MARIANS IN 1670-1788 134 the Seraphic Order’s cardinal-protector with our Order’s needs, we would not be able to receive anything for our Order through him unless it pleased those friars and they themselves allowed it.”249 The Franciscans strongly discouraged the Marians from installing a Marian procurator in Rome, making it difficult for them to handle serious matters concerning the Order at the Apostolic See. They even demanded that the Marians obtain permission from the general of the Reformates for the departure of a Marian delegate to Rome.250 This practice resulted in the Marians being unknown in Rome in the 18th century, as personally experienced by Fr. Wyszyński.251 The authority over the Marians belonged to the Order of Reformates. Their vicar had real and full power over them. Both the general and the Chapter were subordinate to him. The general’s authority was limited and weak; for example, he did not have the power to remove local superiors, even in criminal matters.252 In internal documents, he was often oddly titled as the General Pastor of the Order or simply praepositus, the Reformates’ tactical move to avoid using the title “Father General.” Some resolutions of the Chapters are referred to as decisions of the vicar, and the decrees established in 1702-1725 are called “Vicar’s directives.”253 The vicars set the dates for Chapters and visitations, approved the election of the general and Chapter resolutions, arbitrarily changed their content, and added their own regulations. Some Chapter decrees ended with the note: “Unless otherwise ordered by the Father Vicar.” Such dual authority did not foster a sense of security, the development of the Order, or apostolate. These were two distinct entities with separate spirituality, formation, discipline, and asceticism. Father Spourny believed that the Marian Fathers in the first half of the 18th century were insecure, a sentiment reinforced by the Reformates, who suppressed and treated them as their Third Order.254 He wrote: “What propitious advice can they give us since they neither know nor would possibly learn our Constitutions, obligations, and shortcomings? Their 249 Listy, letter of Candide Spourny, 1. 250 Wyszyński, Stróż, pp. 305-306. 251 Ibid, p. 374. 252 Cap. Gen., 1747/7; 1788/10. 253 Ibid, 1725/7. 254 Listy, letter of Candide Spourny.
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