St Stan Illustrated Story

114 I n 1699, the Marians established themselves at Gozlin, about six miles fromNew Jerusalem. The monastery and church there were presented to the Marian Fathers by John Lasocki of Glew. The donor was motivated “by the pure intention of promoting God’s glory and the honor of the immaculately Conceived B.V.M., and of helping the souls in purgatory, (especially) those forgotten by others.” According to tradition, Fr. Stanislaus took to the new church at Goz- lin a picture of Our Lady that had belonged to his family, and under which he had been born and received his early training. It had undoubt- edly also been instrumental in arousing in him that tender love of and devotion to the Immaculate Virgin that were so characteristic of him. From the moment of its installation in the church at Gozlin, this picture of Our Lady became the center of numerous pilgrimages and Marian devotions, and even acquired the reputation of possessing miraculous powers. The many votive offerings and tokens of thanks- giving surrounding the picture are evidence of the people’s gratitude for the favors they had received. To this day, the picture is known af- fectionately as “Our Lady of Gozlin.”