The Foundation of the Order of Servants of Mary in the United States of America (1870-1883) by Austin Morini, O.S.M. (review)

BOOK REVIEWS 309 As a priest, Kruszka chose to focus on the ethnic parishes, which were in fact centra] to the development ofAmerican Polonia. This work is largely a study of the huge parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka in Chicago, the mother church of Chicago Polonia and for a quarter-century under the strong-willed care of Father Vincent Barzynski (Wincenty Barzynski), CR. Kruszka's language describing the Resurrectionist's acquisition of pastoral authority in 1874 "like an eagle stalking its chosen prey" (p. 53) exemplifies both his rhetoric and attitude toward a priest whom he at once admired and at times contested on issues central to Polonia. The Wisconsin cleric describes at length instances of the rivalry oforder versus secular priests in the rapidly growing Chicago archdiocese, a situation he interprets as one in which Resurrectionist ambition hindered service to the laity. Kruszka portrays their policies as leading even to schism, in the independence movement at St. Hedwig's led by Father Anton Kozlowski. He likewise castigates them for "nourishing the Germans" (p. 190) by impelling discontented Poles to join the German St. Boniface Church, harsh condemnation indeed since Germany was seen as a major oppressor of Poles in the homeland .Yet he also acknowledges their accomplishments and occasionally writes admiringly of their efforts. The remainder of the work provides capsule histories of Chicago and other Illinois Polish congregations, with numerous pen portraits of pastors and extensive quotations from letters, including some to the author himself. The originals in some instances are no longer extant, and so the reprinting makes available in English rare sources on this important period. As in the first volume, the book benefits immensely from the helpful endnotes provided by the editor,James S. Pula, and his associates. These supply relevant secondary citations, biographical information on figures mentioned but not fully described, and additional factual information. Particularly important as supplements offering scholarly interpretations of the historical context are the cited monographs byJoseph Parot and Victor Greene (p. 277, fh. 1). The ongoing publication of this important series is a welcome addition to materials in English on Poles in America. WilliamJ. Galush Loyola University Chicago The Foundation of the Order of Servants of Mary in the United States of America (1870-1883). By Austin Morini, O.S.M. English Translation and Notes by Conrad M. Borntrager, O.S.M. Italian Text edited by Odir Jacques Dias. [Scrinium Historiale, XTX.] (Rome: Edizioni Marianum. 1993. Pp. 260. $16.00 paperback.) One of the most encouraging trends in religious life afterVatican Council II has been the commitment of resources and trained personnel to the writing of scholarly histories of religious communities. Although these studies are of uneven quality, the best of them offer a wealth of detail about the practicalities of 310 BOOK REVIEWS establishing Catholic religious life and its associated apostolic works in the United States. An especially important function of these works is to provide case studies for the adaptation of European models of religious life to the exigencies of the United States. Following the waves of immigrants that flooded American shores in the nineteenth century, the priests, brothers, and sisters who came from Europe to minister to their spiritual and temporal needs had not only to adapt personally to their new surroundings, but also the structures and disciplines of their common life had to be altered as well. This often happened with much misunderstanding on both sides ofthe Atlantic, and not a few departures from the religious life. Although the Order ofthe Servants ofMary (Servîtes) has not yet come to the point ofa full-blown, scholarly account ofits development and expansion in the United States, it is clear in the volume under review that it possesses the resources necessary to do so. Father Conrad Borntrager's excellent translation of the account of the founding father of the Servîtes in the United States, Austin (Agostino) Morini, will certainly serve as the backbone of any future account of Servite life in America. The Servîtes were founded in 1226 and headquartered in Florence. They entered the English-speaking world first in England, and later joined the rush of Italian immigrants to the United States. Austin Morini...