MARIANS IN 1670-1788 118 location for the church and monastery foundation of the Marian Fathers, and with all seriousness, we affirm that the establishment of this foundation is highly necessary and beneficial to the highest degree due to the considerable distance from the parish church (in Niwiska) [...], in order to facilitate the salvation of souls from the surrounding areas.”198 After completing the legal formalities, the construction of the church and monastery proceeded remarkably swiftly. It can be assumed that both structures were completed by the end of 1713.199 This is confirmed by the testimony of Anna Cieciszowska, née Siennicka, of Ozorów, the wife of the Liw pantler (a royal court office). On the sixth day after Easter, she bequeathed 3,000 florins to the Marians of Skórzec, obligating them to “celebrate Holy Mass every Saturday of every week, at the altar of the miraculous crucified Jesus Christ, and to recite Hail, Mary on every feast day, after the sermon, together with the people.”200 If the altar was already completed, it further supports that the church must have been standing. Marians’ accounts noted that the legacy is tied to a beautiful and true story. About 10 kilometers from Skórzec, in Ozorów, was the Cieciszowski manor house,201 with a chapel containing a crucifix renowned as miraculous.202 After witnessing a certain mystical event, 198 Ibid. 199 Casimir Wyszyński, in his memoirs about the Founder, recorded that the church and monastery in Skórzec were built in 1718. Cf. K. Wyszyński, Stróż, p. 139; Prot. Conv. Skorc., p. 3, 38. This error was repeated by Krzysztof Trojan in W cieniu krzyża, Licheń Stary 2007, p. 15, and by many others. 200 Prot. Conv. Skorc. of 1714. “Feria Quinta post festa Solennia Paschae Inscriptionem [...] per Annam de Sienickie Cieciszowska, subdapiferam Livense viduam in rem Conventus Skórcensis, super summam 3,000 Polish florins, pro absolvenda qualbet feria sexta, qualibet septimana ad altare Crucifixi Jesu Christi Domini Sacrificii missa, et tribus Salutationibus Evangelicis, post concionem quolibet die festivo cum populo dicendis”. 201 The Cieciszowski family was known and respected in the Mazovia and Podlasie regions. During the discussed period, Wojciech Cieciszowski was the owner of Ozorów and Kłódzie, and he held the position of castellan of Liw in the years 1716-1718. 202 The events related to the “miraculous cross” were described by Fr. Casimir Wyszyński: “Castellan Cieciszowski had a miraculous Crucifix in his private chapel, which was said to have been restored by an angelic hand. It was an old sculpture, already darkened and covered with candle wax, yet renowned for its many graces. The castellan had been contemplating restoring the Cross if he could find a skilled painter. However, at that time, there was no mention of any painter in the area. One day, an unknown monk, neither recognized by appearance nor habit, came to his palace. The castellan received the guest warmly and brought him to his chapel to see the crucifix. He confided in the monk his desire to restore the cross and sought
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