphabet. This experience proved to be a source of intense humiliation for him. However divine intervention came to his aid, and with the help of a family friend, John learnt the alphabet in a single day. Consequently, he completed grammar school education with remarkable success and later pursued philosophy under the guidance of the Jesuits.
During a severe winter, Sophia and young Johnny were journeying at night via a horse-drawn cart. As they traversed the ice-covered river, the ice gave way under the significant weight. However, at the last moment, the boy was able to leap off and make his way to the riverbank in search of aid. There, Johnny ardently implored God to rescue his mother from the dire peril. Individuals came, out of the blue, and pulled the woman, the horses and the cart out of the water.
As a grown-up student living in Lwów (Lviv) Papczynski was subjected to a terrible eighteen months ordeal, in which time he learnt how to rely on God’s Providence.
In 1648, a pestilence epidemic swept the city, and during this time, while staying with a friendly family, Johnny became gravely ill and was confined to bed. Once the fever subsided, scabies appeared all over his body, resulting in his eviction from the house. Subsequently, Johnny roamed the streets of the city in search of sustenance and temporary refuge, frequently resorting to begging.
His biographers put “God, in His Mercy, did not abandon him. He found people willing, out of kindness and charity, to take him in and care for him. And, strangely enough, the household dogs, by licking his wounds, caused them slowly and almost miraculously to heal and disappear, one after another.” It was only February 1649, when fellow villagers from his hometown came to Lwów and provided him with money from his father which finally enabled Johnny to fully recover and combat grinding poverty.
In September 1665, despite the occupation of Warsaw by the Swedish armies, Stanislaus Papczynski, a Piarist novice, continued his studies. One day, while passing by a Dominican church he encountered a Swedish Protestant soldier and engaged in an intense discussion about the faith. Driven by his youthful zeal he was determined to convert the opponent, and was willing to suffer martyrdom by the heretic sword, if necessary.
Papczynski put down later “My companion (even though he was German) ran away, and I fell to my knees, bared my neck, and braced myself for the blow. However, by the decree of Divine Providence, I did not sustain any wounds, even though I was struck three times with great force, which caused such great pain that I felt it for almost an hour and a half.” This was not the last time he escaped death by inches.
The greatest trial of faith, St. Stanislaus Papczynski ever experienced, involves a wrongful incarceration. The drama, which unfolds in the course of the three months, was later described by the Saint.
In January 1670, Fr. Stanislaus was forcibly removed like a criminal from the Piarist residence at Kazimierz, near Cracow, and sent to Podoliniec, and then carried further to Priewidza in Slovakia.
“The Provincial Superior put me in a carriage with a roof (…) he transported me, half dressed, in severe winter weather, for almost twenty miles and almost killed me during the trip by a strike with a thill on my neck. In Podoliniec, he kept me locked in a cell even though I was sick. When I asked to receive the Sacrament of Extreme Unction (the anointing of the sick), he forbade that. He forbade anyone to come to me even though I was close to death.” (Stanislaus Papczynski (1631-1701) – Founder of the Order of Marians and Inspirer of the Marian School of Spirituality)
Tomorrow: Saint Stanislaus Papczynski: The Man Who Drew People to God