1230 scripta historica 10. Litterae ad Ordinem FratrumMinorum [Romae, III/IV ? 1691] Introduction This letter is related to the efforts made by Fr. Papczyński to obtain papal approval for his Congregation, which would have a double benefit: first, the Marians, as members of an institute directly dependent on the Holy See, would be excluded from the Bishop’s jurisdiction, which would protect the Congregation from being dissolved by him (there was such a threat from Bishop Witwicki).332 Second, papal approval would give the Marians the right to take solemn vows and this would prevent the desertion of members who were being dismissed from simple vows (regarded as mere promises) by confessors. Father Papczyński went to Rome333 to work on obtaining such approval personally. He arrived in Rome in February 1691, hoping that solemn vows could be taken on the basis of his Rule of Life (Norma Vitae). However, in Rome he was told that, because of the decree of the Forth Lateran Council (1215), which forbade the founding of Orders with a Rule other than those already approved by the Holy See, it was impossible to receive papal approval based on his Rule of Life. Father Papczyński was, therefore, forced to adopt for the Marians a rule that was already approved. The Rule chosen was that of the Nuns of the Immaculate Conception334, which Fr. Papczyński decided would be suitable for the Marians. However, since this Order came under the jurisdiction of the Franciscan Order, he had to 332 Cf. SH, no. 8, Introduction; Positio, pp. 504-505 (Doc. XIII, intr.) 333 Father Papczyński probably set out for Rome from New Jerusalem in November of 1690. Cf. Positio, pp. 433-436. 334 This order was founded in 1484, in Toledo, Spain, by St. Beatrice of Silva (d. 1492) and based on the Cistercian Rule, later replaced by the Rule of St. Clare. In 1511, these nuns (wearing a white habit) received a Rule of their own, better taking into account their special devotion to Mary Immaculate, but with the submission of their Order to the jurisdiction of the Order of Friars Minor. Cf. Positio, p. 506, n. 3, where more information about this Order is given.
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