Father Wyszynski Pilgrimage

From the Franciscans he learned of the existence of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception and decided to bring them over to Portugal to carry out his own plans. The Marians from Poland were to be only a tool in his hands. He treated them very badly, insult- ing and degrading their dignity, thus putting to trial their humility and sanctity. Father Benon Bujalski could not bear such treatment and became seriously ill. On December 26, 1753, as soon as his health allowed, he set out on a return trip to Poland by land. The Servant of God, Fr. Casimir, remained alone in Fr. Salazar’s house, condemned to endure suffer- ings, offences, mortification and brutality. He was test- ed and sorely tried as if the worst of novices so that he would apply himself to founding a new singular reli- gious Order. Years later Salazar came to regret his behavior and intended to go to Balsam ã o to beg for- giveness for his harshness at Fr. Casimir’s tomb. Our Lord rewarded the heroic dedication of the Venerable Servant of God. In a letter of June 13, 1754, to the General Superior, Fr. Casimir related that two of his Portuguese friends obtained from the Pope an iron letter by the power of which [Fr. Casimir] was deliv- ered from Salazar’s hands. “Following Fr. Benon’s departure, I had to break with Fr. Salazar because I could not arrange anything with him regarding the pro- motion of our Order. The Lord God, however, gave me protectors who from Salazar’s hand, almost by force, opened for me a way to better promote our Order.” 46 P ILGRIMAGE TO THE E ND OF THE E ARTH