Dear Confrères,

On the vigil of the IIIrd Sunday of Advent, called “Gaudete”—the Sunday of rejoicing, I transmit to you very joyful news. Today before noon the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, received in audience the Prefect of The Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, during which he gave instructions to publish the decree regarding the miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Stanislaus Papczyński, the Founder of our Congregation.

After more than 300 years since the death of Father Papczyński, after nearly 250 years from the beginning of his beatification process, more than 14 years from the issuing of the decree regarding his heroic virtues, we are living to see the moment which opens the way to the beatification of our Founder. We receive the decision of the Holy Father as a special gift of grace, and  we desire to give God ardent thanks for it. I ask that immediately upon receiving this news the superiors gather the confrėres in the house chapels and together sing the joyful Te Deum laudamus.

I also ask that our co-workers and parishioners be informed of this important event. The notification to the faithful should contain general information about this happening, without revealing details of the miracle, which remain restricted for the good of the persons concerned. I am sending a proposal for the notification in an attachment.

I call to mind that, with the first day of January, 2007, we are beginning our communal preparation for the beatification of our Founder. A letter to this effect was already sent to all the religious houses with the request that it be read to the confrėres in the first days of the New Year.

In sight of the Holy Days of the Lord’s Birth, in this singular moment of our history, I heartily greet You all, encouraging you to profit from this time of grace, with which the Lord has gifted us.

Very Rev. Jan M. Rokosz, M.I.C.
Superior General

Wojciech Skóra, MIC
Postulator General

Notification for the Faithful
regarding the recognition of the miracle
attributed to the Venerable Servant of God
Father Stanislaus Papczyński

On the 16th of December this year, the Holy Father Benedict XVI authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saintsto publish a decree recognizing the miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Stanislaus Papczyński, who founded the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary in 1673. The miracle involves the “unexpected restoration of a pregnancy” according to the decree.  It has been more than 14 years since Pope John Paul II acknowledged the sanctity of his life by means of a decree regarding his heroic virtues.

The decision of the Holy Father Benedict XVI opens the way for our Founder’s Beatification, which we have been awaiting for nearly three centuries. As we share this joyful news with you, we ask everyone to pray for the intention that the Beatification of Father Stanislaus Papczyński may take place soon, and that our preparation for it may be fruitful.