The Renewal of the Order redone 2018

77 Documents N O . 23. R EPORT OF R EV . J. M ATULEWICZ TO S UPERIOR G ENERAL W. S EKOWSKI ON THE L IFE OF THE M ARIAN C ONGREGATION IN S T . P ETERSBURG St. Petersburg, October 3/16, 1909 Most Reverend Father, I would like to report at least briefly on developments here. On the way fromWarsaw to St. Petersburg we were composing a plan for our lives. We decided to liberate ourselves from all other employment outside of the Academy and devote all our free time to our cultivation, sanctification, and enlightenment in divine matters and in things relat- ed to our condition. However, we have failed in this despite the best will and greatest effort on our part. We find consolation in the fact that no divine work has ever grown without impediments and difficulties. Instead of less work, we now have much more of it, so that little time is left for enlightenment in divine matters. We know that it is not only by prayer that man praises God, but also through work; but prayer is also necessary and there is not enough time for it. After we arrived in St. Petersburg we went immediately to see Rev. Bishop Denisevitch; 1 we presented all our plans and intentions with all sincerity and we showed him the papers. His Excellency praised everything and promised his help and support. However, despite our pleas, he absolutely did not want to relieve Rev. Buczys from his duties as professor in the Seminary, so now poor Rev. Buczys has to do the work of three people: (1) he teaches Apologetics in the Academy; (2) he teaches Apologetics and Dogmatic Theology in the Seminary; (3) moreover he must act temporarily as the spiritual Father in the Academy; (4) once a week he goes to confess the Ursuline Sisters. I also have a lot of work: (1) I am teaching Dogmatic Theology in the Academy; (2) I am teaching Sociology in the Seminary (one hour a week); (3) I also am teaching Sociology in the Academy until a new 1 See Document 12, note 5.