Ad Honorem Immaculatae Conceptionis Mariae Oblatio

20 4. And this Father, who in the name of the General imparted to me the release, confirmed [this oblation] by the acclamation: May God strengthen what He has worked in you. 5. And indeed he strengthened [it], because I asked and obtained per- mission from the Most Reverend Lord Vicar (Nicolaus Oborski, Bishop of Cracow, who was a very prudent man and he was already inclined to help me in the foundation of a new Congregation, but later – it is entirely un- known to me by whose instigation – he changed his mind) to assume the white habit, and I was by now to be vested with it by a certain Domestic Prelate of the Bishop in his palace, where at that time I was being protect- ed for reasons of security, during the very celebrations of the Immaculate Conception. 6. Nevertheless by Divine disposition, it so happened, that – when the matter was brought to naught – I was summoned to Warsaw by my singu- lar patron, the Most Distinguished Lord John Gebicki, at that time Bishop of Plock, afterwards of Cracow. And indeed he was offering me the dignity of a Canon of the Plock Cathedral; which I refused for the love of God and because of my intention to honor the glory of His Mother, although by this deed, the Patron was gravely offended by me, who greatly desired to join me adorned by this dignity to his closest associates. There was no lack of Most Holy Religious Institutes, which were inviting me into their company, assuredly I was unwilling, since I eagerly desired greater perfection. After all, the Divine vision, which was imprinted upon my soul in respect to the founding of the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of the B. V. M., having spurned all things, and also the possibility of a return to the Institute of Pious Schools having been hindered, was compelling me to the goal of that vision. 7. And so again, I approached the Most Distinguished Lord Stephan Wierzbowski the Bishop of Poznan in whose Diocese I was staying, and from him, I easily obtained the permission to put on a new habit. For he is an upright and virtuous man, most ardent in promoting the glory of God. Wherefore, having given up the post with the Bishop of Plock, according to the counsel and order of my Confessors, having been requested [to do so], I went to the court of a certain nobleman James Karski, a very good man. Having finally settled the case with the Institute of the Pious Schools, not without some injustice done to me, with the knowledge of the Holy Ap-