Father Casimir Wyszynski

106 Z YGMUNT P ROCZEK , MIC, P H D It may be difficult at times to identify signs of Venerable Casimir’s increasing growth in faith, hope, and love, as observed by witnesses of his life andwork and corroborated in his written works, because these signs could have been the manifestation of various other virtues. Witnesses testifying in the informative processes emphasized that the Venerable Casimir lived in a state of constant respect for God’s presence. He endeavored to know better the truths of the faith and even opposed the premature ordination that was to take place before completion of his theology studies. In later years he deepened his understanding through reading the Holy Scriptures and other carefully selected works, choosing particularly those on Mariology. He taught to others the things by which he himself lived, whatever could help themgrowcloser to God. Hewas aman of deep prayer, which he never neglected even during his travels. He was marked by his great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament aswell as by his scrupulous attention and care in celebratingHoly Mass. Father Casimir frequently pondered the Passion of Christ which, it was observed, often brought tears to his face. He strove to deepen his Marian piety through devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, thanks to which he and other people could give honor to God and glory toHis Blessed Mother not only with their feelings and words but above all by their imitatingMary’s virtues. He gave a particular witness to this during his last illness and preparation to meet God after death. The testimony of Father Benon Bujalski (1722-1788), who resided with Father Casimir at Góra Kalwaria and later was his companion on the trip to Portugal and their first months in that country, is particularly important. During the informative process conducted in Poznan, Father Benon testified to Father Casimir’s practice of theological virtues: “He had a deep faith in God, which was evident in his preaching of Christian doctrine and the fulfill- ment of ecclesiastical duties, which he constantly recommended to others. I was personally a witness to that. Further, I was in- formed of the following occurrence: The children of a worthy family of Thomas Suffczynski, the Ensign of Łuków, andwifeMar- ianne, died one after another, leaving them with only one son