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STOCKBRIDGE, MASS.—On Dec. 16, the Vatican announced that it has recognized the miracle attributed to the intercession of Fr. Stanislaus Papczynski, the Venerable Servant of God, who founded the Marians of the Immaculate Conception Congregation based in Stockbridge Mass.

Now, the founder of the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Fr. Papczynski will be beatified.

The Marians of the Immaculate Conception of Stockbridge are stewards of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge and publishers of Marian Press at the Association of Marian Helpers, a printing apostolate that prints thousands of books, magazines, and brochures each year.

Born in l631 in the small village of Podegrodzie, in southern Poland, Fr. Stanislaus became known as an extraordinary preacher, writer, and confessor of souls. King John III (Sobieski) reportedly sought his counsel and came to him for confession, as did the future Pope Innocent XII, who was serving at that time as the Papal Nuncio for Poland. The crowning achievement for Fr. Stanislaus came when he founded the Marians in 1673, calling them to spread devotion to Mary Immaculate, pray for the souls in purgatory, and assist pastors in parishes.

The miracle that opens the way for the beatification concerns a pregnant woman. About five years ago she went to her doctor and the doctor declared that the baby had died.

Father Wojciech Skora, MIC, Postulator General for the Marian cause of beatification in Rome, explained that the woman's godfather, when he learned of the child's death, had prayed that through Fr. Papczynski's intercession the child would be saved. The godfather was convinced that Fr. Papczynski would intercede since the godfather "himself received very many graces by praying through his intercession," said Fr. Wojciech.

Three days after the fetus was declared dead, the woman returned to the doctor for a check-up and to have the dead baby removed from her womb. "To his amazement, the doctor detected that the fetus is alive again," said Fr. Wojciech. The child who experienced this grace is about 5 years old now and is developing well.

"Our Father Founder was very much aware of the upheaval going on in the society of his time and the sorts of problems associated with it," said Br. Andrew Maczynski, MIC, who is Vice Postulator for the Marian Causes of Canonization in the Marians' Stockbridge, Mass.-based Province.

Due to these plagues and wars, Fr. Stanislaus encouraged prayer for the souls in purgatory, especially for those who died unprepared and suddenly. He reportedly served as a chaplain in the Polish army and prayed at the graves of the soldiers. Another serious problem that Fr. Stanislaus sought to address was alcoholism, the great addiction of the 17th century. "He saw that the Polish people were slaves to alcohol,"

In combating such an addiction and other personal problems, Fr. Stanislaus always emphasized turning to Mary Immaculate as our powerful intercessor before God. "Our Lady, especially in her privilege of the Immaculate Conception, meant everything to Father Founder," said Br. Andrew. "He looked to the most holy and pure Blessed Virgin whenever he encountered personal difficulties and trials."

The Vatican is expected to set a date soon for Fr. Papczynski's beatification.

Beatification is recognition by the Church that a person has attained the glory of heaven and therefore has the capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name. It authorizes the use of the term "Blessed" before their name and allows limited public religious honor — usually in the local church of his or her origin or in a religious community to which he or she belonged.

The Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception is a community of about 600 priests and brothers who are serving Christ and the Church in eighteen countries and in six continents.

The Association of Marian Helpers (AMH), founded in 1925, and located also in Stockbridge, is a spiritual benefit society that serves the needs of more than half a million members. The prayers and financial offerings of the members of the Association support the Marians’ apostolic works around the world. The Marian Helpers Center houses Marian Press, the publishing arm, that prints the Diary of St. Faustina in addition to millions of pieces of religious materials each year, including the popular magazines Marian Helper, Roze Maryi, and Fuente de Misericordia.

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