MARIANS IN 1670-1788 138 Marians were generally submissive to the Reformates’ vicars and their authority, accepting their orders without opposition. The Reformed Franciscans regarded them as part of their heritage, in the development of which they had a significant role and for which they felt responsible. Despite the numerous critical accounts provided by source documents, it should be noted that the Franciscans tried to see both the positive and negative aspects of Marians’ life. Numerous Chapter decrees indicate that they had an insight into all its manifestations and endeavored to remedy the deficiencies they perceived. They made sure that the Marians led dignified lives and observed religious discipline. It is also important to emphasize that the Order of Reformed Franciscans enjoyed great popularity in Poland. In 1772, it had about 2,500 members residing in Polish territories. In what has been said above, one should not look for his overall criticism but rather an assessment of a strict policy applied to the Marians, although it seems it was often done in good faith. However, there were too serious differences between the Marians and the Reformates regarding spirituality, apostolate, charisms, asceticism, discipline, and heritage. On these very levels, uncertainties, misunderstandings, and antagonisms arose, hindering the development of the Marian Order. The 18th century was a time of a general crisis of religious life in Poland. It affected the Reformates, but it did not spare the Marians either.268 Contrary to the Founder’s prohibition, there were instances of drinking, desertion, and laxity in morals among the Marians. In other words, amid this situation, the Marians were not without fault. Wacław Makoś, a historian of the life and times of Fr. Papczyński, largely attributed the blame for this to Fr. Kozłowski. According to him, “the price he paid for his promotion was the abandonment of essential charismatic values and a lowering of monastic observance in everyday life. In this way, he quickly gained popularity among members with weaker monastic spirits and was effortlessly elected to various offices. He was elected to the position of general three times and twice completed the term due to the premature death of his predecessor. In pursuit of his goal, he raised new members with similar ambitions, disregarding the Marian charism.”269 268 Albin Bronisław Sroka OFMRef., Prawo i życie polskich reformatów, Kraków 1975, pp. 92-94. 269 Wacław Makoś, O. Stanisław od Jezusa Maryi Papczyński. Badania i refleksje, Warszawa, 1998, pp. 218-219.
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