79 Apostolate or Contemplation: 1677-1723 them, and felt responsible for the destiny of the Order.72 Even if he had reservations or doubts about the legal basis for approving the Marians or about the need to establish a new religious order, they all disappeared with the arrival of the papal breve. Now, he had the assurance that God Himself called this Order, and he supported it in various ways until his death. The bishop promoted it, proposed the foundation of a church and monastery in Warsaw, and gave his consent for the establishment of institutions in other dioceses, encouraging their creation. His words of remarkable goodwill expressed in a letter are worth mentioning: “We graciously accept this Congregation again and again both in our and in our successors’ protection, solemnly promising on our behalf and that of our successors to keep its peace, provision, inviolability and perfect condition.”73 During Fr. Papczyński’s lifetime, the Marian Order did not accept the offer to establish institutions in Warsaw or other dioceses. In this matter, it’s necessary to consider the explanations provided by Fr. Wyszyński, who asserted that numerous epidemics, significant wartime destruction, and the country’s resulting poverty, diseases, and depopulation were severe obstacles. Second Canonical Erection of the Marians on a diocesan level: February 21, 1687 Despite the strong support and involvement of Bishop Wierzbowski in the Marian matters and the goodwill of King John III Sobieski, the Marian Order did not flourish. They constantly faced various difficulties and obstacles, along with numerous attacks on Fr. Papczyński and the Order itself. There were several reasons for the attacks and misconceptions. First, there was a widespread and deep conviction among the nobility and clergy that religious orders could be created only in the countries of the Romance languages and that such orders were only transplanted to Poland. A religious order founded in Poland and by a Pole seemed unacceptable. Therefore, initially, they ridiculed the concept and slandered its 72 L. Górski, Krótka wiadomość, pp. 310-312; J. Kosmowski, Wieczernik na Mazowszu, pp. 21-23. 73 Positio, Papczyński, p. 411.
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