Father Stanisław Papczyński – a powerful Intercessor of last hope

A marriage in crisis and a prayer on the run

A few days later I was out running – as I often do, to work off the tension and the tiredness.
On my headphones I put on the story of his life.

I listened about a man who did not give up despite humiliation, rejection and hardship.
About a priest who held on, even though humanly speaking everything was falling apart.

At a certain moment I stopped and said outright:

„Father Stanisław, I have no strength left.
I do not know what you will do, but you are the last resort of our difficult marriage.
Intercede for us – for these silent days, for the grievances over nothing, for the silence and the growing exhaustion.”

Painfully honest.
Not yet broken, and yet close to hopelessness.
Exhausted.
In yet more tears.

A marriage that does not shout – but cracks

There was no great drama, no plates flying, no loud rows.
There were silent days.
Taking offence.
Unspoken grievances.
Guesswork and over-interpretation.

Recurring tensions.

It is the kind of crisis that does not explode – but slowly breaks you from within.

I had no strength left; Jesus did not hear me, or so I thought. The only thing was that we both felt there was some invisible Force – a kind of „tape” that would not let us take that final step, that irreversible, earthly decision.

And it was just then that the thought came – Tereska had spoken about „some Strong Saint”; who is this Stanisław?

Who was St Stanisław Papczyński?

Saint Stanisław Papczyński (1631–1701) was a priest, the founder of the Congregation of Marian Fathers and a fervent devotee of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The same Mother of God whom we love in our home? Of course! The very same!

He was a man of:

• radical faith,

• enormous determination,

• faithfulness in spite of rejection and misunderstanding.

He experienced hardship, humiliation and a struggle for the survival of his congregation.
He did not give up.
He did not surrender.

That is why many of the faithful today call him the Intercessor for causes that are humanly hopeless.

A month later

I told my husband that I had called upon a certain Saint Stanisław, that I had practically given him an ultimatum and had chosen him as the last resort of our marriage.

A month later something happened that I had not expected.

My husband – after many years of absence from church – said:

„Let us go to Father Papczyński.”

We went to the Sanctuary of St Stanisław Papczyński in Góra Kalwaria.

And in an invisible way, the shell around our stony heart began to crumble into dust. Something new began there.

No fireworks.
No spectacular miracle.
But a return.
Slow.
Real.

An intercessor with a gentle smile, who leads to God

Saint Stanisław did not draw a sabre, nor did he give us a smack, although we both thoroughly deserved a good hiding 🙂
He must have done something, because from that moment things got worse for a while, and then, step by step, our marriage was reborn out of the rubble and the ashes.

And there began to be more prayer in our home, more conversation, more attempts to work out different ways of behaving, more use of the sacraments, especially confession. From that moment, too, we began travelling intensively to various holy places around the world. Over several years we visited a great many churches, sanctuaries, places of apparitions and of religious devotion. Glory to you, Lord! You have fulfilled all my most secret dreams!

Our experience showed us that:

• grace works over time,

• a crisis need not mean the end,

• marriage is a road of conversion for two people.

• the mission of a marriage is to reach the holy finish line together, each holding the other up

A testimony that gives hope

If someone reads these words today and feels that their marriage is on the edge –
do not be ashamed to ask for help.

Sometimes what is needed is:

• one honest prayer,

• one „God, I cannot go on”,

• one act of rebellion and, as I put it, one stamp of a ballet shoe on the floor, to wake Jesus out of his slumber 😉

• intercessors, an intercessor, someone who stands closer to the Lord’s throne

Saint Stanisław Papczyński is very important to us, on our shared road of conversion.

Whenever we can, we return to Góra Kalwaria – to the Marian Fathers, especially on the first Saturdays of the month. We take part in the Holy Rosary, Holy Mass and Adoration with prayer for healing.

At the end of the devotions we listen to the testimonies of brothers and sisters who – like us – have received, through the intercession of Father Stanisław, a real and often humanly improbable grace in their lives.

If you are going through a difficult time and cannot see a way out, entrust your intention to the Prayer on the Sycamore.