Stanislaus Papczyński facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintStanislaus Papczyński M.I.C. |
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| Born | 18 May 1631 Podegrodzie, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth |
| Died | 17 September 1701 (aged 70) Góra Kalwaria, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 16 September 2007, Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń, Poland by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone |
| Canonized | 5 June 2016, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope Francis |
| Major shrine | Church of the Cenacle, Poland |
| Feast | 17 September |
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Stanislaus Papczyński (born Jan Papczyński on May 18, 1631 – died September 17, 1701) was a Polish Catholic priest. He started the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, which was the first religious order for men in Poland. Before this, he was part of the Piarist Order. He chose the name "Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary". Stanislaus Papczyński was also a well-known religious writer. One of his famous books is The Mystical Temple of God.
He was declared "Blessed" (a step towards sainthood) on September 16, 2007, in Poland. Later, Pope Francis approved a miracle linked to him on January 21, 2016. This allowed him to become a saint. His canonization (being declared a saint) happened on June 5, 2016, in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican City.
Contents
Life Story of Stanislaus Papczyński
Early Years and Education
Jan Papczyński was born on May 18, 1631, in a village called Podegrodzie. He was the youngest of eight children. His father was a blacksmith and also worked as the village leader. When he was young, Jan helped by looking after his father's sheep. This helped him get to know the countryside very well.
Stanislaus had a tough start in school. He found studying difficult at first. However, he worked hard and overcame these problems. He moved from one school to another, including colleges in Jarosław, Podoliniec, and Lwów. He had to leave Lwów because of an attack by soldiers. At 23, he finished his studies at a college in Rawa Mazowiecka.
He was described as a tall, thin young man with dark skin. He had a high forehead and thoughtful eyes. His father passed away while Jan was studying in Lwów.
Joining the Piarist Order
On July 2, 1654, Papczyński joined the Piarist Order. This order was new in Poland. He joined their monastery in Podoliniec and took the name "Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary." He did many simple jobs there, like cleaning and chopping wood. He continued his training in Warsaw. This was during a time when Sweden invaded Poland, known as "the Deluge." This event deeply affected him.
He once wrote about a dangerous moment during the war: "I was ready to die for my Catholic faith. One day, a soldier attacked me. My friend ran away, but I knelt down, ready for the blow. But by God's plan, I was not hurt, even though I was hit three times. I felt a lot of pain afterward, but I was safe."
On July 22, 1656, Stanislaus made his promises as the first Polish member of the Piarist Order. He became a priest on March 12, 1661.
Teaching and Preaching
Before becoming a priest, Papczyński taught public speaking in Piarist schools. After he was ordained, he taught in Warsaw. He wrote a textbook called "Prodromus reginae artium" (The Messenger of the Queen of Arts). This book was reprinted four times. It was praised for its teaching style and for showing his love for his country. In this book, he also wrote that all citizens should be equal before the law. He also criticized a rule that allowed one person to stop a law from passing.
As a priest, Papczyński heard confessions and gave sermons. He was often asked to preach in churches in the capital city. He even published a sermon in 1664. He also helped gather requests to make the Piarist Order's founder, Joseph Calasanz, a saint. From 1663 to 1667, he led a group dedicated to Our Lady of Grace.
One of the people he heard confessions from was Antonio Pignatelli, who later became Pope Innocent XII.
Leaving the Piarists
Stanislaus Papczyński had different ideas about how the Piarist Order should live. He wanted to bring back stricter rules, but others preferred a more relaxed way of life. This caused problems between him and his leaders. He felt misunderstood and called this time "a long-lasting martyrdom." During these difficult years, he wrote two books of reflections: Orator crucifixus (The crucified Speaker) and Christus patiens (The suffering Christ).
Since he couldn't find the right place for himself within the Piarists, he asked to leave the order. On December 11, 1670, he left. He declared, "I give myself completely to God and to the Mother of God, Mary. I promise to serve Them faithfully, in purity, for the rest of my life. I want to do this in the group of Marian Clerics of the Immaculate Conception, which I hope to start."
Founding a New Order
Starting the Marian Congregation
It was not easy for Papczyński to start a new order. He was from a common family, and he wanted a very strict way of life. However, he found support from the Bishop of Poznań, Stefan Wierzbowski. Papczyński went to a house in Lubocza to prepare for his new mission. In September 1671, he put on a white religious habit to honor the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. He also wrote a plan for his future order called "Norma vitae" (Rule of Life). He also wrote a book called "Templum Dei Mysticum" (The Mystical Temple of God). In this book, he wrote that all people, not just priests, are called to be holy.
In September 1673, Papczyński went to a forest where some hermits lived. There, on land given by one of the hermits, he built the first house for his new group. He called it a "Retreat House." On October 24, 1673, a bishop visited and approved this community. The Marians consider this date the beginning of their order.
Bishop Wierzbowski wanted the new religious group to help renew religious life in his area. He especially wanted them in the town of Góra (now Góra Kalwaria), which he called New Jerusalem. He built many churches there. In 1677, he gave Papczyński's community the Church of the Lord's Cenacle and a nearby monastery. Papczyński lived there for 24 years until he died.
On April 21, 1679, Bishop Wierzbowski officially recognized Stanislaus's group as an order. The main goals of the community were to spread devotion to the Virgin Mary and to help souls in purgatory, especially those who died in wars or from diseases. Papczyński also wanted his followers to help priests by hearing confessions, teaching, and giving sermons. He also made it a rule for the order not to drink vodka. King John III Sobieski supported the Marians because he liked strict religious orders.
Seeking Papal Approval
At first, the promises the Marians made were not very strong. The future of the order depended on the local bishop. After Bishop Wierzbowski died in 1687, this became a problem. So, in 1690, Papczyński, who was already 60 years old, walked all the way to Rome. He wanted the Pope to approve his order. However, he arrived when there was no Pope, so he could only get a small connection with other orders. Still, this trip helped his "Norma vitae" (Rule of Life) get approved a few years later.
In 1699, Papczyński tried again to get his order approved. He sent someone to Rome to represent him. This person faced difficulties. So, he got a different rule for the Marians, which connected them to another order called the Franciscan Minors. Pope Innocent XII approved this new rule on October 24, 1699. Even though Papczyński wasn't asked first, he was happy with the new rule because it still kept the special qualities of his order. The Marians then became an order with stronger vows and were no longer under the local bishop's direct control. They focused on teaching faith to common people, which was very important at that time.
On June 6, 1701, Papczyński made his solemn vows in front of the Pope's representative. Then, he received the vows from the other Marians. This was a very important step in creating the first Polish religious order for men. It took Papczyński 30 years to achieve this goal, and he faced many challenges. Sometimes, he even wondered if God truly wanted him to follow this path.
Death and Burial
Stanislaus Papczyński died on September 17, 1701. He was buried at the Church of the Lord's Cenacle in Góra Kalwaria.
His Beliefs and Teachings
Stanislaus Papczyński shared God's word everywhere. He spoke from the pulpit, heard confessions, and wrote books. He always stressed the importance of caring for those who were treated unfairly. He believed that everyone, not just priests, is called to be holy. He wrote: "How wonderful are those who work with Christ, and out of love for Him, truly and eagerly announce all that is needed for salvation, for living a Christian life, for getting rid of bad habits, and for growing in goodness. This is the greatest and most helpful act of kindness."
Long before the Catholic Church officially declared the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, Stanislaus believed in it strongly. He said: "I believe everything the holy Roman Church believes, but most of all, I believe that the Most Holy Mother of God, Mary, was born without any stain of original sin." This belief about Mary was very important to him. He preached about it and wrote a lot about it. In 1670, he even made a "vow of blood," meaning he was ready to die to honor Mary's Immaculate Conception.
Papczyński lived during a time of wars in Poland. He himself went with Polish soldiers in battles against the Turks in Ukraine in 1674. He saw many people die without having a chance to confess their sins. This experience deeply affected him.
Becoming a Saint
The Path to Sainthood
The process to make Papczyński a saint began in 1767. It was stopped for a while but started again in 1953. His religious writings were approved by church experts in 1775. Because so much time had passed since his death, church officials had to search for old documents and testimonies about his life and good deeds. These documents were put together in a very long manuscript. On February 28, 1980, the bishops in Poland asked the Pope to declare Papczyński a saint, as an example of a Christian life. Based on this, on November 28, 1980, the church body in charge of saints decided that his case could move forward.
Pope John Paul II approved this decision on March 6, 1981. This officially started the process, and Papczyński was given the title Servant of God.
After more research and reviews, on January 22, 1991, church experts agreed that Papczyński had lived a life of heroic goodness. On March 17, 1992, cardinals and bishops also agreed.
Finally, on June 13, 1992, the Pope officially announced that Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczyński had practiced faith, hope, love, wisdom, fairness, self-control, and courage to a heroic degree. The Pope ordered this decision to be made public.
Beatification Ceremony
A miracle was needed for his beatification. This miracle was investigated between 2003 and 2004 and officially approved by the church on May 7, 2004. A group of doctors in Rome approved the miracle on May 12, 2005. Church theologians also approved it later. On December 16, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI approved the miracle.
The miracle involved a person named Urszula Markowska on April 4, 2000.
Stanislaus Papczyński was declared "Blessed" at the Marian Shrine in Licheń, Poland. This ceremony was led by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was sent by Pope Benedict XVI, on September 16, 2007.
Canonization as a Saint
A second miracle was needed for him to become a saint. This miracle was investigated and confirmed on June 27, 2014. Doctors in Rome approved it on September 17, 2015, and theologians approved it on November 10, 2015. Church cardinals and bishops also approved it on January 12, 2016.
Pope Francis approved this second miracle on January 21, 2016. The date for his canonization was set for June 5, 2016, and he was officially declared a saint on that day.
Feast Days
- May 18 – A special day to remember Saint Stanislaus (his birthday).
- September 17 – A special day to honor Divine Providence (the day he died).
From Stanislaus Papczyński's Last Will
In his last will, Stanislaus Papczyński wrote:
"I thank God for all the kindness and gifts He has given me. I am truly sorry for all my sins, and I wish to be even more sorry out of love for Jesus Christ, my Lord. I give myself and my whole order, the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception, to the Blessed Virgin Mary forever. I ask for her kind guidance and strong help, and at the hour of my death, I beg for her merciful protection from my enemies and all evil.
To everyone who loved and supported my order, I promise a double reward from God.
I strongly suggest to my brothers: You should have love for God and for others. Be devoted to the Catholic faith, and show respect, love, and obedience to the Holy See (the Pope). Keep your vows faithfully, be humble, be patient, help the souls in purgatory, and be at peace with everyone."
