Lumen 2018

S TANISLAUS P APCZYNSKI 58 death, even though during the transitional period of 1670/71, i.e., after he had left the Piarists and before he put on the white Marian habit, his name recorded as John 75 can be found in some documents. Unrest During the Time of the Vasa Dynasty The Founder of the Marians was born towards the end of King Sigismund III Vasa’s reign. When Papczynski came to this world, the monarch, fatigued with life, was preparing to leave it. He died on April 30, 1632, having ruled for 45 years. His reign was full of both successes and defeats. Among his successes were: the capture of the overthrown Tsar of Muscovy, the occupation of the Kremlin, the settlement of the hospodars in Jassy and Bucharest, the victories at Kircholm, Klushino, and Chocim, and the capture of several dozens of fortresses. 76 The interregnum after King Sigismund III’s death lasted only six months and the Republic of Poland could not afford for it to con- tinue any further. It was necessary to elect a new king as soon as pos- sible, before the outside enemies were able to take advantage of Poland’s difficult situation. And the situation was truly critical as Muscovy was getting ready to take revenge on Poland and the tur- moil among the Cossacks grew. Added to that were the religious is- sues among the dissatisfied people, both Catholics and adherents to other denominations. While these problems did not have a direct in- fluence on the decidedly Catholic environment, in which young Pa- pczynski lived, nonetheless, even this quiet corner of Poland was occasionally shaken by the events taking place especially at the south- eastern borders of the Republic of Poland. The election of the new king, Ladislaus IV, took only half an hour when, on November 8, 1632, the votes from several thousand of the noblemen were col- lected, and no one disturbed the harmony of this most peaceful elec- tion in the history of Poland. It was fortunate, indeed, that such haste was made, because, at the news of a massive attack by Muscovy on the Smolensk territories, the Lithuanians participating in the election were eager to return home and defend their borders. 77