107 Apostolate or Contemplation: 1677-1723 New Foundations: Goźlin and Skórzec The founders of the Marian church and monastery in Goźlin were John and Cecylia Lasocki. They had been preparing for this foundation for many years, as indicated by the will made by Cecylia Lasocka in 1689. In it, we find the following provision regarding the church of the Marian Fathers: “… which Fathers my husband and I promised to settle on the Goźlin Estate.”166 In the document of installation of the monastery and the deed of gift, drawn up legally in the town of Czersk on October 15, 1699, John Lasocki expressed his idea, declaring that “moved only by the pure objective of the glory of God and the honor of the Immaculate Blessed Virgin Mary, he sponsored [...] for Religious of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary for bringing salvation to souls devoid of all help.” As a source of livelihood, he designated land, meadows, and pastures for them, granted logging rights and fishing privileges, and bestowed others. In return, the Marian Fathers were obliged to celebrate two Holy Masses weekly for the rest of the founders’ lives — one for the oppressed and persecuted and the other for the sinners. After their death, two Holy Masses per week were to be offered for the suffering souls in Purgatory.167 The fulfillment of the promise made in 1689 was delayed due to the costly legal proceedings on behalf of Cecylia Lasocka against her enemies, who were raiding her estates. Allegedly, as she confessed, she became so poor that if it were not for her future husband lending her money, “she would have had to go to the wedding with him in mourning attire [...], and she would have had neither the means to live nor to sow.”168 Only after winning the lawsuit against their adversaries did Jan and Cecylia fulfilled their pious foundation promises. John of Glew Lasocki, the cupbearer of Łuków,169 a pious nobleman of moderate wealth, was a proprietor of several villages: Goźlin, Zalesie, 166 Prot. Ord., p. 98. Oblata testamenti ultimae voluntatis Generosae Rongiuszowa seu Lasocka. 167 Prot. Ord., pp. 87-93. “Erectio Domus Goslinensis”; Dokumenty mariańskie, pp. 63-69. 168 Ibid, pp. 95-98. Cecylia Lasocka was initially married to Constantine Paris, the cupbearer of Czersk. After his death, she married John Lasocki of Glew. According to testimonies, after Paris’ death, his family denied Cecylia her inheritance, and neighbors looted her property. 169 Cupbearer was a former court office. The duty of the cupbearer was to present cups of wine to the king. In later centuries, it became an honorary title bestowed upon the nobility. Each land and county had its own cupbearer, hence the term “land cupbearer”. See: Zygmunt Gloger, Encyklopedia staropolska, t. I, Warszawa 1978, p. 291.
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