The Renewal of the Order redone 2018

The Renewal of the Marian Order in 1909-1910 30 On the day of its General’s death, the Marian community numbered only two professed monks. Only when Rev. Totoraitis professed his initial monastic vows on July 13, 1911, could the Electoral Chapter meet. 94 It took place the next day, July 14, in the sacristy of the parish church in Gielgudyszki in the Sejny diocese where the parish priest was a paternal uncle of Rev. Buczys. In the protocol drafted on that occasion, we read: “We, the remaining professed brother priests: Jerzy Matulewicz, Jan Totoraitis, and Franciszek Buczys have elect- ed Brother Jerzy Matulewicz to be the Most Honorable Brother Superior of the Congregation.” 95 Rev. Matulewicz, re-elected in 1923, performed this function until his death. As the Congregation grew, so did the circle of people who were let in on the secret of its Renewal. The Secretary of the Sejny Consistory, Rev. Jurgis Narjauskas, who was informed of everything by Father Sekowski because of the office he held, did not keep the secret and told other priests about it. According to his story, as of the end of June 1911 everybody knew about the event “not excluding the Jews or Russians.” 96 At the same time, beginning in the spring of 1911, the czarist police, especially in St. Petersburg, were increasing their hunt for secret religious organizations. In his Spiritual Diary , Rev. Matulewicz wrote: “A new storm had befallen the Church. Everything had to be removed and hidden. It was dangerous to keep even the smallest note so as not to endanger others unnecessarily and not to betray oneself.” 97 Under such circumstances, one could not con- sider organizing a larger novitiate, especially for priests. In fact there was serious danger that the Order itself might be destroyed. 94 LVA, set 1676, inv. 1, vol. 142, protocol of vows, July 13, 1911. 95 See Document 32. 96 LVA, set 1674, inv. 1, vol. 99, pp. 101-102, letter of J. Matulewicz to Fr. Buczys, June 25, 1911. 97 Diary , p. 107, July 17, 1911.