Lumen 2018

this intention into effect presented itself because Bishop Wierz- bowski, the founder of Nowa Jerozolima, was enlisting the help of various religious orders to minister to the spiritual needs of the faith- ful. Since the bishop played a vital role in the foundation and devel- opment of the Congregation of Marian Fathers and, during the last ten years of his life, was particularly connected with Fr. Stanislaus Papczynski, it would be worthwhile to become more familiar with this figure. Bishop Stephen of Wielki Chrzastow Wierzbowski (the coat of arms Jastrzebiec) (1620-1687) was born as the fifth and youngest son of Nicholas Wierzbowski, Castellan of Inowlodz. Stephen’s three brothers were members of the Polish Senate. One of them was a Castellan, another a Palatine of Brzesc Kujawski, and the third one a Palatine of Sieradz. Stephen studied in Cracow and Rome, worked in the Church and royal administration in Luck, Cracow, Paradyz, and Warsaw. He stayed in close contact with King Michael Korybut Wisniowiecki and King John III Sobieski. At first, King Sobieski held Bishop Wierzbowski’s support for his predecessor (i.e., King Michael) against him. Later, however, he learned to appreciate the bishop’s noble character and the two of them became friends. In 1663, Stephen Wierzbowski became the Bishop of Poznan, but took his permanent residence in Warsaw and from there governed the dio- cese. During the last nine years of his life, he stayed mostly in Nowa Jerozolima and resided at a small manor house on the Vistula River. The house was built on a piece of land owned by the Piarist Fathers, probably bought from the former owner of Gora [Kalwaria], i.e., the Gorski family. A year before his death, he was nominated by King John III to the seat of the Primate of Poland in Gniezno (after John Stephen Wydzga had left), but he did not live to see the nomination approved by the Holy See. Throughout his life, he distinguished himself with great diligence in fulfilling the duties of his office with simple, sincere piety. Even when he was advanced in years, he gladly presided over religious services for the common folk. Several times a year, he went to a secluded place at the Oratorian Fathers’ to make a retreat. After his death, his body was buried in a church at Calvary S TANISLAUS P APCZYNSKI 290