Father Casimir Wyszynski

I trust, and I love You, my God, my highest and ultimate Good. I want to love and praise you throughout my whole life. Grant me Your love so that I can live and die in it, and then rejoice in You.” 87 The above-quoted opinions of these few witnesses of Father Casimir's life, in addition to perceptible signs of his spirituality found in hiswrittenworks, indicate the heroicmanner of the Ven- erable’s growth in faith, hope and love. They constitute an incen- tive for remaining steadfast on the path of holiness for both a Christian and a religious in spite of the climate of the times which was and still is fraught with all sorts of dangers to holiness of life. External Criteria of Holiness T he Portuguese people’s strong belief in the “Holy Pole,” as they called Father Casimir, as well as pilgrimages made to his tomb and graces received through his intercession, contributed to the opening of the beatification process. Down through the centuries the Church’s canonization procedures have improved, due in great part to Pope Benedict XIV. To facilitate the opening of the process of beatification for the Founder, Father Papczyński, Father Casimir arranged the Pope’s recommendations in the form of instructions. To examine external evidence of a person’s relationship with God, such as fortitude, miracles and heroic virtues, a trial by a Church tribunal must be held. It is important to establish with great accuracy and under various circumstances, proof of the heroic life and manner of practicing Christian virtue by the can- didate for beatification. In a visit to Poland, Saint Pope John Paul II, who performed many canonizations and beatifications, called his compatriots to cooperate with Divine grace in achieving holiness: “Do not be afraid of holiness. Have the courage to strive for the full measure 87 Ibid, 430. 119 The Servant of Mary Immaculate