Servant of Mary new file

Divine Providence, however, had other plans for him. In the autumn of 1723, Francis by chance met Father Joachim Koz=owski, a Marian, who was in Rome regard- ing matters of the Congregation, which were to certain degree connected with the Wyszy<ski family. For the last few years the Order of Marians had been undergoing a serious ideological crisis which almost ended in the total liquidation of the Marians. According to the intentions of their Founder, the order was to spread devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, bring help to the souls of the departed, and assist parish priests in their work. Contrary to these intentions, Bishop Stanislaus Jacek Íwi"cicki, who con- ducted the visitation in the Korabiew Forest in 1673, imposed an eremitcal-contemplative character upon the order. The Founder of the Marians, Father Stanislaus Papczy<ski ]1631-1701\ did not abandon his original plan, and, in 1699, he obtained from the Holy See the approval of his institute as a congregation dedicated to active apostolic work. After the death of their Founder, however, the Order of Marians experienced difficulties which almost led to its liquidation. In 1715, Father Matthew Krajewski was elect- ed Superior General of the Order. The members of the electoral chapter expected that this young, energetic, and educated man would contribute to the dynamic growth of the Marians. It happened otherwise. The new Superior General began to denounce his Order before the Papal In Search of the Way of Life 12