Father Casimir Wyszynski

good religious. An encouragement to godliness would helpmore to anchor him in God’s love and fill himwith hope for approach- ing salvation.” 76 With extraordinary calm and filled with deep faith and hope during his last hours on earth, he was getting ready for passing away: “As the end of Father Casimir’s life was near, his spiritual sons bitterly lamented his leaving their newand still insecure re- ligious Institute. He called them to himself and urged them not to become dispirited, but instead to persevere in their religious observance and keep their habits. ‘The Virgin Mary herself was the foundress of this Institute. Therefore, shewill never abandon anyone whowill habitually and piously wear the habit of her Im- maculate Conception.’ “On the last day, everyone came to him and knelt, and as he imparted his blessing, everyonewept. Sobbing, they commended themselves to his intercession before God, as sons orphaned by their father, to which he replied: ‘Do not weep! The Most Blessed Virgin is your Foundress. When I leave this body and my soul is brought before God, as I hopewill happen thanks to trust in God’s mercy and the merits of my Savior, I shall support you even bet- ter.” 77 Faith and hopewere closely bondedwith Father Casimir’s love for God and his neighbors. He always strove to remain in the pres- ence of God. He faithfully fulfilled God’s commandments, the laws of the Church and the duties of his state in life. He made all of his works, sufferings, spiritual experiences and material offerings a part of his veneration of God. Equally extraordinarywas his love for people. He hoped above all for their salvation and thus he taught them the truths of Faith and helped them reach a union with God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. His intervention before the Pope in thematter of improper practices by village priests on the occasion of Easter confessions also flowed out of this love. Hewas 76 Ibid, 73. 77 Ibid, 73-74. 114 Z YGMUNT P ROCZEK , MIC, P H D