49 Beginnings: 1670-1677 Fr. Isidore Taudt86 testified during the beatification process that Fr. Papczyński and his confrères worked, prayed, and fasted a lot during this time. He made many efforts to prepare the cradle for the new congregation. The first step was to “elevate the Cross and to make steps and fences around it.”87 The next step was the construction of a larch chapel, to which a monastery was soon added. After expanding the small church in 1755, the chapel became its presbytery. From the information provided by Fr. Taudt, we also learn that the hermits worked on constructing the chapel and the house. This likely refers to the aspirants who arrived in the Forest after the departure of the first three hermits. In this context, the above-mentioned reiterated opinion that attacks on Fr. Stanislaus, coming from both laypeople and clergy, led to the point where, in 1676, he was left alone seems enigmatic.88 All the more surprising, it is astonishing that just a year later, the Marian Fathers embarked on an expansion. There were so many of them that they could establish a new mission in New Jerusalem and take on pastoral responsibilities there, even though their formation, novitiate, and studies undoubtedly required time. It should also be noted here that on April 30, 1677, Fr. Papczyński acquired the chapel of St. Martin in that city for the Marian Fathers.89 In 1676, he may have experienced some internal conflict, as evidenced by his request to the Piarists to readmit him to their Order during that time. Perhaps this was meant to test whether God truly wanted him to establish his own congregation. However, the Piarists refused his request, as their Chapters prohibited the re-admission of those who had previously left the Order. Fr. Stanislaus interpreted this as a clear sign of God blessing his initiative,90 and he was not mistaken. 86 Father Isidore Taudt was born in 1716. He was an outstanding Marian, actively involved in the beatification processes of Fr. Stanislaus Papczyński and Fr. Casimir Wyszyński. He was highly esteemed by the apostolic nuncio, bishops, and magnates. From 1770 to 1792, he served as a chaplain at the court of Prince Michael Czartoryski. He passed away on November 22, 1792. 87 APS 10 f. 339r-340r. Cf. Navikevicius, p. 168; S. Sydry, O. Stanisław, p. 110. 88 Leporini, n. 39. “However, right from the start, he was persecuted from all sides: by the laity and clergy from outside, and by his deceitful confrères from inside. In the end, he was brought to ruin and left alone with only Father Joseph of All Saints.” On the other hand, T. Rogalewski, in his Stanisław Papczyński, pp. 216-219, claimed that Papczyński was left alone, but said in another place that, probably, Brother John of St. Mary also stayed with him, but then left in the spring of 1676. 89 Decretum Inter Eremitas Korabievienses Dissensionum, in: Positio, Papczyński, p. 372. 90 Navikevicius, pp. 168-170.
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