The Renewal of the Order redone 2018

The Renewal of the Marian Order in 1909-1910 46 N O . 5. L ETTER FROM F ATHER W INCENTY S EKOWSKI TO J. M ATULEWICZ EXPRESSING JOY BECAUSE OF THE CANDIDATES APPLYING TO THE O RDER Mariampole, October 14, 1908 Honorable Reverend Professor, First of all, I apologize for responding in Polish. I am doing so because contemporary spelling in Lithuanian is too difficult to me and I do not have a good grasp of it. In the second place, I apologize for not responding for so long in this matter of paramount importance, but this was not my fault. During that time I was completely disabled. I was laid low by a fairly severe illness, depression, a sadness that took hold of me, various failures, and even some kind of a feeling of oppression. I did not know what to do with myself and how to pro- ceed. I cherished the thought of giving up entirely, renouncing every- thing and giving myself up to the grace or disfavor of the Diocesan authorities. Today, thank God, I feel better and there is a little light in my soul. Although I am still ailing and I don’t have my full faculties or even consciousness at times, hope has entered my heart and mind that something still may and will happen despite the most unpropi- tious circumstances. I have drawn the most courage and some bravery and acceptance from the letter and the intentions expressed in it, the truly holy efforts of the Honorable Reverend Professor. Never in my life, and especial- ly since I have joined the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Holy Virgin, have I experienced such joy as I did at the moment I read the letter of the Honorable Professor. Unfortunately I had no [opportunity] and I could not share this happiness and joy with anyone because (with the exception of the simple folks) there isn’t a person here who would understand and feel the need for the Congregation. Even if our intentions, wishes, and desires will not be fulfilled, even though everything stands against it, the fact alone that there are