99 Apostolate or Contemplation: 1677-1723 live to see this Rule. He held it in his hands and kissed it with great love. [...] When he learned from Father Joachim that the latter [had] failed to obtain the approval of his Constitutions [Norma Vitae] — for he deemed the Rule quite sufficient, although he could, perhaps, have tried to do both: to accept the Rule and to get the Constitutions of his Order confirmed upon that Rule — the Venerable Servant of God, Father Stanislaus, was a little worried and hurt.”131 Unfortunately, the lack of approval for the Marian Constitutions soon brought many problems, misunderstandings, and conflicts. “Lest You Remain without Work in the Vineyard of the Lord”: Towards the Apostolate There is no doubt that Fr. Papczyński wanted to establish an active apostolic order, which he referred to as the “Marian Society” or the “Society of the Immaculate Conception.”132 Witold Nieciecki explained that it also was “in accordance with [his own] disposition and practice of a diligent pastoral life,”133 referring to Fr. Papczyński’s sixteen years of active apostolic life in the Piarist Order and three years of service as a chaplain in various places and circumstances from 1671 to 1673. It was meant to be a Marian counterpart, perhaps even a complement, to the Society of Jesus.134 However, serious difficulties that emerged at the beginning of the Order’s formation left no option but to adopt the eremitic and rigorous formula imposed by Bishop Święcicki in 1673 for the emerging establishment in the Korabiew Forest. Fr. Papczyński was aware that the severity of the bishop’s decrees made it very challenging to realize his vision for the Congregation. He wrote: “I gladly accepted and intend to keep the laws given by him (although I already had the Norma Vitae written for me and approved by [my] spiritual fathers). 131 Wyszyński, Stróż, p. 123. 132 S. Papczyński, The Foundation of the House of Recollection, 11, 13, 14, 18, in: Selected Writings, pp. 908-910. The title “Society” is frequently repeated. 133 Witold Nieciecki, Główne cechy duchowości Zgromadzenia Księży Marianów, Rzym 1965, p. 16. 134 Ibid.
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