67 Apostolate or Contemplation: 1677-1723 for local religious orders, including the Marians.36 In the 19th century, due to political changes, the monastery’s position, both in material and pastoral terms, became dire. An official report from 1818 portrays the disastrous state of the institution: “The church and the monastery, which are timber-framed, shingle-roofed, are in danger of collapsing. Three religious — two priests and one brother — are in residence. The usefulness of the monastery is limited to performing the monastery’s and — occasionally — some parish duties.”37 Unable to see realistic solutions to the difficult personal and economic situation, from 1822, the Marians of Góra Kalwaria aimed to leave the Cenacle and take over another institution. However, the stance of the then superior general, Fr. Thaddeus Białowieski, a devotee of the Servant of God Fr. Papczyński and defender of the Cenacle, who personally resided in this ruined institution, prevented these plans. Extinct Foundations from the Time of Father Papczyński The 17th century was a time of intensive development for religious orders. Although it was briefly interrupted by various military conflicts like the Cossack wars, the Swedish invasion, famine, and plagues, which caused significant human and material losses, each time, monasteries were rebuilt, and new ones were established in response to the growing number of vocations, both for men and women. Religious orders, especially those focused on practical activities such as pastoral work, missions, running schools, hospitals, and shelters, saw significant growth during this period.38 However, this period was not good for the Marian Order with its strict rule, although the scant notes in various documents tell us that — in addition to the Korabiew Forest, New Jerusalem, and Goźlin — Fr. Papczyński opened some other establishments, among them one 36 In fact, the Prussian occupation lasted only until 1807, as from 1807 to 1815 the Duchy of Warsaw was established, which was dependent on and subordinated to the French Empire and Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. 37 Dokumenty mariańskie, p. 108. 38 Jerzy Kłoczowski, Średniowiecze i Rzeczpospolita, in: Jerzy Kłoczowski i inni, Zarys dziejów Kościoła katolickiego w Polsce, Kraków 1986, pp. 118-131.
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