137 Apostolate or Contemplation: 1677-1723 and the entire “holy” legacy of Father Founder. John Niezabitowski lamented to the general of the Marians: “This was not the outcome, nor the intentions of Our Patriarch, for us to be friars. His thought was never to degrade his sons in this way; after all, he wrote and left laws, which the malice of secretaries overturned, and we are innocent of that. May God not remember the one who […], condemning the Father’s laws, sowed discord among us.”264 Fr. Spourny also presented evidence of manipulation with the Marian Statutes and “other manuscripts of the Venerable Father Founder.” He claimed that while in Rome, he came across a booklet containing “the text of our Constitutions” and other writings, in which there was not even the slightest mention of the dependency of the Marian Order on the minister of the Seraphic Order.”265 He believed that Fr. Bonaventure Klein and Fr. Mansueto Leporini, having “fabricated” Constitutions with Fr. Kozłowski, prepared a petition requesting incorporation of the Marians into the Reformates. This was agreed upon in the name of all the Marians and presented to their minister general.266 Meanwhile, none of the Marians were aware of the sent petition. Some texts are so strong that quoting them is not even appropriate. Sorrow, anger, and bitterness for the lost noble ideal shine through them. Therefore, the question arises: did the Marians try to free themselves from this guardianship? Some thought it had to be that way, while others feared the wide range of punishments imposed by the vicars. Fr. Spourny wrote that there would be more zealous defenders of independence “if only they did not fear their revenge,” meaning the Reformates. Similarly, Fr. John Niezabitowski strengthened the Marians: “There is no need to fear Rome, for we already know it [...], nor the multitude of our guardians, for one episcopal authority weighs more.”267 It seems, however, that the 264 Listy, letter of John Niezabitowski to Father General. The act of aggregating the Marians into the Order of Reformed Franciscans, published in Regula Ordinis, Warszawa, 1723, pp 36-40 differs from the one in Regula Imitationis, Romae, 1778, pp. VII-IX. In this second edition, the content referring to the aggregation of the Marians to the Franciscans and the jurisdictional dependence on their Order was removed, claiming that it is precisely this “sown darnel,” meaning the insertions made by Fr. Kozłowski in agreement with the Reformates. See, Positio, Papczyński, pp. 538-540, and footnote 13. 265 Listy, Letter of Father Candide Spourny, 1. 266 Prot. Ord. 267 Listy, Letter of Candide Spourny of 1777 to the Marians; letter of John Niezabitowski to Father General Raymond Nowicki of Aug. 16, 1777.
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