75 Marian Pisarzak, MIC Help for the Faithful Departed in the Marian Charism Historical and Theological Aspects Introduction In its Constitutions, published in 1723 and 1787, the Marian Religious Community founded by Blessed Father Stanislaus Papczyński (1631-1701), clearly stated that the Marian devotion and assistance for the deceased are its “vocation and profession” (VIII.1).1 When Fr. Casimir Wyszyński was trying to obtain the privilege of indulgences in Rome (1752), he simply showed the Constitution and added: “we are an institute bringing help to the deceased.”2 One of the forms of realizing the thus defi ned charism was to offer devotions for the deceased at “all churches run by the afore-mentioned Fathers” during the Octave of All Souls’ Day.3 In his “Rule of Life” (1687 and 1694/98) the Marian Founder thus defi ned his Order’s special goal: “… to the utmost of your strength you will promote devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mother of God, and with 1 Statuta Patrum Marianorum Ordinis B.M.V. sub titulo Immaculatae Conceptionis Defunctis et Parochis In Cura Animarum suffragantium Congregationis Polonae, Romae 1723: “vestra vocatio et professio est totis viribus Suffragium praestare fi delium defunctis carentibus auxilio” (VIII.1); cf. Constitutiones Ordinis Immaculatae Conceptionis B.V.M. Clericorum Regularium Marianorum, Romae 1787: “vestra vocatio et professio est totis viribus suffragium praestare Animabus Fidelium Defunctorum” (VIII.1). 2 See: Diariusz czynności w Rzymie i Portugalii, in: Stróż duchowego dziedzictwa marianów. Wybór pism o. Kazimierza Wyszyńskiego, transl. and edited by Z. Proczek MIC, Warsaw-Stockbridge, 2004, p. 296. 3 In 1752, the above-mentioned Servant of God, Fr. Casimir Wyszyński, then the General Procurator of the Order, prepared something like instructions as a way of introducing the indulgences and organizing devotions for the deceased. He drew his inspiration from the custom of the Roman Confraternities. See: Diariusz czynności, pp. 292-295 (after the entry on May 20, 1752). We have a brief press account of the solemn introduction of this “new devotion“ at the Church of Our Lord’s Cenacle in Góra [Kalwaria] on Nov. 2, 1757. The event was presided over by Fr. Krzysztof Krakier, Canon from Warsaw, then residing at the local parish, which was run by the Congregation of Clerics of the Communal Life (informally known as the Communists or the Bartholomists). The author of this account mentioned that the new devotion takes place in all Marian churches and stated that the Marians took steps towards the Beatifi cation of their Founder. See: “Kurier Polski”, 1757, Nr. 46, p. 2. Cf.: S.M. Sydry, Organizacja Zgromadzenia Księży Marianów w XVIII wieku, Warsaw, 1930, p. 68.
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