879 apologia for his departure from the order of pious schools 8. Add [to this] a very calumnious letter, responding to the Very Illustrious and Reverend Lord Bishop of Płock, in which he said of me (certainly as a father caring for [his] son’s reputation)100 that “I do not know what sort of disturbances this instigator (accompanied only by four youngsters), made regarding the election of Superiors in the Province.”101 9. Add [to this] another letter sent to His Excellency, the Most Reverend Bishop of Krakow, in which he derided me with the gravest calumnies.102 10. Add [to this] the slanderous derision, when he sent me two letters with the title of Provincial, so as to reproach me for seeking office.103 I call upon God as my witness that I never sought it, as I had professed a public oath, in addition to the customary vow, that I would not accept any office of a Superior, unless I were elected by the Holy Spirit in secret voting.104 Other [such] matters I retain in silence. 11. Also, resulting from this enmity, I — even though I quite frequently demanded this in the face of such urgent necessity — was not able to request for such a Visitator who could investigate certain failings and who could better repair and strengthen 100 This is said in an ironic sense. 101 The letter sent to Fr. Chiara by the Bishop of Płock, probably John Gembicki (1655-1673), as well the letter Fr. Chiara sent in response, are no longer extant. Bishop Gembicki probably interceded with the General around April 1668, asking that Fr. Papczyński be given the faculty of returning to Poland from Germany. It is presumed that the response was negative. Cf. SH, p. 44, n. 49. 102 This is probably referring to a letter (no longer extant) which Fr. Chiara sent to Bishop Andzej Trzebicki, ordinary of Krakow, or Bishop Nicholas Oborski, auxiliary of Krakow. Father Chiara was responding to a letter he had received from one of them (also no longer extant) at the beginning of the year 1670, protesting against his plan to imprison Fr. Papczyński. 103 These two letters are no longer extant. Father Chiara probably sent them to Poland during the years 1668-1670. Kraus claims that one of these letters (probably sent in 1669) from the General was addressed as follows: “Patri Stanislao a Sanctissimo Sacramento provinciali Poloniae” ("From the Provincial of Poland to Fr. Stanislaus of the Most Blessed Sacrament") Cf. SH, p. 44, n. 51. 104 Cf. above, HW, pp. 855-856, n. 2. This was one of the promises added to the profession of simple vows.
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