St Stan Illustrated Story

117 T he first messages from Fr. Joachim were not encouraging. Shortly after his arrival in the Eternal City, he went to the Vat- ican and was there directed by one of the imposing halberded guards to the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Religious. He made his way slowly up the magnificent staircase, was received by the authorities, and presented his petition. He did not have to wait long for an answer, but that answer was negative. He was told that under existing ecclesiastical law (dating from the year 1215), no new Institute could receive papal approbation. It was then that someone advised him to appeal against the decision, having first obtained letters of recommendation from highly placed per- sons, both clerical and lay, in Poland. Equipped – after some delay – with these documents, he again presented himself to the Sacred Congregation. Again his petition was refused. There seemed to be no other course left to him: He would have to agree to the “incorporation” of the Marian Fa- thers into one of the existing Orders. Father Francis Diaz, a Franciscan, suggested that the Marian Fathers should adopt the Rule of the Ten Virtues of Our Blessed Lady. Father Joachim agreed that the Marian character of his Institute would seem to favor this step. By accepting this Rule, he automatically agreed to the incorporation of the Marian Fathers into the great Franciscan Family to which all Institutes following the Rule of the Ten Virtues belonged.