Friends, I cannot begin to describe how what appears to be a thick tome of theology has impacted my relationship with the Trinity and with Mary. Yes, the language is a little fancy. But, oh, how St. Stanislaus’ words break my stony heart. I cry every time I read even a few words.
By Deanna Williston
Have you ever fallen in love with a character in a book? Someone who you just know that if you met them in real life, you would be best friends and go on all kinds of crazy adventures?
That is me and St. Stanislaus Papczyński (1631-1701), the Founder of the Marians. We mark the anniversary of his death on Sept. 17.
The book I encountered him in the Marian Press book Founder of the Marians (1997, but now out of print), took me on a rollercoaster ride of poverty, cancellations, wars, set-backs, triumphs, and resistance. Through it all, St. Stanislaus persevered and revealed to me how the hand of God can move mountains.
Saint Stanislaus may have lived in the 17th century, but he has become a dear friend and a constant companion on my spiritual journey.
It all started on a bus
The adventure began on a bus trip to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy, Holy Rosary Parish, in Baltimore, Maryland, for the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday. What a day!
After my friends and I boarded the bus, we began by picking prayer partners, sharing donuts, and praying the Rosary. Next, we had a private tour of the Shrine, including where one of the miracles for St. Faustina’s cause happened, and we got to venerate the first-class relics of St. Faustina, Pope St. John Paul II, and Bl. Michael Sopoćko. Then on to the church hall for homemade pierogi, kielbasa, and kremowka, St. John Paul II’s favorite cream cake.
After my belly was quite full and happy, I wandered into the gift shop — that is where this odd little book with a cover of a statue of a man holding a Latin book caught my eye. What was this all about? Why did it look like a children’s book, but with a simple title, Founder of the Marians, and which Marian order did he found?
Unexpected page-turner
I bought the mysterious little book and ran upstairs to get into one of the hours-long lines for Confession; I saw so many friends from various parishes, it was almost difficult to stay recollected. However, the witness of the many young adults in line was encouraging.
Finally, Archbishop William Lori, along with one of the Marian Fathers (I recognized him from the Divine Mercy channel on YouTube) and the local pastor celebrated the Mass, led us in the sung Divine Mercy Chaplet (the warm hug of prayer that surrounded us was something I have never experienced before; perhaps the angels joined in), and began a procession! (One of my own local Knights of Columbus led the procession.) The Polish parishioners welcomed us as brothers and sisters, and even helped us learn a little Polish.
It was truly a day of friendship among the Body of Christ.
Cliffhanger!
Divine Mercy Sunday 2024, such a blessed day of pilgrimage, was hopefully the first of many (10/10 recommend!). On the way home, we revealed ourselves to our prayer partners and the wonderful things that had happened to each of us.
As we finally settled in for the long ride home, I cracked open my book. Soon intrigued by St. Stanislaus’ story, I was disappointed that it ended as a cliffhanger!
It turns out that founding an order is not easy, and the pope at that time would not allow any new rules. The Marians had to live under an existing Rule — a Third Order Franciscan Rule of the 10 Virtues of Mary!
As a Secular Franciscan living under a Third Order Rule myself, I was both excited to have found this thread of kinship and curious to find out if (and how) the Marians came to have their own rule.
In his own words
God is good, and soon, there was Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, on YouTube, talking about how St. Stanislaus’ writings had recently been translated into English. Jumping onto my browser, I quickly found Saint Stanislaus Papczyński: Selected Writings available for free as both a 900-page pdf and a flipbook — and as a hardback book to own.
Ugh. Nine-hundred pages were too much to print at home, and neither a computer file nor a flipbook would allow me to add all the sticky-note tabs and margin annotations that help me get every nuance out of what I read. I needed that hardback book.
As YouTube creator and book-reviewer, I quickly made a video for Founder of the Marians and introduced my followers to Saint Stanislaus Papczyński: Selected Writings.
I may have also bemoaned the cost of the book (sorry!) and thus inspired some to pray for me, because I soon found myself convincing the Marian Helpers to send me a review copy of the book. I am so blessed! (I have a series of reviews covering each of the writings; find them at “Deanna Williston OFS” on YouTube.)
Break my stony heart
Friends, I cannot begin to describe how what appears to be a thick tome of theology has impacted my relationship with the Trinity and with Mary. Yes, the language is a little fancy. But, oh, how St. Stanislaus’ words break my stony heart. I cry every time I read even a few words.
I carry his book around with me, even once into the confessional (see page 534). That is just the kind of friend St. Stanislaus is. He accompanies me and makes me a better Catholic, a better Franciscan, and a better person. He hears the sighs of my heart and somehow has compiled the words of the Bible and of so many saints, seemingly just to help me.
If you have not met St. Stanislaus yet, you must make his acquaintance as a friend and brother in Christ, and invite his intercession!
Saint Stanislaus Papczyński, pray for us!
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