The Renewal of the Order redone 2018

The Renewal of the Marian Order in 1909-1910 2 known what the Holy See would say to the idea of transforming a strict order whose members used to wear white robes into a clandes- tine society without visible symbols; or what its position would be concerning secrecy and the changes this would bring about in the previous Rule and the whole monastic lifestyle — changes dictated by the need to adapt the Order to prevailing conditions. All this was happening at a time when contacts were more difficult than ever. The dying monastery was in Mariampole in Lithuania and the two enthusiasts were professors in the Theological Academy in St. Petersburg whose teaching duties restricted their freedom of movement while they had to communicate with Warsaw and Rome. The mail worked quite well, but letters were likely to be subject to censorship. There were few precedents, and it was necessary to explain every- thing in Rome personally and make sure this was not just a naive although beautiful dream. Throughout all these precariously delivered letters, half-conspira- torial reports from travels to Rome, communications to the Holy See, pleas for urgency and explanations coming from Rome which failed to be answered in time, requests for permission and granting of such permissions (for example, to deal with certain matters orally instead of in writing as they were too risky for the bishops), eager and enthu- siastic reports, messages whose authors and recipients would never suspect that they would constitute priceless documents — throughout all those documents collected together we can see, as in slow motion, the improbable becoming reality. In fact, the probability that the clandestine Renewal of the dying Order would succeed was scant. As the old General was dying (just one coffin for the moment), there were only two new postulants, not enough to elect his successor. However, by the grace of God, the improbable turned out to be possible. Today, 85 years later, there are over 500 Marians of various nationalities in 16 countries all over the world.