The ‘Renovator’ of the Marians: Blessed George Matulaitis The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception honor Blessed George Matulaitis-Matulewicz (1871-1927) with the title “Father Renovator” and devotion like that given to our Father Founder, St. Stanislaus Papczynski (1631-1701). Blessed George was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II 35 years ago on June 28, 1987, and his feast day is the day of his death, Jan. 27. Why “Father Renovator”? On Aug. 29, 1909, Fr. George literally saved our Order from extinction by professing vows in the hands of the last surviving Marian, Fr. Vincent Sekowski (1840-1911). He made these vows secretly, even requesting Rome’s special permission to enter the Marians without making his novitiate, since the Russian Czar didn’t permit any non-Orthodox religious orders to accept novices. Having made his vows, Blessed George, with Fr. Vincent’s permission, would re-write the Marian rule of life, adapting it not only to living religious life under persecution, but also to the modern world. Hence Blessed George’s title “Father Renovator.” Growing up with the Marians Blessed George knew the Marian Fathers all his life. Baptized in 1871 by our then-superior general, Fr. George Cesnas, he grew up in a Marianrun parish. George wanted to be a priest from his boyhood, but he was orphaned at age 10 and developed tuberculosis of the bone at 15. He never complained, but worked at the By Br. Stephen J., MIC 26 Marian Helper • Summer 2022 • Marian.org
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