MARIANS IN 1670-1788 96 and institutions, as well as the spiritual benefits of the religious. The document, among other things, states: “We wholeheartedly and zealously support and humbly recommend those who tirelessly work to assist the clergy. This Institute of wondrous love serves not only the vast diocese of Poznań but the entire Kingdom, especially in areas where the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few, where churches are far apart, and where there are many simple people either infected with new errors or taught by teachers devoid of faith. Therefore, this religious order is highly necessary as it possesses excellent subordinates of noble origin equipped with knowledge, virtues, and exemplary lives. The Diocese of Poznań and the Kingdom of Poland have repeatedly advocated for its approval.”123 This letter was of utmost importance for Marians’ efforts to obtain papal approval. At that time, Fr. Joachim Kozłowski, wanting to fulfill the mission he came to Rome for and guided by the suggestion of the Holy See, began searching for a rule that would already be approved and connected to an existing order. However, it seems accurate to claim that he did not make sufficient efforts to obtain approval for the order based on the Rule of Life, as the Jesuits, Piarists, and others had previously received approval for their own constitutions. Fr. Kozłowski, who was on friendly terms with the Seraphic Order of the Reformed Franciscans and pleased with their spirituality, as well as the mystery of the Immaculate Conception that they cultivated, followed the advice of a Franciscan, Fr. Francis Diaz, and chose the Rule of Imitation of the Ten Virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was already adapted for male institutes.124 Since this Rule was under the jurisdiction of the Order of Friars Minor, the consent of the authorities of that Order was necessary for its acceptance. On September 21, 1699, the Superior General of the Franciscans, Fr. Matthew of St. Stephen, granted consent, simultaneously aggregating the Marians into the Franciscan Order.125 By adopting this rule, the Marians received the right to benefit from “graces, exemptions, indulgences, and privileges, given therein for the followers 123 Navikevicius, Appendix I, n. 35; Positio, Papczyński, pp. 522-525. 124 Positio, Papczyński, p. 538. 125 Przyłączenie marianów do franciszkanów pod Regułą Dziesięciu Cnót NMP, in: Regula Ordinis Beatae Virginis Mariae, Varsaviae 1723, pp. 36-40; Navikevicius, Appendix I, n. 38; Teixeira, n. 204; Positio, Papczyński, pp. 540-542; Feliks Bartecki, Rozwój prawa partykularnego zakonu OO. Marianów w latach 1670-1910, manuscript, Warszawa 1967, pp. 27-28.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==