L E T T E R S

VBy the end of 1834, Janski had returned to the most serious of religiouspractices. He made his confession in six sessions at St. Mandé with Fr. J. Ch.Chossotte. Janski was also the founder of the External Brethren. He inspiredhis compatriots to religious fervor: A. Mickiewicz, A. Gorecki, S. Witwicki,Joseph and Bohdan Zaleski and Ignatius Domeyko. Though the ExternalBrethren disbanded shortly after their foundation, Janski instituted anotherorganization called the Ministry to the Nation (Służba Narodowa) in themiddle of 1835, whose aim was the re-christianization of contemporary pagansociety and a deepening of the spirit of the Gospel by means of an elite laity.These were to be people of high intellectual and moral character, who wouldbe a sign that not only priests and religious, but that all Christians are called toholiness. The ministry of this group consisted in coordinating services to thecommunity rather than in existing as some type of organization in and foritself. Very quickly many young and outstanding people were attracted to thisgroup. Under the influence of Janski these people returned to zealous religiouspractice and became in their own right exemplary lay apostles.In order that his activities would be more effective, Janski established a highlyorganized center, and began to live a common life with his most zealous coworkers.They decided to dedicate all their time and talent to this work. Theywere to be instructors for a wider circle of External Brothers and sympathizers.This center was known as the House of Janski and was established in Paris onthe street of Notre Dame des Champs 11, on February 21, 1836. The Housewas formally opened after confession, Community Mass and Communion byBogdan Janski, P. Semenenko, J. Kajsiewicz, E. Duński, and J. Maliński.They vowed ―perpetual brotherhood in common‖. Janski announced that theobjectives of the community and the program of activity were to be decided incommon at house meetings. Janski himself accepted the superiorship of thisgroup with the title of ―Elder Brother‖. This was the actual beginning of the