Spirituality

The Congregation of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary was founded in 1670 and is the first male order established in Poland,  founded by a Pole – St. Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczynski (1631-1701), born in Podegrodzie near Stary Sacz. The cradle of the order is Puszcza Marianńska near Skierniewice in Mazovia. The Holy See approved the Marian Order in 1699 on the basis of the Rule of the Ten Evangelical Virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Father Founder set three goals for his community:

• to spread devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
• assisting the dead in Purgatory who are suffering, especially victims of wars and epidemics, as well as those who died unprepared for death,
• apostolic activities, especially among the spiritually neglected.

Saint Father Stanislaus was also an ardent apostle of sobriety, which he made one of the distinctive features of his order. In the early years, the development of the new community faced serious difficulties. Its existence was threatened at certain points. However, the community founded by Father Papczynski proved stronger than any adversity it had faced over the centuries. The strengthening and expansion of the Congregation of Marian Fathers in the 18th century was largely due to the Venerable Servant of God Fr. Casimir of St. Joseph Wyszynski (1700-1755), one of the most faithful spiritual sons of St. Stanislaus. During Fr. Casimir’s time, the Congregation established new monasteries in Lithuania and Russia, and was transplanted to Portugal. Thanks to Fr. Casimir’s efforts, the number of Marians increased significantly, and the Order itself became an international community. At the time, it consisted of Ruthenians, Portuguese, Hungarians, French and Italians. In the second half of the 18th century, the Marians also established a monastery in Rome. The order’s dynamic development collapsed with Poland’s political decline during the partitions in the late 18th and throughout the 19th centuries. In 1864, under a decree issued by the tsarist authorities, it succumbed to suppression and was condemned to slow extinction. In 1909, on the eve of its complete extinction, in conspiracy before the tsarist authorities, Fr. George Matulaitis-Matulewicz (1871-1927), a professor at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, a Lithuanian by origin, later bishop of Vilnius, who was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in Rome in 1987, joined the Marian Order. He carried out a work of renewal and reform of the Congregation, bringing it back to life. Today, some five hundred Marian priests and brothers work in nineteen countries, including missions in South America, Africa and Asia. At the time, its members included: Poles, Lithuanians, Czechs, Ruthenians, Portuguese, Hungarians, French and Italians. In the second half of the 18th century, the Marians also established a monastery in Rome. The order’s dynamic development collapsed with Poland’s political decline during the partitions in the late 18th and throughout the 19th centuries. In 1864, under a decree issued by the tsarist authorities, it succumbed to suppression and was condemned to slow extinction. In 1909, on the eve of its total extinction, in conspiracy before the tsarist authorities, Fr. George Matulaitis-Matulewicz (1871-1927), a professor at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, a Lithuanian by descent, later Bishop of Vilnius, who was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in Rome in 1987, joined the Marian Order. He carried out the work of renewal and reform of the Congregation, bringing it back to life. Today, some five hundred Marian priests and brothers work in nineteen countries, including missions in South America, Africa and Asia.