L E T T E R S

XVIIChristian perfection in their author. But Janski’s notes for confession anddescriptions of his most grievous sins carry no such titles. Evidently, for hisown humility, he read only the latter. Touching too are the statements ofthanksgiving for humiliations and sufferings, and all the daily remindersoffered to the Lord by this man. Janski was a man whose pockets were alwaysempty. Often he wore a borrowed overcoat, a tattered suitcoat. His bedconsisted of a straw mattress on the floor without sheets or bedspread. Hisstove often went unused in the winter. He was a man in constant pain from aterminal illness and an empty stomach, even on the Christmas Vigil!Janski gives outstanding testimony of his spiritual maturity in his dealings withCaesar and Ladislaus Plater who led the move to remove Janski as superior ofthe community. This never occurred, but the effects of their efforts werecertainly damaging. Yet, Janski maintained an incredible calm, greatunderstanding, and heroic patience throughout this incident. He reactedsimilarly in the painful disobedience of the Roman Brethren who were stirredup by the plotting of Caesar Plater and the failure of E. Duński to return toParis with much needed assistance. Janski provided them with a lesson in truehumility: ―When we are alone and the doors are closed, I don't take to the strapfor punishment. I do not even advert to the fact that I have it. Before youalways consciously present in my heart I kneel in spirit and fall on my facebefore the Lord... Confiteor... I kiss the feet of Brother Peter. I kiss the feet ofBrother Edward... Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa‖. It was toheights such as these that this great convert and lay apostle arrived in six yearsof serious labors in the Polish emigration in France and among the SaintSimonists, many of whom he led to the confessional!IV