MARIANS IN 1670-1788 84 also speaks of ongoing turmoil and confusion.87 Bishop Wierzbowski, Fr. Papczyński’s friend, lamented the situation and appointed — possibly, at Fr. Stanislaus’s request — a committee composed of a priest, an apostolic notary from the Apostolic Union of Secular Priests, and two Piarists. Their task was to restore religious discipline, to bring peace and order to the monastery, to establish proper relations between subordinates and superiors, and to resolve specific contradictory and inflammatory issues between them. It seems highly probable that the problem lay in the dispute over the nature of the new Institute — whether it should be apostolic or contemplative. This dispute arose after Bishop Wierzbowski had established the monastery in Góra and had released it from the strict regulations imposed by Bishop Święcicki, a step he did not take for the monastery in the Forest. In this way, two active monasteries within the same Order had different observances, asceticism, lifestyles, daily routines, and even formation. Thus, as the first young Marians came to the Cenacle in 1677 after completing their novitiate and their spiritual and intellectual formation at the strict eremitical monastery in the Forest, and having embraced the lifestyle of a strict cloister — asceticism without apostolate — some of them began to rebel when they observed Fr. Papczyński devoting himself to pastoral work, encouraging others to do the same, and creating various opportunities for such a work. They refused to accept “the new apostolic version of the Order.” This caused divisions and confusion within the community. The episcopal committee formulated its ordinances in 15 articles, which reminded the religious of their primary obligations. The decrees strengthened Fr. Papczyński’s authority, which was expressed especially clearly and firmly in the first article: “All the priests and brothers of the entire Congregation will acknowledge and honor the Most Reverend Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary, and they will show him complete, willing and faithful obedience in the Lord, needing no explanations. Until another house is founded, he will reside at the Lord’s Cenacle.”88 The tone of the point concerning the admonition of the superior is no less decisive. It was probably created due to abuses in this area. “Let no one dare to reprimand [him] in public [...], to use harsh words and accusations, 87 Positio, Papczyński, pp. 412-417. Decrees of the Episcopal Committee of June 14, 1685. 88 Decrees of the Episcopal Committee, Nos. 1-3, in: Positio, Papczyński, p. 414.
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