1 Dr. Zbigniew Lagosz, Ph.D., Jagiellonian University in Cracow Mariavites and the occult – a search for the truth. The subject explored in this text is one of numerous “subplots” included in my dissertation, titled “Aleister Crowley’s influence on the magical societies of the 20th century Poland”, where a net of interconnections between the Polish occult and the idea, creation and activity of a great personage of contemporary magic A. Crowley is revealed. The issue touched upon in the further part of the text, however being merely a “splinter”, is extremely interesting due to its uncovering of a bond between commonly unknown strictly Polish Catholic schism and the world Esoterism. The Mariavite movement, being thoroughly a Polish denomination formed on the basis of revelations experienced by Feliksa Maria Frańciszka Kozlowska (1862-1921) has been suspected of having connections with Martinist orders and the Gnostic Church since the beginning of its existence. However, evidently Crowley’s very own ideas and thoughts were unknown to Mariavites. Supposedly, the only issue shared by the both parties that could have resulted in closer relations is mentioned Gnosticism, most probably introduced into Mariavitism by Jan Maria Michal Kowalski or his successors. Mariavites (from Latin Mariae vita – the life of Mary) initiated their activity on 2 nd August 1893, when Kozlowska, referred to by her followers as Mateczka or Blessed Maria Frańciszka, 1 experienced a series of religious visions. 2 Their essence was situated on the idea, that sinful world may be saved only by spreading the reverence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist and by imitating 3 the life of the Mother of God. According to the revelation, the 1 Maria Frańciszka are Feliksa Kozlowska’s religious names. Term Mateczka is not unusual, as it was commonly used as a reference to the mother superior in Poland. The corresponding appellation in France was “Petite Mere” and in English speaking countries – “Little Mother”. Term “blessed” came into use after Kozlowska’s death in 1921 (a letter from T. Mames. In the Author’s collection). 2 The first revelation took place exactly on 2 nd August 1893, with following visions occurring repeatedly until 1918 (Mames, T.D. (2009). Mysteria Mysticorum, Szkice z duchowości i historii Mariawitów. Cracow, p. 20). 3 It is frequently said revelations obliged the faithful to practice the cult of the Virgin Mary. As Prof. Konrad Rudnicki observes, this common belief is incorrect, since the matter was not concerning the obligation of such cult but the imitation of the way of life. 4 “The last days” are defined by Mariavites as “the approaching of the end of the cultural era and the beginning of the new one; an end of a certain evolutional era” – a letter from Rudnicki. In the Author’s collection.