51 Beginnings: 1670-1677 the Order, like the ark, would continue to sail safely. He encouraged his brethren to take refuge from their tribulations in this boat under the protection of Mary Immaculate.94 The first image on the Order’s seal was a dove holding a green olive branch in its beak, as a definite sign of liberation and also of the strong hope and conviction of Father Founder that his brethren, like the biblical passengers on Noah’s Ark, would be saved from destruction. 94 Wyszyński, Stróż, p. 134. Father Wyszyński described this situation as follows: “This place was called the ‘Noah’s Ark’ as if to protect it from the flood waters of infernal persecution. And although the Congregation was founded under the title of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he wanted much to protect his Order with the seal showing a dove carrying a green branch, thus expressing the hope of surviving the dangers.” It should be noted that the hermitage was located in the town of Korabiewice, while the grounds were called the Korabiew Forest [both words have the Polish word for “ark” as their root — note of the translator]. Father Papczyński believed that the name of the place had a prophetic meaning because it referred to the biblical Ark, so he trustingly adopted the name “Korab” or “Noah’s Ark”.
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